Caballitos’ Run 2024

Celebrating running, celebrating the culture and creating an opportunity for it to continue is very important to the Raramuri peoples. Running is a great part of who they are and what they do. The Caballitos’ Run gives the children pride in their running culture. The 2024 start line pictured above shows the variety of footwear the children wore (or did not wear). Just like most years grit and determination were ultimately more important than the footwear.

Every year for almost a decade, the day before the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco a kids race or Caballitos’ Run is held. There are typically 600-800 hundred children, mostly Raramuri, who come to participate. Many children walk into Urique having traveled a great distance prior to the race. It is a big deal for the kiddos and they arrive excited and anticipating a fun day. Prior to the race each child receives a t-shirt. For many years The 100 Mile Club has donated their club shirts for the kids and they look forward to receiving them. For many years a Mas Loco, Celeste Havener, has been folding origami caballos for each child. The kids smile as they run off with their little treasure.

The kids races are divided according to age with the littlest ones just running down Calle Principal a very short distance and the races getting a bit longer for each age group. After they cross the finish line each child has a medal put around their neck and receive words of accomplishment for having finished their race. The medals are donated from runners and race directors around the globe and collected and transported with the help of True Messages. The children enjoy comparing their medals.

After the races there is an award ceremony with prizes for the children who place in their age group followed by a lunch.

This is a day that kids look forward to all year! They celebrate with their families and with the community the remainder of the day.

True Messages has been honored to be able to volunteer and bring volunteers to help with this event. Each year as I both volunteer and watch the other volunteers I am filled with the knowledge that the volunteers are enjoying themselves as much as the children.

Would you like to help with the race? You can come volunteer, donate medals or make a monetary donation.