The Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Run, or AC 100, is a 100 mile (161 km) long ultramarathon that takes place annually along trails through California's Angeles National Forest.
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The race starts in Wrightwood, following portions of the Pacific Crest Trail (where it climbs Mount Baden-Powell), the Silver Moccasin Trail, and the Gabrielino Trail. It finishes at Loma Alta Park in Altadena, CA, adjacent to the Devil's Gate Dam in La Cañada Flintridge, near NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The original race course was mapped out by Del Beaudoin in 1986, and has remained remarkably consistent. The original finish line was the Rose Bowl in Pasadena through 1991. In 1992 the finish line was shifted to Johnson's Field in the Arroyo, adjacent to the Arroyo Seco. In 2008 the finish line was moved to Loma Alta Park, in Altadena.
When Jim O'Brien set the course record in 1989, the overall course was nearly two miles longer.
Runners who cross the finish line in less than 24 hours are awarded with the Silver Belt Buckle, a solid sterling silver belt buckle. All runners finishing between 24 and 25:47 hours receive the Second Sunrise Ram Buckle, made of solid bronze. Any runner who completes the race between 25:47 and 33 hours is awarded with the 33 Hour Ram Buckle. Additionally, all finishers regardless of finishing time get an engraved metal plate mounted on a solid walnut plaque and a 5-color Finisher T-shirt.
Jim O'Brien, current coach of Arcadia Boys' Cross Country team (Ranked #1 in the Nation), has held the men's course record since 1989 with a finish time of 17:35:48. Suzanna Bon holds the women's course record with her time of 22:00:15 which she achieved in 2007.
This race is also one of the four 100-mile (160 km) endurance runs in the United States that comprise the "Western Slam", a feat which entails completing four notoriously tough 100-mile (160 km) events: