Caballo Blanco celebrates Tarahumara runners at Tucson's Summit Hut

Micah True, a.k.a. “Caballo Blanco,” extolled the virtues of the Tarahumara Indians last night at The Summit Hut on Speedway.  He earned his nickname, "white horse," when running trails in Guatemala, "back when I had blond hair," the bald runner jokes. Speaking to an audience of about 75 people, True told tales of the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, a race he organized to “get the Raramuri (as the Tarahumara call themselves) running again, to celebrate their way of life.” True came to Tucson to raise money for his foundation, "Friends of the Running People," that supports Raramuri runners from around the Sierra Madre to travel and compete in ultrarunning events.

“It’s a big party for most of them,” says True. Raramuri runners “never train, they don’t stretch; you see the international runners in all their gear warming up, stretching, going through their pre-race routine.” Meanwhile, True says, “The Raramuri are lying on the ground, smoking cheap cigarettes.”

What makes the Raramuri such greate runners? True believes, “They live closer to the earth,” in their remote villages to which they fled when the Spanish invaded. Hidden in the canyons, farming and herding goats, “They are more connected to their genetic and cellular memory of running ancestors.”

Starting in the town of Urique, the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon course includes Urique Canyon, many crossings of the Urique River, and about 9,300 feet of climbing over 51 miles. The first race, held in 1994, started in the small village of Batapilas and was 47 miles long. A local restaurant owner convinced True to move the start to Urique in 1995. This past spring, 267 Raramuri and 62 international runners participated.

The best-selling book Born to Run, called Caballo Blanco’s Ultra Marathon “the greatest race the world has never seen.” After the book came out, international runner participation quadrupled: “Thank you, book,” says True. He says he’s not the “ghost runner” portrayed in the book; True says it’s a great story, but cautions, “everything in the book is a little extra.”

Raramuri runners at Colorado's Leadville 100 race inspired True to travel to Copper Canyon. “I was running at Leadville and some old guy in a skirt passed me,” remembers True. It was a Raramuri runner in traditional dress who went on to win the race that year. Arriving in the Copper Canyon but not knowing anyone, True immediately learned about corima--the Raramuri word for sharing. True offered a man a ride to his remote village, 5 hours away over bumpy dirt roads. The village gave True food and shelter for the night. True explored the canyon trails by running for “30 or so miles, then stopping at a village, paying a buck for a bed, and sharing blue corn tortillas and tropical fruit with the people.” The Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon embodies corima, “The people are the sponsors of this race, and the Town of Urique hosts it, there is no corporate sponsorship,” he says with pride.

The top five runners win 2,000 pounds and prize money. Places six through ten win 1,000 pounds. Anyone who finishes the race receives 500 pounds of corn. Last March, runners received  $14,000 cash and 100,000 pounds of corn. International competitors traditionally return their prizes to the Raramuri people.

At the start of his story, True says, “I’m not here to talk about barefoot running,” but inevitably, an audience member asks if the Raramuri run barefoot. He exclaims, “I’ve never seen a Raramuri running barefoot! This year’s Raraumuri Ultra Marathon winner wore Asics. Most of them still wear their everyday shoes: huaraches.” He says people buy tire treads and leather straps to make these sandals for about $3.50. "Barefoot Ted," another American who runs in Copper Canyon, provides instructions on how to make your own huaraches.

“We don’t need over-cushioned running shoes,” says True who uses “any old running shoe, the cheapest I can find.” He continues, “We need what we think we need, so if you think you need $100 shoes to run better, you should go ahead and buy them.”

True operates a guide service for adventure travelers who want to explore the trails of Copper Canyon. He knows dependable fresh-water springs, and knows which water to treat with iodine tablets that he carries with him. He says he used to get lost all the time when he first started living in the Sierra Madre, “I got lost so people who hire me as a guide won’t.” He emphasizes that the Canyon is not dangerous for tourists, no matter what the media says about drug running and violence: “I’ve never had a scary experience there.”

He also recommends a local Tucson guide company, Copper Canyon Trails, for travelers who want more comfortable accommodations. “Mike and Kathy do a great job down there,” says True of the Tucson tour guides.

He began his presentation with a film clip from the feature Super Athletes of the Sierra Madre. But he doesn’t think of the Raramuri as super-human; they are simply natural runners. “I talk about running free,” the ultra-runner and race director says in closing. “To me, running free means doing whatever movement it is that you embrace—running, walking, art, and just living life.”

Note: Tucsonans can see and purchase Tarahumara/Raramuri baskets, bowls, and other crafts this weekend at Western National Parks Association store in Oro Valley.