Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco 2014...Kuira Ba!

   It has been nearly two weeks since I return from the Copper Canyon and my head is still reeling with scenes of the running people, the deep hot canyon where they live, and the affection I felt there.

Before leaving home I worried that this trip and the UMCB may have lost it's magic now that Micah

is gone. On my first journey to the race I had no idea of what to expect. My only frame of reference was the book Born to Run and my love for Mexico. My 2012 trip had a huge impact on me. The Tarahumara completely floored me. Here are these people living in this extremely remote and rugged landscape in a way, a fashion, that has changed little in hundreds of years. They are part of their surroundings, part of their environment, and their identity is strongly tied to it. But above and beyond their beauty, both physical, and dress, I was amazed at the fact that they exist, that their culture exists, and that it's just a short journey away. Two years ago when I signed up for the race I had no idea of the door I was opening. Two years later I am so glad that I returned. Micah's race, his dream has lost none of it's magic, this is still a very special event.

Urique Canyon

   There is almost nothing better then seeing the wonder on the face of a friend when you finally arrive at the destination of your travel. So was the case on driving into the Canyon this year. I was sharing a ride with Dean, his two little boys, and his mother Doris, along with Jim and a couple of locals from Urique. As the truck rounded a corner and we caught the first view of the Canyon the mood of weary traveler was instantly replaced by wonder. For both Jim and I we knew what to expect, the grand sweep of the Urique canyon stretching out; I think for Jim, Darkling Thrush, and myself it was like coming home. But for Dean and crew it was "WOW we're going there!" From that moment all of the travel miles faded and the reality of the trip welcomed us in.

The next day, Friday, Maria and Flint organized a walk up to Guadalupe Coronado, its a chance for people to meet and to become acquainted. Later in the day I reflect on the people I met, how open and friendly they all are, and that the overriding theme in our lives has been to experience life. This is a group not happy looking on from the side line. Nope, we want to be thrown into the blender with the spices, chocolate, and tequila, then offered up around the camp fire. That night there is a big cookout at one of the camps set up for the Tarahumara and it appears that a few hundred people are there. I hang off to the side and get a chance to talk with a man who tells me that he, his son and a few others have run for two days to get here. This kind of makes my own journey seem easy. Heck I just sat on my butt for two days, going from plane to train, to van. This man ran untold miles to get here. But we are both the same. Our similarities outweigh our differences. Kuira Ba...we are all one. A couple of weeks before I left to head south a line passed through my mind...from the dust of the rings of Saturn...I was beginning to understand what it meant.

On Saturday Dean and I head out for a run to keep our legs loosened up. We talk about race tactics, the people we've met, and how good it is to be here. We run into Hiroki who is out doing the same. He tells us that he is not racing this year, but is there to pace his teacher; how cool is that.

School yard at Guadalupe Coronado.

   Sunday morning, time to go racing. At 4:00 am I wander into town to have breakfast. Right across the road from Entra Amigos the Tarahumara runners and their families are lining up at an outdoor camp kitchen for breakfast. Soon we will all be running together, wrapped in our individual thoughts, but sharing the experience. After a breakfast of potato burritos, coffee, and fruit I walk back out to Keith's place, stretch a bit, change clothing and return to town. I'm only there a short while before the race starts and off we go.

The first leg of the run up to Guadalupe Coronado is just fantastic in the dim light and cool air of early morning. After forty-five minutes the leaders come blasting back down hill and for a short distance my pace quickens with the excitement. At the church I pick up my wrist band, and head back down. I'm feeling great and exchange comments with other runners on how beautiful the canyon looks in the early morning sun light. At the bridge there is a large crowd cheering runners on and I get a big boost of energy from all of the applause. But now the real work would began.

Two years ago I had no idea of what I was doing. Hell, when I finished the first loop that was my longest run to date. Now I had two years of running to fall back on and was determined to finish.

I walked the long hill to where the single track begins. Once at the aid station I watered up, fueled and started the long climb to Mesa Naranjo. Part way up the climb I caught up with my new friends Kiki, Ramon, and Felix. On Thursday night we had shared a table at Mama Tita's and they asked me many questions about the course. I shared with them all I knew and they were nice enough to buy me dinner. Now we were all grinding our way up the climb. Kiki asked me how much further it was and when I tell him that we are only halfway, he says "John lie to me. Tell me we are almost there, not much further." I tell him "sorry man but we still have a long f-ing way to go." When the trail starts to level off towards the top I pick-up the pace and leave my new friends behind.

After the aid station I have my only moment of doubt in my ability to finish. But before the thought can fully take hold I erase it from my thinking completely, never to let it reappear. But the reality of finishing in eleven and a half hours becomes a concern, when I decide to let that go, I completely relax and the run takes on a new level of fun.

Back in Urique I'm greeted by Dean's family Kenji, Enzo, and Doris. I fill up on water, fuel, and food. As I'm ready to leave Doris hands me a potato burrito, this last act makes all the difference in the next nine miles.

A short way outside of town the front runners pass me going the other way. I am completely amazed to see how fast they are going. For me I settle into my pace and concentrate on staying hydrated and fed. Then on a down hill I see a runner coming the other way who looks familiar. It's Arnulfo Quimare. I call out his name and clap my hands. His face lights up with a smile.

Once at the bridge I fuel up with pinole, orange slices, and food from my pack, then cross the foot bridge and start the climb to Los Alisos. Two years ago God showed up at this very spot, took one look at me and laughed his ass off. Then just to add insult to the humor he reached over and turned up the heat a few notches. This year I was ready, I knew what was coming. But with less then a mile to go before the top I felt the effort starting to get to me. Immediately I put down a gel, salt tab, and lots of water. "Just make it to the top" I told myself and "you've got this in the bag". By the time I reached the top I had recovered a bit, but I was still very tired. I drank a bottle of fuel, ate grapefruit slices, and two hot handmade corn tortillas. I stay there for a long time enjoying the scene and the camaraderie. When I finally head down I'm feeling revived.

On my way down I pass Ramon on his way up. I'm really glad to see him. He looks tired, but he is still moving. I encourage him on, and tell him to eat and drink before he heads back down. When I get to the river I take off my pack and submerge myself until I feel cold. Then start back to Urique.

The run back to Urique goes great. I'm walking the ascents and still have enough in my legs to run the flats, and the descents. For a while I run with Flint but he sends me on my way when the runner he is with becomes sick. Next I run and have a good conversation with a guy named Hector who is from Chihuahua. Then before I know it I'm back in Urique.

When I get to my drop bag I run into Kiki. He is in sandals, his ankle is black and blue, his race ended after the first loop. I reload my gels, grab another bag of my trail mix and am about to leave when Kiki asked me "Don't you have a headlamp?" "Oh man thanks so much for saying something." I grab my headlamp a couple of orange slices, along with a bean burrito and head out of town.

Finished

The next five miles to the turnaround at Guadalupe Coronado is hard as hell. My legs are really tired turning my uphill pace into something of a stroll. But runners coming the other way keep me going. I see Dean a short distance from town on his way to a sub eleven hour finish, his first ever ultra...way to go Dean! I see Luke on his way into town, looking strong and putting in a fantastic time. I also see many Tarahumara men and women on their way to finishing and I'm thrilled to think of the day that we've shared. Then a short distance from the turnaround I see Hiroki. He takes up my hands and says "Kuira ba John Kuira ba!" These words, "We are all one," and his enthusiasm warms my heart and makes me think of all the people I had met while on this journey. I'm totally worn out when I make the turnaround but something has changed. Maybe it's the pinole, or the gels, or a friend's words of encouragement. Whatever it is I start to feel so much better and find that my legs have more run left in them than I thought. As I head down the last hill to the bridge I can once again hear a crowd, though much smaller then the morning, cheering on the runners, and once again I get a boost of energy. Now I'm just a short distance from a goal that has been two years in the making. As I get closer to the finish the street becomes more and more clogged with people. Right before the finish line I practically tackle a guy then almost get taken out by a kid on a bike just steps before the timing mat. Then I've finished. I'm just floored. Dean is there. Tyler, Tony, and Pat are there. Some guy races over to cut my timing chip from my shoe. It's all a blur. I am really happy.

  The next day I walk around town eating and saying good-bye to people who are leaving. The Tarahumara are lined up to collect their food vouchers, and the town has a feeling of slowing down. That night there is a big group dinner at Keith's, along with a birthday celebration for Gary. The people who I have met in this canyon, at this race, are some of the finest I've ever known. They all have generous hearts and talents beyond the label of ultra runner, and they are all made from something just a little different...from the dust of the rings of Saturn.

  I want to send out a big Thank You! to Maria, Josue, Cecy, and all the volunteers who made this event possible. I also wanted to thank the town of Urique for being so welcoming. And finally I want to give a shout out for the Corrida de los caballitos. This in it's self was worth the price of admission.

   See you all next year!