AC100 Solo Division Playbook
No crew. No pacers. Just you, your drop bags, and the clock. This playbook is a working blueprint for finishing the Angeles Crest 100 Solo division without guessing your way through race day.
This is not official race guidance. Always confirm current rules with the AC100 race organization, then use this as a practical overlay from a San Gabriel local.
1. What “Solo” really means at AC100
Short explanation of Solo rules, benefits (lottery, buckle), and constraints.
- No on-course crew support or pacers.
- Drop bags and aid stations become your entire support system.
- Mental and logistical prep is as important as physical training.
2. Solo mindset: what you’re signing up for
Set expectations here.
- Owning problems instead of outsourcing them to crew.
- Planning self-care routines ahead of time.
- Accepting long stretches with no one looking out for you.
3. The Solo drop-bag matrix
Here you’ll eventually list every drop-bag location, typical mileage / time, and what a Solo runner should plan to have there.
Skeleton structure:
| Aid station | Mile | Time window (example) | Primary goals | Key items in drop bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example Aid | XX | HH:MM–HH:MM | Refill, re-lube, swap bottles | Spare socks, small lube, calories, etc. |
4. Solo pacing & decision rules
Give simple guardrails instead of complex spreadsheets.
- Early high-country pace limits (don’t burn your quads).
- “If X happens by mile Y, then do Z” rules (walk breaks, nutrition resets).
- When to sit (almost never) and when to keep moving no matter what.
5. Hydration, calories, and heat when you have no crew
Outline Solo-specific systems:
- Baseline plan for calories per hour and fluid per hour.
- How to pre-pack “emergency backup” calories in each bag.
- Heat management without someone handing you ice or cold bottles.
This section is a natural place to link to affiliate gear: handheld bottles, hydration vests, soft flasks, cooling gear, etc.
6. Self-care scripts at each major bag
Instead of vague “take care of your feet”, define scripts you repeat at specific stations.
- Feet check protocol: socks, lube, hot spots, fresh tape.
- Body check: sunscreen, salt crust, chafing, light stretch.
- Mind check: “What’s actually wrong vs what’s just uncomfortable?”
7. Night strategy when you’re solo
- Primary and backup light setup, plus batteries.
- How often to eat and drink when you’re tired and cold.
- Micro-goals to keep moving through the dark (next turn, next song, next climb).
8. Mental tools for low points
- “Name it, don’t be it” method for problems (feet, stomach, energy, mood).
- Pre-written reasons to keep going and when you would legitimately stop.
- Simple breathing or counting drills to calm panic.
9. Solo training missions
Link this to your training missions / app idea: specific runs designed to rehearse Solo situations (no headphones, no crew, night starts, back-to-back long days).
- “No backup” long run with full self-supported aid setup.
- Night-only run after a full workday.
- Back-to-back days on tired legs.
10. Solo checklist
End with a tight pre-race checklist:
- Rules reviewed and trail work / qualifier confirmed.
- All drop-bag contents packed and labeled.
- Gear tested at least once at night and once in heat.
- Personal “why” written down and stored in one drop bag.
Eventually you can offer this as a printable PDF Solo packet in exchange for email or as a low-cost product.
Next steps
This Solo Playbook is a working draft. I’ll be filling in real aid stations, splits, and examples based on the current year’s race details and local recon.
- Join the AC100 Intel List to get updates when new Solo tools go live.
- Read the AC100 Start Here guide if you haven’t yet.
- Check out the training missions section on the homepage.