2004 Copper Canyons Ultra Marathon (Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco)
**HISTORICAL POST BY MICAH TRUE - CABALLO BLANCO**
*This Blog lists Micah’s posts about the runs (and planned run that never happened) in 2004, at this point it was still planned as a bi-annual event, however interest was not great and the later year run never came about as you will read. We have tried to list these combined 2003 posts in chronological order.
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Dear trail runners and friends,
Vamos a correr! [we are going to run] Vamos a votar! [we are going to vote]
Sunday, March 7. This was another beautiful day in the deep canyon country of La Sierra Madre. The original race date, the sponsor and race director, Caballo Blanco, hiked 10 1/2 hours with pack from his house at the finish in the deep canyon pueblo of Batopilas to the start of the race in the deep canyon pueblo of Urique, located at a depth of 6200 feet. This hike was to check messages and send this email.
In mid February, no gringo runners had entered the race, I was in poor health from eating strong antibiotics for infections, Had just had a tooth pulled, and not feeling so great; and I just thought about canceling the whole thing. I could save a bunch of money and who [but me] would really care?!
It was two weeks before the run, and I was on my way to run out to Tarahumara country to announce the cancellation. That day, I did not have the strength to cover more then 3 miles.
The next day, several Tarahumara runners from races past, showed up at my house. I told them that I was thinking about canceling the run, asking them individually, what they wanted to do? They all said without hesitation, that they wanted to run! The run was on.
We decided to change the run date to Sunday, March 21. This is the day of the run-off election for local presidente [mayor]. The sponsor [me], upped the prize money upon receiving a pledge of 2000 pesos from the outgoing presidente. This would pay the prize for first place. Caballo Blanco would pay prize money 10 deep with a new increase in the prizes for the top 5.
On that day, we are going to run a hard trail marathon, then some, dancing with and through our mother mountains, moving to the sweet rhythm of her living heartbeat, the heartbeat of freedom. Friends will be dancing with us in spirit, as they have all been a part of this through positive thought and inspiration, viva la inspiracion [inspired action}.
Then, The runners will eat a side of beef, and we will all walk to the town plaza of Batopilas, where they will each vote, most likely, for the candidate who they think cares the most about them.
Why do this?
It is a cool thing to do.
For those who may get a calling of the wild, who want to be a part of a beautiful thing, then bienvenidos. Que le vaya bien.
Un amigo, Caballo Blanco
COPPER CANYON to CANYON TRAIL MARATHON
*this was pre race information
Point to point: Batopilas to Urique
More information:
While GPS track data has this course measured at 42 kilometers [a marathon], these measurements do not take into account the thousands of feet of accumulated elevation gain and descent that easily equal more then a couple of miles. This is a very tough run!
This is the first running of this race from Batopilas to Urique. In march of 2003, was the first race in the reverse direction from Urique to Batopilas. In this race, the previous course record of 6:27 was destroyed by 4 Tarahumara runners who all took more then 90 minutes off of this time. At this point, the record in this direction from Batopilas to Urique, is 6:40, making this course a bit slower and harder when run in this direction [from east to west]. I would expect the Tarahumara to considerably lower this time, as well as any hot-shot 'gringo' runner who should happen to show up.
How you approach this event is up to you. For most of us, I would suggest running/hiking within our means, taking our time to look around, to be 'out there' longer with la Sierra Madre ['the mother mountains'] during this very scenic and challenging self-propelled interaction with nature. There will be an 11 hour cut-off. To actually try to 'race' this tough, steep, rocky, gnarly, sometimes slippery course, could prove to be hazardous, [and a lot of work for me dragging your carcass out!].
When walking over to the start of last season's race from Urique to Batopilas, the Tarahumara and I discussed why more Tarahumara were not running this race. While there was a huge fiesta [party] that weekend in Tarahumara country, the general consensus was that this run is 'muy duro' [very hard!]; and who but a crazy gringo would do this for fun!
-There will be limited aid stations [probably 3 or 4]. -At these aid stations there will be spring water [recommended runners carry a light water filter or iodine], some local type food:[burritos,'pinole',fruit,crackers,cookies,hand ground and patted fresh corn tortillas].
This is a TRUE ADVENTURE RUN [no club med!]. All one day finishers win a "CLUB MAS LOCO" t-shirt. I hope that all participants will finish this run with the idea that to have made this journey is to have 'won', that we are all winners, all of us!
Hope to run with ya,
Micah True [race director]
* This report from Micah describes the second March run but technically the 3rd race because it was bi-annual still at this point (or planned to be at least). So there was March 2003 (see Blog), November 2003 (see Blog)m and then the March 2004 that was delayed
Copper Canyon Run: Report and results
Sunday, March 21—2004
The third running of the bi-annual Copper Canyon to Canyon Trail Marathon+, took place this hot first day of spring. This run was to take place from one deep canyon town of Urique, to the other deep canyon town of Batopilas. The distance is 27-29 miles of rock, steep climb and descent, some dirt road along two rivers, crossing of pine forests on soft single track trail at 6,000 feet, about 13,000 feet of climb and descent, more rocks, and plenty of other pluses! This season´s run was plus 100 degree heat!
7 Raramuri {Tarahumara runners}, displayed incredible performances of what can only be described as world class athleticism to arrive at the finish in 5 hours and some change. One could not imagine the significance of this achievement without having been here and having hiked these trails.
The Walk Over:
As usual, here in the land of manana, I did not know what to expect. I had no expectations as I left my house in the deep canyon town of Batopilas to walk over to the start of the race in the deep canyon town of Urique. One runner had showed up at my house the night before, and I had cooked us dinner and threw him a futon and blanket to sleep. When we arrived at the village of Cerro Colorado, 7+ miles up-river, we were joined by another 6 very good traditional Tarahumara runners from 5 different remote settlements. There were 8 of us climbing 4,000 feet out of the Batopilas canyon, crossing about 5 miles of la sierra {the mountains}, taking our time to rest in the cool pine forests, drink from the springs, and interact like life´s participants that we are.
Throughout this hike, the Raramuri were chattering away. I did not understand all of what was said, as most of the conversation was in the native Tarahumara language. However, a language that I do understand, is laughter; and there was plenty of this, as they spoke of how tough this race was, and spoke of the arrogant Apache from Northern Mexico, who had said that he was going to win it all. This Apache was named Ramon Chingon, and the question was, Quien es mas chingon que Ramon?
We camped at Los Alisos, a rancho located in a lush fruit and water filled arroyo, at about the 20 mile mark in this direction, and about the 9 mile mark of the Sunday race.
The next morning, we all walked down to the river, crossed to the dirt road and walked along the road 5 miles into the town of Urique, where all eyes along the way were fixed on the renown traditionally clad Tarahumara runners.
While in Urique, we were all treated like the champions that they are. We ate 3 large, tasty meals and took a couple of rooms at the nicest hotel in Urique.
The word was that Ramon Chingon, being the chingon that he is, was held up in a hotel room with 5 women and and an equal amount of bottles of tequila, partying hardy.
Race Sunday: The Race
We ate breakfast at Tita´s Plaza Restaurant, then lined up at the start in front of the town plaza. 5 local Mexicans showed up, claiming to be members of team Chingon. They all had big beer guts and lasted about 30 meters.
The Tarahumara and I went out at a 6 minute mile pace. This was too fast for me! I watched them disappear after that first mile. I saw only their huarache sandal tracks throughout this run until the finish at My friend Mario´s tienda in Batopilas. For me, I ran the first 9 miles faster then ever, climbed the 3,000 feet in 2 miles to the rim in personal record time, then set out for the cool and undulating trail across the mountains.
The rocky 4,000 foot descent was tough as always, and even tougher as I descended into near 100 degree heat to the Batopilas river, where it was a 7 mile run into Batopilas. This was the most runnable, fastest section of the course, where the Raramuri would really open up and the race would begin. They all had arrived at the river together.
It was on this home stretch where the cagey veteran, Manuel Luna, would string the others along before putting the hammer down to win by 3 minutes over yet another up-coming 18 year old speedy challenger. For the third time, the crafty 39 year old veteran would win this race, his second victory in this direction.
In all of the state of Chihuahua, this was election day. I had taken a pledge of $200 from the out-going presidente of Batopilas to pay the prize for the winner. The in-coming presidente had pledged 500 kilos of corn to be split among the 7 Tarahumara runners. This korima {gift, sharing} was to be waiting at the finish.
I was on my non-Indian record pace upon arrival at Cerro Colorado along the Batopilas river, though feeling well abused, happily hiking this most runnable section of the course into Batopilas, and sprinting to the finish where I had my race director/sponsor duties to attend to.
My friends Mario and Nena were at the finish to record the times and places, along with all the runners who had been waiting, drinking cold soda. Nobody else came.
There was no presidente at the finish to present the $200 first prize. There were none of the ten 50 kilo sacks of maiz {corn}. Like Ramon Chingon, no show.
On this election day, 7 incredible athletes, and their friend, had run a very tough trail marathon plus, to arrive in Batopilas to vote for whoever they thought would care the most about them. This appeared to be no-one.
We all walked to a restaurant in the plaza that had pledged a big meal of fresh killed beef. I was craving some fresh killed tofu myself, but knew that the runners would like the beef. They were all too hot and tired to eat, taking the beef in bags to go.
The town of Batopilas was in a disorganized chaos. Many Of the Tarahumara people had walked in to participate in the voting process as there were not enough ballots in the rural districts. There were also no ballots remaining in Batopilas for the indigenous voters; no hay processo!
We had our own little awards presentation on the porch at Mario´s. The runners were presented $700 in cash prizes, then caught a ride to Cerro Colorado, where they would only have 4-10 miles, and only another 3,000 feet verticle for Manuel, to walk home to their various ranchos. I offered to buy them a hotel room, but all wanted to get out of the chaos of Batopilas and return to their homes in the land of the Tarahumara.
Would it not be cool if we could hire these guys as guides, paying them well to take long easy runs with us and show us around?
This morning, Tuesday, March 23; I walked into the town plaza where I presented the results of the race to the out-going and in-coming presidentes, reminding them that we had a race. They seemed genuinly interested, both vowing to make good on their pledges, ahora {now}.
May all of us run free.
Micah True {Caballo Blanco}
RESULTS:
1- Manuel Luna 39 Gavilana 5.01
2- Lorenzio 18 Ocorare 5.04
3- Ignacio Palma 39 Kirare 5.14
4- Sebastiano 34 Munerachi 5.20
5- Herbalisto 47 Chinivo 5.32
6- Maurilio 28 Ocorare 5.40
7- Porfilio 28 Munerachi 5.42
8- CaballoBlanco 51 Batopilas 7.05 Colorado
9- Ramon Chingon ?? Apache de norte NO SHOW!
10- El processo democratico - no show
*This was the Fall 2004 run that never happened and after this is became only an annual event in March versus bi-annual like the first 3
2004 Fall Race Final Update
Because of the lack of positive outside interest or funding required to stage this race in a way that will ensure a safe and quality experience for all participants, and not wanting to compromise myself or the Raramuri people by seeking or accepting financial assistance in the form of sponsorship; this race has been canceled. Perhaps by the February 1 entry deadline for the March 6 run, we will have a few more entrants that will enable me to sponsor a small run among myself, a few like-minded and respectful state-side trail runners, and a few Raramuri.
My heartfelt thanks to anybody who has expressed a genuine interest.
I hope to have occasional more clandestine, unpublicized runs with no entry fee at times when I am able. Any earnings from trail-guide work that I may acquire will most likely go towards these running projects because I believe it is good thing to do and I enjoy interacting with the people in this way.
Andale!
Micah
