Griffith Park 50 Mile (Los Angeles): AC100 Qualifier Guide
If you live in LA, this is one of the simplest ways to get an official 50-mile finish without travel chaos. Use it to dial pacing, calories, and “keep moving” discipline before you step into the San Gabriels.
Los Angeles
50-mile qualifier
Execution-focused
Updated 2026-02-07
Internal link: This page supports the hub: best 50-mile races to qualify for the AC100.
Why Griffith Park works for AC100 qualification
- Logistics are unbeatable if you’re in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, SGV.
- Runnable trail volume exposes pacing mistakes early (going out too fast).
- Heat management practice is realistic for Southern California.
Course feel (what to expect)
Expect a steady grind of trail miles with repeated climbs and descents. It is not a “single climb then done” mountain course. The fatigue is cumulative: small climbs become big late in the day.
What this builds for AC100
- Fueling consistency (calories every 20–30 min)
- Foot care and blister prevention
- Late-race form when the legs are dull
What this does NOT fully simulate
- Long sustained mountain climbs
- High-elevation exposure
- Big continuous descents like the San Gabriels can deliver
LA logistics (drive-first checklist)
- Arrive early. Parking and pre-race stress are avoidable here.
- Plan a simple post-race exit: dry clothes, real food, and a calm drive home.
- If you’re coming from SGV (Glendora, Covina, West Covina), time the freeway.
Race-day execution: a simple plan
- First 15 miles: easy effort, even if people sprint. Let them go.
- Middle 20 miles: “boring consistency.” Eat, drink, keep cadence.
- Last 15 miles: protect the quads on descents, don’t surge randomly.
Common failure mode: treating this like a hard marathon. A qualifier is not the day to gamble. Finish clean.
How to pivot from this 50-miler into an AC100 build
- Recover 7–14 days, then reintroduce climbing with Mt. Wilson / Baden-Powell style efforts.
- Add downhill conditioning: short controlled descents, not reckless bombing.
- Keep one long day per week, but reduce intensity until the legs feel “springy” again.
Next: return to the hub for options: best 50-mile races to qualify for the AC100.