FAQS

VOLUNTEERS​

Wilderness Aid Station Teams – Support runners deep in the San Gabriels.

Trail Maintenance Volunteers – Join official AC100 Trail Work Days. Eight hours are required for all runners, but extra hands are always welcome!

Medical Volunteers – Doctors, nurses, EMTs, and wilderness medics are needed to staff checkpoints and the finish line.

Yes. All Checkpoint Leaders, will be able to nominate one runner who will be allowed in the race, bypassing the Lottery. For example, if 4 runners volunteer at an aid station, only one will be selected.

The nominated runner bypasses the Lottery and is accepted into the AC100 for volunteering, they still have to pay the Entry Fee race and perform 8 hours of Trail Maintenance. 

Click on the “Volunteer” at the top of the page or click here.

APPLICATION​

  • Have previous AC100 finishes

  • Entered last year’s Lottery but weren’t selected

  • Enter the race in the SOLO division

  • Volunteered at the previous year’s AC100

  • Are going for 4 or more consecutive finishes

Yes — if your name is drawn in the Lottery, your credit card will be charged automatically and you will be officially entered in the race. There is no opt-in or confirmation step.

  • Charges are processed a day or two after the Lottery closes.

  • You’ll know you were selected by seeing the charge or when the official entrant list is posted.

  • If you’re selected, you cannot decline or defer.

If your name is drawn for the Waitlist, you are not charged immediately. Instead, you’ll receive a direct invitation from ultraSignUP if a spot opens up later in the year (usually around refund deadlines).

  • In this email, you’ll have the option to confirm or decline the invitation before your card is charged.

  • If you decline, your spot will go to the next runner on the list.

  • If you accept your card wil be charged and you will be entered into the race.

That depends on your goal. Entering multiple names (you and your partner) does increase your overall chances of one of you getting selected. But if both of you are drawn, you’ll both be automatically entered and charged — no option to decline.

If only one of you plans to race while the other crews or paces, we recommend just entering the runner’s name. There’s no way to transfer, defer, or opt out once selected.

You must have an UltraSignup account with a valid payment method saved to register for the Lottery or Waitlist. You will not be charged unless your are selected. The 50 mile+ race qualifier is not requirement to enter the Race. You may submit it after registration.

You must complete an official race of 50 miles or longer with results published online between January 1, 2026, and September 2, 2027. You must also complete eight hours of trail work by September 2, 2027. If you live south of Fresno, California, the trail work must be completed in the Angeles National Forest. If you live north of Fresno, outside California, or outside the United States, complete comparable trail work where you live, train, or race. Submit non-AC100 trail work through the Trail Maintenance Form. Trail work completed with AC100 does not need to be submitted separately. Your status will be updated on the Entry List.

Finish any official race of 50 miles or longer between January 1, 2026, and September 2, 2027. Results must be published online through UltraSignup, UltraRunning, or another official results provider. You may enter the Lottery or Waitlist before completing your qualifying race. Virtual races do not count.

If you live South of Fresno CA, you must perform it in the Angeles National Forest. If you live North of Fresno or in another State or Country, perform it where you live, train and race. Then submit your trial work here.

No. Trail work must be completed by September 2, 2027. If you live south of Fresno, California, it must be completed in the Angeles National Forest. If you live north of Fresno, outside California, or outside the United States, complete comparable trail work where you live, train, or race.

Yes. AC100 Trail Work Days will be posted beginning in spring 2027. The schedule will be emailed to race entrants and posted on the Trail Work page and the AC100 Facebook page. If you do not receive the emails, check your spam folder.

Applications are not transferable. You cannot transfer your application to another person. You cannot transfer your application to the next year. It is only valid on the year you enter the race. An exception is if the race is canceled.

We track multiple finishes manually by runner name. Multiple finishes are listed in Results and on the 4 or More Finishes page. If you notice an error, please contact us.

SAFETY

Yes, trekking poles are allowed during the race. 

Any runner, who is getting an IV during the race, is automatically dropped from the race. That runner will not allowed to move on and will be listed as DNF.

No dogs are allowed at any aid stations or on the course.

LOGISTICS

The 2027 AC100 starts and finishes at Loma Alta Park in Altadena on Saturday, October 2, 2027. The route is a 100.8-mile loop course, so runners do not need return transportation to Wrightwood.

No. AC100 does not provide general shuttle service. The 2027 course starts and finishes at Loma Alta Park in Altadena. Runners who drop at an aid station should follow the aid-station captain’s instructions and may need to wait until transportation is available.

There is no official carpool list on the website. However, runners can coordinate a carpool via our Facebook Group. 

You can also contact us to request being added to the shared Google sheet for the race carpool.

100 MILE ENDURANCE RUN

Runners want a race that is both challenging and fair. The traditional AC100 route is a classic point-to-point course. The 2027 AC100 uses the 100.8-mile Front Range Loop Course from Loma Alta Park to Mt Hillyer and back.

Classic point to point endurance run are events from another era. As we get more wilderness areas designated in the National Forest System, there isn’t enough space to put on this type of race anymore. And they are a lot more work to put on, versus a loop type race.

PHOTOS ON THE COURSE

Yes, in the website footer is a link to our Smug Mug. All photo sales go directly to the race photographer.

We try to have a photographer capturing images as the runner crosses the finish line, with the finish banner in the background. However, it’s not guaranteed.

T-shirts

Yes, AC100 finisher’s tech shirts are available in both men’s and women’s styles.

Yes, a small assortment of women’s style products will be available at the finish line.

AWARDS

All Finishers: Finisher t-shirt, Solid Bronze Ram Buckle and a plaque with the following information that is engraved on the plaque as you cross the Finish Line: name, finish time and date of the race. Sub-24-hour finishers receive the Solid Sterling Silver Buckle. Solo runners who finish under 24 hours receive the 24 Hours Solo version. The Second Sunrise solid bronze buckle is awarded to finishers between 24:00:00 and 24:59:59. If you finish the race in 33 hours, you will get a Solid Bronze 33 Hour Buckle. If you run the race Solo under 33 hours, it will say 33 Hours Solo. Solo finisher will get a finisher t-shirt that says Solo Finisher.

First overall male and female runner receive a Solid Bronze Ram Award mounted on a solid walnut base. First overall male and female Solo runner receive a Solid Bronze Cougar Award mounted on a solid walnut base.

Solid Sterling Silver Buckle plated with14K.

We provide distinctive Bronze Awards mounted on a solid walnut base for both type of endurances: 1) winners and 2) multiple finishers. For 10 straight finishes: Solid Bronze Eagle Award. For 10 finishes: Solid Bronze Elk Award.

We provide awards for completing “four” (4 100 Miler’s in Western United States) and “six” (Last Great Race on Earth) 100 mile endurance run through out the country.

Finisher Buckles are solid bronze. Sub-24 Hour Buckles are made of Solid Sterling Silver. Course Record Buckles are made of Solid Sterling Silver and plated with 14K Gold. Winner and Multiple Finish Awards are made of Solid Bronze mounted on solid Walnut Bases.

Solid Bronze, Sterling Silver and Gold last forever and have nice “patina” to the finish as it ages. Those are the metal of choice for the Olympics. Sterling Silver and Gold are precious metal.