Angeles Crest 100 Footrace- see 'em?

[Sewellymon]

The race started Sat 5 AM. Wrightwood to PCT over Baden-Powell to Chilao, Silver Moc to Chantry and assorted singletrack to Arroyo Seco and the Rose Bowl.

I rode Middle Merrill and Sunset today AM. Aid station at Inspiration, plus the top of Sunset. It was baking at 9:45 at the top of Sunset- the runner I saw (into hour 29) was not happy about the heat. Said it was WAY cooler yesterday AM in Wrightwood.

Way back in the day, I paced a friend from Chilao to Chantry (racers can have pacers from mile 50- 100) . Did the same on my mtn bike a few years later ('93?)- THAT was pretty casual compared to running it..

[DownHillPhil]

why..the **** would ANYONE want to run that far?

[davidB]

We ran into a handful of these guys today on Sunset and El Prieto.

A couple of them were pacing their buddies for 25 miles or so. Apparently they started YESTERDAY morning at 5am, and when we saw them today at around 11am-1pm, they still had 10 miles or so to go. We took the same exact route back to our cars as they did, so we kept playing leapfrog with the same dudes all the way down El Prieto. On the Millard connector to El Prieto I rode along a guy doing it by himself for the first time. He said he'd never do it again, but appeared to be in good shape. I asked him how he trained, he said he does marathons on the weekends.

Some other guy was sort of offended when I asked him if they sleep through the night. Apparently not.

We saw one guy who was hurtin pretty bad but he had a couple buddies with him. I think he was cramping or his hip was hurting.


Imagine running and seeing the sun rise twice.

[Sewellymon]

It's sort of like a vision quest. Hurts SO bad and keeps getting worse until you break on through and reach a state of grace, Unless you never break on through and they you are a wreck, or worse.

Some of it is genetics. Having a body that can take that kind of abuse. Other may have the desire, the VO2 max, but things just fail.

My 1980's running highlights were an assortment of 6, 8 and 10 hour adventure runs in the Sierra. These were more soulful than the actual utra races I ran..

2008 and I am happy to plod my way up singletrack on my bike.. been 18 mo since i've done much trail running.. but maybe i'd try again? San Gorgonio, San Jacinto... lots of cool wilderness trails off-imits to bikes..

[JoeTruth]

Yeah, these guys and organization are hard-core! They've been doing this race for 24 years now. It's an insane endurance race on very tough terrain and in the middle of the night for a 1/2 of it. To think about it, most wouldn't even consider it; let alone do it. Serious respect for anyone who even attempts it; let alone finish such a course and that many miles. You'll see them on Sunset or EP and by that time, they've been out on the course for well over 24 hours and they look disoriented, exhausted and grumpy. What a huge race to bag!

Cool benefit for us mtb bikers, the group does lots of nice trail work during the year, prior to the race.

[MTBMaven]

Yes. We ran into several of them on the cut over trail from Echo Mtn. and Middle Merrill. There was a station at the top of Middle Merrill. The folks that were coming through had been at it for about 30 hours. We spoke with a guy quickly at the intersection of Middle and Lower Merrill. You could tell he was near the end of his limits. Pretty amazing and inspiring seeing them out there.

[Busterjohn]

I was wondering what the yellow ribbons were for yesterday...I started seeing them where the Sturdivent Camp Trail and the Rim trail intersected...all the way down to the ranger station at Chantry.

[kanga]

X-post from San Gabes Alert for 9/13

We were on the Devore trail during the Mt. Disappointment 50 mile run. The runners were pretty friendly and we had the same experience, leapfrogging several of them on the climb back up to Mt. Wilson.

One thing we should acknowledge is that the AC100 crew do volunteer trailwork on the trails on their course throughout the year. They are many of the same trails we ride and on which CORBA and other groups also work. Everyone wins.

And kudos to those who finish, or even start this sufferfest!