Club Mas Loco
What is Club Mas Loco?
Club Mas Loco was founded by Micah True (Caballo Blanco) for those who participate in the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco (previously the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon)
Runners of the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco are called Mas Locos (Very Crazy). In the eyes of Caballo Blanco, all Mas Locos have in common the values of sharing, respect, compassion and peace. They share a culture of running with the Raramuri (Tarahumara) and offer Korima to the Peoples of the Canyons.
An old Friend
I met Micah True on the beach at Padre Island in 1979. It was winter but not too cold that far south, and he and me and two others, Angelica Richter and Bill Cody, camped on Mustang Island for a couple of months. Micah and Cody were traveling together in Micah's old blue pick-up with a canvas over the bed, and Cody had taken a chef's job in the motel-restaurant that still is there, but "upgraded" now. I'd met Angelica a week before, and she and I were in the restaurant having a bottomless cup of coffee, when we saw them dining, and somehow all got to talking, and later we ended up in their free motel room to smoke a jay and have a beer.
Backyard Ultra World Championships
True Messages was created to continue the ‘Messages’ and projects began by Micah True (El Caballo Blanco) in honor and support of the Raramuri peoples and culture. Most important in all our Messages and projects is discovering opportunities. Opportunities that create options, opportunities that create choices, and opportunities that allow our friends to show and share the beauty and wisdoms of their culture.
We are truly honored to have helped the Backyard Ultra Championships for Mexico come to life. This platform has given our friends in the Sierra Tarahumara a chance to not only show their special endurance running abilities, but also the simple, humble and inclusive community approach they bring to such challenges. CONT.
2003 Copper Canyon to Canyon Trail Marathon
* a historical post by Micah True in the Fall of 2003
The Meeting: Thursday, November 20
On the Wednesday before the Race, the sponsor and race director, Caballo Blanco, did not know what to expect; I had no expectations. I knew that there would be one other Colorado runner coming, Mega Mel Downs, from Woodland Park.
I walked over La Sierra Madre from start to finish to meet the runner, Mega Mel. This hike took 10 hours. The race meeting was to be held at a noon lunch at the ¨Plaza restaurant… MORE
2004 Copper Canyon to Canyon Run
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 from the 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 accumulated up and down, 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.
A Celebration to honor Micah and Tradition
A weekend honoring the traditions of Rarajipari and Ariweta and celebrating Micah True (El Caballo Blanco) and the love and passion he had for the Sierra Tarahumara (MORE)
Ramirez Family to participate in the Born to Run Ultras 2022
The Ramirez family is a treasure of the Sierra Tarahumara. A living representation of all that is special about the Raramuri people and their running culture. Every member of the family possesses extraordinary endurance running talent, but with humility it is not personal accolades they seek, their focus is to honor the role running has in the Raramuri community and share those traditions with everyone. They desire to pass along the meanings, expressions and importance running has for the Raramuri and its connection with the Earth and one another.
Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco 2022
Registration for international Athletes to the 2022 Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco is now open. After last year’s cancellation due to concerns surrounding the Covid Pandemic, we are all super excited to be able to get back to experience the magic of the Sierra Tarahumara.
Honoring Miguel Lara Viniegra
On March 25th we honored Miguel Lara Viniegra. This young man is an inspiration. He is one of the most successful endurance runners in all of Latin America but it is his character and approach to all of life that endears him to so many. Kind, humble, and giving he has become the pride of not only the local Raramuri communities and Urique, but also Chihuahua and all of Mexico.
Peter Smith a Mas Loco and True Messenger
The Mas Loco and True Messages family was heartbroken to hear that this mid January Peter had passed away after fighting an aggressive cancer for some time. As our friend Graham Kelly shared “Peter was as fine as man as you could meet”. He will be greatly missed by all those that loved him and that he loved. He will be with us forever.
This week marked the service to celebrate Peter’s life. Peter’s family had generously chosen a donation to True Messages as a way to honor Peter, knowing his great love for the people and the lands of the Sierra Tarahumara.
Messengers from Sweden
We want to thank our friends in Sweden for their ongoing support. For several year now they have conducted a Caballo Blanco Memorial Run in honor of Micah and the Raramuri peoples, and raised funds for the Run of the Caballitos (kid’s races) at the Ultra Caballo weekend. We greatly appreciate the support and love the passion. Thanks for the Korima amigos!
What is Korima?
Korima is one of the cornerstone principles of Tarahumara / Raramuri society. Messengers, Mas Locos, runners and travelers to the Sierra Madre are all served an unforgettable lesson in Humanity when they first come in contact with this beautiful, simple concept: What I have, you have too.
Literally translated, Korima means “circle of sharing”. It’s a basic principle that states it is the community, not the individual, which is the end owner of pretty much everything. Thus, wealth and resources are more evenly distributed among the community, with a special emphasis on the elders and those in less favorable conditions. It is not rare to see a Raramuri worker come back to his family with his earnings and stop by neighboring houses to share some of his salary. Same goes for food and everyday items, and the concept also extends to help with physical work or whatever else might be needed at the time.
Beyond sharing, the principle of Korima also entails the absence of an expectation of return. Sharing is selfless, and thanks or acknowledgements are not be expected. True Korima is, therefore, an act of humility.
Communities who follow the simple rule of Korima put more emphasis on relationships and global well-being. We think it’s a beautiful thing and it’s one of the greatest “True Messages” ever.
Run Free: The True Story of Caballo Blanco
Those who knew Micah, knew he wasn’t necessarily a fan of interviews, social media and anything related to self promotion. Quite the opposite. However he realized he had a platform that could use to introduce the world to the beauty of the peoples and lands of the Sierra Tarahumara. With that he did on occasion participate in group setting where he would share some stories and wisdoms from his time in the Barrancas. However for the most part he remained reluctant and humble when it came to sharing about himself. With his passing being prior to the huge growth of social media and YouTube and all the other platforms of digital engagement we have nowadays, there simply isn’t a whole lot of ‘Micah as Micah True (or Caballo Blanco)’ available for those just coming to know his story. There is however, one huge exception - the documentary Run Free: The True Story of Caballo Blanco.
It’s a blessing that Run Free even came about. First the documentary includes Micah conversations and footage that only happened because it was Micah’s friend Sterling Noren behind the camera and the conversations. Authenticity was a true mantra for Micah, and he knew he could trust Sterling to not produce anything but the truth. Second, the sad fact is when these conversations and video imagery of Micah was being captured, little did Sterling, Maria or anyone know that they would become an essential part of the story that documented his life and his death.
If you have not yet experienced Run Free, please do - and join us, we are the messengers.
Born to Run Free: True Trails from the Horse’s Mouth
In his own words Micah shares a little about some wanderings and stories of old. Would have been great to read the story of the Gypsy Cowboy!
A tribute to Running Women
The runningverse is filled with amazing stories of people discovering a whole new world of health, elation and adventure. It brims with joy, excitement and positivism. But it also brings about a great, wonderful paradigm which we think the world needs. True equality.
Meeting the Tarahumara at Leadville
This is one of the wonderful stories Micah originally wrote on his site caballoblanco.com. then republished after his passing on Norawas.com
By Micah True
The summer of 1993:
I awoke in Boulder Community Hospital after a severe bicycle accident. My helmet had been split in two and numerous cuts around my eyes had required many stitches. The last thing I remembered was flying over the handle bars of my bike while speeding downhill at about 35 miles an hour and hitting a patch of gravel on the long, paved descent….
Running La Sierra Tarahumara
This is one of the wonderful stories Micah originally wrote on his site caballoblanco.com then later published at www.norawas.com
By Micah True
My introduction to La Sierra Madre of Mexico was in November of 1994. That was the summer when a team of 7 Tarahumara indians, [most of them from the same village of 400… (cont)