Without running shoes, three Rarámuri run 428 kilometers in 64 continuous hours

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Meet the winners of the Big Dog’s Backyards, where the participation of three rarámuri that ran for 64 continuous hours stood out.

This 2020, the Big Dog’s Backyards race, held on October 20, highlighted the participation of three Rarámuri athletes from Guachochi and Urique. The ultramarathon attracted 300 participants from 21 countries:

  • Mexico
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Ireland and UK
  • Australia
  • Germany
  • Russia
  • New Zealand
  • Ukraine
  • Japan
  • Finland
  • Switzerland
  • France
  • Singapore
  • Philippines
  • Belgium
  • India
  • Spain
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Belarus

The race is part of the International Adventure Tourism Festival (FITA), whose organization is sponsored by the Government of Chihuahua in conjunction with the civil association True Messages.

Due to the contingency caused by the pandemic caused by the Covid-19 virus, this year the marathon was carried out through a virtual dynamic. In the case of Mexico, the Copper Canyon served as a trail for runners, where all hygiene measures were implemented to safeguard the health of the participants.

The Raramuri Pedro Parra, Juan Contreras and Miguel Lara obtained an eighth place as a team, after running 428 kilometers in 64 continuous hours. On an individual level, Pedro Parra is number 5, while Miguel Lara was sixth.

Therefore, Pedro Parra was in first place within the national team and in fifth overall. While Karel Sabee from Belgium achieved first place in all categories with 502 kilometers and 75 hours.

Photo: Referente.mx

It is not the first time that a Rarámuri indigenous has had world exposure in a tournament of this type. In 1928 two indigenous Chihuahuas were already participating in the  Olympics, however, they were far from winning, because the marathon was too short (42 km). The secret of the Rarámuri is endurance, not speed.

The Chihuahua Post