Shane Newell – From Volunteer to 2026 Entrant
In 2025, Shane Newell stood at Shortcut Saddle with a sponge in one hand and a dream he did not yet know he had. A year later, he is preparing to trade that sponge for a bib number as a first-time AC100 entrant.
Shane remains entered in the 2026 Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run. The 100.8-mile loop course starts and finishes at Loma Alta Park in Altadena, and he is preparing to experience AC100 from the runner’s side of the aid-station table.
Buckets sloshed and sponges dripped under the San Gabriel sun as runners leaned into the ice-cold relief volunteers offered. Shortcut Saddle buzzed with energy, laughter, and purpose. Shane was in the thick of it, filling bottles, offering encouragement, and watching runners dig deep at the turnaround point of the 2025 course.
The fatigue was written on their faces, and Shane saw both the toll and the triumph up close. The experience made AC100 more personal to him. His biggest volunteer takeaway was simple: “One smile, or an ice-cold sponge, can turn someone’s race around.”
Shane first learned about AC100 about six years ago. His sister Jessi later helped bring the race closer to home when she began volunteering in 2022.
“AC100 was one of the first races I ever heard about,” Shane said. “Living so close to the Angeles Crest Highway my whole life, I had no idea a race like this even existed. When my sister began volunteering in 2022, I saw just how amazing and tough it was, and I started following much more closely.”
Volunteering at Shortcut Saddle in 2025 sealed the connection. Shane admired the way Aid Station Captain Kristin Carbajal led with compassion and kindness. As he supported runners through difficult moments, he realized that helping others finish AC100 was no longer enough. He wanted to stand on the starting line himself.
Kristin nominated Shane for an automatic entry into the 2026 race. “There are thousands of ultra runners around the world who would love to run this race, and I feel incredibly grateful to have received a spot after volunteering. I definitely feel an added responsibility to train as hard as I can and give this race everything I have. You don’t get opportunities like this every day,” he said. “I want to make my family, friends, and fellow volunteers proud.”
Jessi originally planned to run the 2026 race with Shane, but an injury ended her race plans. The two also completed AC100 trail work together, and Jessi will still be part of his race-day journey, crewing and pacing for Shane as he takes on his first AC100.
Shane has twice covered 100 miles at Beyond Limits Ultra, a flat two-mile loop course with a generous cutoff. AC100 will present a very different mountain challenge through the San Gabriels.
For Shane, the goal is not only about the clock. It is about being present, honoring the volunteers who inspired him, and appreciating the opportunity to run his first AC100. His goal for 2026 is “To soak everything in, the highs, lows, and everything in between.” He feels fortunate to have this opportunity and hopes to honor the community that helped him reach the starting line.
AC100 recently featured Shane in the Faces of the San Gabriels series, sharing his path from Shortcut Saddle volunteer to first-time AC100 runner. Follow his preparation on Instagram at @roadrunnershane.
Looking Back: Islip Saddle to Shortcut Saddle (2025 Course Preview)
The video below documents the terrain leading into Shortcut Saddle on the 2025 course, where Shane volunteered and began seeing AC100 from a more personal perspective. It provides a long-form look at the mountain setting behind his volunteer experience without describing the revised 2026 route.
🎥 Video by Chad Bruce, 4-time AC100 finisher
📍 AC100 Fun Fact
Several runners in the 2026 field earned their entry not by racing, but by volunteering. Each year, AC100 honors the people who make the race possible by allowing every Aid Station Captain to nominate one standout volunteer for guaranteed entry into the following year’s race. It is one way AC100 recognizes that the race is built not only on runners, but also on the dedication of its community.
📸 Photo: @roadrunnershane and @jessinewell, Shortcut Saddle volunteers.
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