AC100 Heat Warning

Dead. More or less, whatever!

Someone’s gonna die out there on race day, in the heat.
The race needs to move back to October. Period.
And Kenny will never budge.

In Before Times

The race was in October. You got your summer heat training. Days of endless high noon all fucking day. When Race Day came, it was delightfully mild. The sun races across the sky. And it got chilly at night.

But various fires and other cryptic factors moved the race date from October, to September, now to early fucking August.

And course changes like running for miles on blistering blacktop don't help. Here's how we got here: 

Imagine AC100 Without Baden-Powell
 

Let's review, from a professional medical viewpoint

The single biggest change the race could make in terms of safety is to move the race date back to the late September, dare I say October time frame.
So do the math: 300 runners x exposure to heat stroke level temperatures = highly likely outcome. I’d argue that the fire danger is only fractionally lower and the probability less likely than the former scenario.

Heat stroke = medical emergency

Cool water immersion to lower the core temperature.

But wait this was just a 100 miler you know the 5k equivalent in the 200+ miler era, amiright??

Among other things blood tests to check for kidney failure.

Hello rhabdo, my old friend.

More signs of race management running on auto pilot: it should be clear to all participants that medical staff at aid stations have the final word, no?

You’re about to put yourself in extreme physical danger.

'...yeah but I’m in 34th place, so…'

Who the fuck allowed this to happen? Oh never mind. Kenny did.
Kenny was always hands-off on race day. That was Hal’s job. Now it’s someone else's.

"But! My My IG and TikTok etc"

2004 Baldy Peaks RD Flashback

Hey! this shit is giving me 2004 Baldy Peaks 50k flashbacks. Dealing with a very stubborn and hair-trigger tempered runner. Six-two, ex Navy SEAL or some shit. At 60+ he could kill you without a second thought. Was pulled because heat exhaustion. Who I had soaking in Ice House Canyon creek trying to lower his core temperature. Oh yeah, the RN had to leave because her ride had to go home. Something about kids unsupervised. I saw my worldy assets evaporating if this lug-nut died.

Bottom line-- this stubborn witless fuck was willing to endanger self and all around him by not listening to aid-station captains and volunteers. His wife came and got him and they drove off. 

He lived.

But Back To AC100 Questions Here

• Who is the medical director?
• What is the algorithm/protocol/procedure to follow/make in the field decisions?
• All of this stuff needs to be specific and spelled out before race day.

Not sure the situation re on course medical support. Hwy 2 is logistically very different than let’s say WSER. IV fluid on course. Hmm, who is making that decision, what is their qualification to make that assessment? 

• RNs practice under a physician’s orders. 
• Paramedics operate under their jurisdiction parameters and protocols.
• Fun fact: EMT’s do not administer IV fluids.

"BTW I considered helping out in a medical capacity but I couldn’t determine the hierarchy under which I would be working. I didn’t talk to Gary to get answers so maybe there is something there but instead I saw holes in the net that a lawyer could drive a semi truck through."

Also worth considering: mid to back of the pack participants are more at risk because they are out there a lot longer.18+ hours vs 32 something.

In summary: "What was it that Rainer would say? Hope isn’t a plan?"

Your Mr Trail Safety Historical AC100 reading list, with words not found in children's books.

Never Bet Against The Angeles Crest 100

AC100: The Once And Future Race

AC100 Awards: Decoded and Explained

AC100: Solo Division Buckle!

AC100 Awards: Decoded and Explained

AC100 FAQ Flow Chart

AC100: It's A Man's Race, and Less

Kodiak Will Eat AC100's Lunch

AC100 & the Out of Towners

AC100: 2023 Is A Matter Of Course

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