May 12
The Night Run
8k,  3 mile
An old favorite returns to Scottsdale Civic Center Mall after a hiatus. Enjoy a great run, some music and good time on the lawn. For more details see The Night Run

I am Sue Berliner, a.k.a. the SWEAT Princess and publisher of SWEAT Magazine, Arizona's Sports and Fitness Resource. My mission is providing information and inspiration for a healthier life.

Who in their right mind spends $110 for produce for themselves in a single trip to the farmers market at one vendor? That would be me. And I am proud to proclaim my penchants for produce.

A little more than a c-note bought me 70 pounds of fresh organic and 90 percent local grown gastronomical pleasure. It was an all time high by weight and cost for a single purchase of produce while one of my lowest per pound cost at $1.57. What a deal; it felt like winning the lottery.

Yes, I obsessively weigh my always loaded basket each trip to the market. This instance it was actually two baskets. I play a game with the cashiers of McClendon’s Select at the Town and County Farmers Market. They tell me how much it weighs and I guess the cost and I usually within a few dollars. I don’t keep a ticker tape running while shopping. I just make an educated guess based on the weight and adjust for more expensive items like pecans or baby greens.

Here is a tip. Being the cost conscience consumer that I am, when choosing a head of lettuce, cabbage or bunch of beets that are priced per head or bunch (instead of by pound),  look for the heaviest head to get the most bang for your buck.

What possessed me to double my volume? I had no dinner parties or out of town guests to cook for. It was June 23 and Bob McClendon and his crew would not be displaying their beautiful bounty again until the first week in October. So I stocked up on what would last. Since his veggies are fresh picked the day before the market (and with proper storage) much will last two weeks or more.

It has been three weeks. The last of his crispy romaine became a Tuscan salad three days ago. Purple and green cabbage heads, sweet potatoes, a spaghetti squash, carrots, onions, ginger and lots of garlic remain. But the withdrawal pains have begun.

Here is another tip. I'll chop and freeze much of the garlic, ginger and onions for later use. It actually saves time in cooking. I chop the garlic in a food processor and store in glass freezer containers. It is much easier then chopping a few cloves at a time. You can also freeze the garlic in mini ice cube trays to create pre-measured cubes.  I frequently cook with garlic so this is a major time saver and good to do anytime.

While McClendon prepares his soil and plants for the fall, I’ll feed my addiction at a few other farmers markets.

A favorite is Singh Farms at Thomas and the 101 in Scottsdale. The farm and their garden market is a great place to hangout on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The farm is loaded with trees for shade and you will usually find a top Valley chef cooking up something special in the outdoor wood burning pit. It is an organic farm and there is a lot you can learn about growing from the Singhs.

I also stop by the scaled down Scottsdale Farmer’s Market in the shaded concourse of the Scottsdale Stadium on Saturdays at Osborn and Civic Center. While not certified organic, I have gotten some tasty tomatoes, cantaloupe and watermelons that are locally grown with out pesticides and at great prices.

It takes a little effort and planning, but you can find quality nutritious food at affordable prices. While $110 for one person may sound like a lot, it is not. The quality is top notch with minimal waste and nutrient dense for $1.57 a pound.

How many pounds of nutrition does $110 buy you?

May 5
Whiskey Row Marathon/ Half Marathon
Prescott, AZ 26.2
mile, 13.1 mile, 10k, 2 mile

This is one of the toughest and most scenic marathons in the United States. May 5 marks the 34th anniversary of the Whiskey Row Marathon. Join runners from all over the country in this prestigious event. In addition to the marathon there is also a half marathon, a 10K and 2-mile fun run. The terrain is rugged, the altitude exceeds a mile above sea level, and the weather can be severe.

This out-and-back course is considered one of the most difficult in the United States, offering panoramic views of northern Arizona. Starting at 5,280 feet, the elevation increases at 7,000 feet at the 13-mile turnaround. The course is paved road for the first and last 5 miles, the rest is on Forest Service dirt road in the pines. The Marathon begins at 6 a.m. on Montezuma Street in front of the Palace Bar and Restaurant followed at 7 a.m. by the half marathon. For more details visit whiskeyrowmarathon.com.

MAY 5
Iron Gear Sports Rio Triathlon
Olympic, Sprint

The Iron Gear Sports Rio Salado Triathlon returns to Tempe Town Lake for its second edition on May 5. The popular event offers Sprint and Olympic distances and relay divisions for both distances. There is even a Buddy Wave Division. If you want to complete the race with another participant who is not in your age group (mom, brother, sister, friend, etc) the Buddy Wave is for you. The Buddy Wave will be the last wave. Buddy Wave athletes are not eligible for awards. That makes it easy for everyone to participate.

In addition to earning series, there are great bennies for participating. The race is chip timed. All participants receive gender specific cut Dri-Fit event T-shirts, plentiful aid stations and more.

Packet pick-up will be available on May 4 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Tempe Beach Park. The race begins with the first wave going off at 6:30 a.m. at Tempe Beach Park. For more information or to register, visit. www.redrockco.com.

April 29
Mesa Iron Gear Sports Adult Sprint & Olympic Triathlon & Duathlon
Mesa
Sprint, Olympic (Tri & Du),  Youth triathlon

Tri Family racing heads to Mesa on April 3 for the Iron gear Sports Adult Sprint and Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and Youth triathlon. The event will be held at the new Skyline 50 meter heated pool, Skyline High School, 845 S. Crismon Rd., Mesa, (north of Southern). There is perfect distance offered for every member of the family from novice to elite. The first event kicks off with the Youth triathlon at approximately 6:30/6:45 a.m. The Adult Triathlon and Duathlon starts at 7:15 a.m. All tri-entrants must have their bikes in the transition area no later than 6:30 a.m.

Registration packets and late registration will be available at Iron Gear Sports, 6655 E. McDowell Road (Suite 103, southwest corner of Power and McDowell), Mesa, from 1 to 5 p.m. on April 28. For more details visit trifamilyracing.com.

May 5

Paradise Valley
Ride for the Children
10, 25, 65 mile rides

The 15^th Annual Ride for the Children will revolve around the striking back-roads of Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale. There are three routes designed for each skill level. The most challenging is the 65-mile ride across 40-miles of Scottsdale’s desert terrain and a 25-mile loop through Paradise Valley. The 25-mile ride has some challenging bends and a 2-mile uphill through Paradise Valley. For families and novices, the 10-mile ride provides the perfect pace to enjoy the scenery. The ride starts at Horizon High School on 56^th Street and Greenway.

The Ride for Children benefits the Real Gift Foundation, which provides activities and programs to promote health maintenance, healthcare services, food, clothing, holiday treats and education for more than 12,000 homeless children attending schools in Maricopa County. Learn more at rideforthechildren.com.

Update: You can now post Micah Memorials at Caballoblanco.org.

It has been a very sad week with the news of Micah True's passing. Known as Caballo Blanco, the kind soul has inspired the entire running community. Micah you will be missed by so so many..
May you Rest in Peace. There will be a memorial run in Phoenix on Sunday, May 6th. From Maria, his love

"We will be meeting at 8 AM at the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve at the Gateway trailhead for a group run, and will gather afterward to share food, stories, and friendship".
Check back here on the SWEAT FB fan page . We will keep you updated. If you know of events happening in  other communities you can also comment here and on our fan page.
I feel fortunate to have gotten to know him over the past few years. and my good friend Maria. Maria my heart goes out to you

We pulled this from the archives so you can experience who Micah was .Read the story at  Micah from fall of 2010. To  see the searchable pdf form with photos visit SWEAT Sept 2010.  
Sue Berliner.

.

Meet Micah True, known as Caballo Blanco

Caballo Blanco, the central character in Christopher McDougal’s popular book Born to Run is no ghost as described in the book and never was.

By Sue Berliner

Micah True was given his nick-name meaning White Horse by the Mayans who inhabited the highlands of Guatemala during the time of their civil war.
While spending a few winters circling the volcanic crater lake of Attitlan, True would run into a village, greet the Indigenous people, buy some tortillas and bananas, then move on from village to village. Eventually as he entered the outskirts of each village, the women and children would line the streets calling out “El Caballo Blanco,” and the kids would follow him, laughing. He thought this sweet so he carried this name throughout his travels in Latin America.
In his article Meeting the Tarahumara at the Leadville 100 (www.caballoblanco.com) he writes “The image of a Caballo Blanco must be rather endearing to Latin and Indigenous people, because I have always been greeted warmly, bringing a smile when I introduce myself.”
I first met the soft spoken True at Sole Sports in Tempe where he spoke to a group of runners in late June. Slender, he stands 6’2, weighs 170 pounds with a shaved head and strong, working man arms. You can sense his kindness and warmth through his hazel eyes.
He talked about his experiences with the Raramuri (Tarahumara) and the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon (CCUM) he started in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains. His 51-mile race dubbed “The greatest race the world has never seen.” was the focal point of McDougal’s book.
Life is full of coincidences, especially with the advent of social media. Maria Walton, Micah’s girlfriend, and I became friends via Facebook prior to the presentation. We made plans for a feature on Micah.
Maria, an Operating Partner for P.F. Chang’s in Mesa, arranged for the three of us to meet at P.F. Chang’s, Scottsdale Waterfront in mid July.
True, 56, splits his time between Colorado and the Copper Canyons with stops in between. He is humble, passionate, and wise.
Here is your chance to meet the True man behind Caballo Blanco.

FIRST RACE

About every seven or eight years Micah True has those turning points choosing either to live or start dying.
At an early age Micah True knew he would not live a conventional life. After growing up in California and attending school in Humbolt County his wandering ways began.
“I was very transient,” said True. “I wandered all over the place. I was in Hawaii when I was 25, 26. I landed in Colorado when I was about 27. I was a prize fighter, a professional boxer. I ran some for that, I ran more than other boxers.”
Once in Colorado while still boxing he started running more and got into full contact karate. He began traveling to Mexico and Central America traveling by foot.
“I thought it was romantic and special and I just got around by foot, self propulsion so that is what I did,” said True. “I did not run a race until I was 32, but I ran 100 plus mile weeks for years. When I finally did run a race I had been running 170 and 180 mile weeks for a year, for fun as an experiment. I would get up at 4 in the morning and run 25 miles. At noon, I would run another 10 miles.
“I ran my first race because someone talked me into it. He [the friend] said there was a fifty miler up in Wyoming. So my first real race was a fifty miler and I accidentally won. I got stronger as I went.”
That was in 1986 at the Rocky Mountain Double 50 miler from Laramie to Cheyenne on the back roads of Wyoming.
“I did 6:12.That was a pretty good time for a High altitude 50, I guess. My first race and my record,” said True.
“Fifty-one out of the all time fastest 50s,” Maria Walton added.
“I won a few fifty milers and started taking myself seriously,” said True. “I started thinking I had to keep up the mileage. I started getting competitive and I don’t really like myself then. Starting to get injured, in the long run, was a good thing because it lightened me up and opened me up to other things. It took me out of myself and then I stopped running competitively. I started running for the reasons I began with, just to be fit and my own reasons other than competition.
I have been doing it that way ever since although I have slowed down quite a bit.”
He attributes the slowing down to getting older. He has never done speed work. He runs because it is meditative.
“It is a good way to clean myself out and let ideas flow. I always have better ideas, more clear about my thoughts. I need to be happy when I run. When I am not happy I don’t want to run. Although, it makes me happier for sure to do it. The hardest part sometimes for any runner is just getting out the door. You move through the barriers you get into that zone.”

A BICYCLE ACCIDENT LEADS TO THE RARAMURI

In 1993 he returned to Leadville, Colo. for the Leadville 100 after a six year hiatus.
“I ran the race to celebrate being alive after having a really bad bicycle accident and waking up in the hospital,” said True. “It was about a month before the race and I decided I would celebrate being alive by entering the race again.
“So I went and ran Leadville and I met this 55-year old Indian. Sixty miles into the race he passed me and he went on and won the race.
I did pretty good. I started getting intrigued by it. The next year I wanted to enter the race again to bring my time down and I could not get into the race so I volunteered to pace some of the Raramuri in 1994.”
It was a different team that year. True said the promoter from Tucson had a falling out with the 93 team. So the promoter brought a different team.
“They were younger and they came in 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11,” said True. “That was the year the La Bruja, Ann Trason came in second. That is when we named her La Bruha. They were in awe of the ‘witch’ right away.”

GHOST STORIES

True started going to the canyons in 1994, stopping on his way south to Guatemala. Then he started making the Canyons his home, living at the bottom of the deep canyon and began building a house.
“They [Raramuri] lived in the boondocks for good reason. I did not want to intrude on them and wanted to give them space. I did my own thing and found my own way around. After awhile I started skirting some of the villages. That is where Christopher [McDougal] comes up with this ghost thing about this ghost [me] running through the villages because the Raramuri were curious as to who this guy was because I wasn’t going to intrude on them. I was respectful. I don’t think there was any rumor I was a ghost. They see Gringos down there. They see tourists. To make it seem like a different planet is not accurate. It is a different world but not a different planet.
Sensationalism sells. It is not how it is there.”
After awhile he began to interact with the people. He said it takes years before the Raramuri open up to you.
COPPER CANYON ULTRA MARATHON IS BORN
He felt the Raramuri were not treated properly and taken advantage of by promoters in the states.
“That is the big reason I am doing the race in the canyons” said True. “I feel as though they are better off where they are at. They don’t have to deal with all that crap.
People want to run with them where they are. They don’t have to leave their homes or go very far from their homes. And they are winning prize money in corn and prizes and stuff that their traditional races provide.”
He also started the race to encourage the Raramuri to keep running free and to continue their age old traditions. He added “To have pride in who they are. That is a free running people because a lot of humanity is not free anymore.”
Six Raramuri and True ran the inaugural CCUM in 2003. In 2006, the event Born to Run covers, seven gringos and 25 Tarahumara ran the race. Before the book left the editor’s desk, the race had already gained popularity attracting a couple hundred Raramuri.
In 2005 he moved the race from Batopilas, where most of the Raramuri live, to Urique.
“That was the year Urique wanted to help sponsor it. The Presidencia wanted me to have the race there because they liked what I was doing. Previous to that I would hike over with the Ramuri and we would race back.
“The more traditional Raramuri lived in Batopilas, the men wearing their kind of loin cloths and skirts and sandals. In Urique they don’t see those kind of people anymore except when we walk over for the race. So they really appreciate them. Where as in Batopilas they see them all the time, they don’t care about them. They are just Indians.
In Urique they are special because the traditional Rarmuri no longer exist.
“Analagoy: as humans,two legged confused ones, we tend to appreciate what no longer exists. When it is gone we wish it was there.
When the air is no longer clean we long for clean air. When you can’t drink the water you long for clean water. When your partner leaves you, you wish she was back. We are confused because we want what is not there. We want what is not attainable.”

THE PRESENT

This year 367 ran the race, 265 Raramuri, 62 gringos and 40 Mexican Nationals. Nine out of the top ten were Raramuri. First place wore his traditional skirt, headband and blouse and Asics stability shoes on his feet. The first gringo was Nick Curry from Tempe, Ariz.
finishing 6th, his brother Jamil finished 13th.
True had just returned from Mexico sporting a few scrapes and injured shoulder when we met for dinner. He was there to run another race and took a tumble on a gnarly descent. He considers himself a good downhill runner, but admitted he probably should not have pushed the pace when the others were walking.
He was also there to check on the status of his race.
“My race is up in the air for this year because of the new President and the elections and not having sponsorships.”
The race he ran was the 14th edition of a Mexican government sponsored race. He has held his race nine times, with two races some years.
“It is mostly Mexican Nationals and Tarahumara,” said True. “They don’t pay near the prize money as my race. My race had $14,000 cash, 100,000 pounds of corn.
This race had no corn. Fifteen thousand pesos, which is $1,200, went to first place and there was prize money paid five deep.
Our race pays twice as much cash and equal value of corn. Six through 10-wins $250 plus 1/2 ton of corn per person, 5th place $500 plus a ton of corn, 4th place $1,000 plus a ton of corn 3rd place $1,500 plus a ton 1st place $2,500 plus a ton of corn.”
He used to deliver the corn. Now they give coupons for the value of 100,000 pounds of corn. So the participants can buy beans, corn, rice, flour, whatever they need from the market.

ON THE RARAMURI, WHAT MAKES THEM SO GOOD AND MORE

When asked why are the Raramuri are so good. True stated: cellular genetic memory.
“They remember how. A lot of us have forgotten and we are retraining ourselves to call up our genetic and cellular memories.
If you have been an athlete you’ve got it in you. So you can recall it and you train yourself to recall it. On a different level you recall it from way back when, from your ancestor.”
During dinner True mentioned there had been some inaccuracies in the book. I inquired as to what the biggest were.
“Nobody ran barefoot,” True was quick to note the book did not say anyone ran barefoot.
It was how some people were reinterpreting it.
More important to him were the conditions of the Raramuri.
“The truth in the conditions of the Raramuri people lies somewhere in between some charity organizations depictions of starving baby’s with their ribs sticking out and desperate women to Christopher’s depiction of a Zen-like village state. Disease less and pure happiness, joy and no problems.
Both descriptions do the Raramuri no favors. They lie somewhere in between.
They have real problems just like all of us.
They are real people so to put them on some sort of pedestal is not realistic and doesn’t do anybody any favors. We should respect them (we should respect all of us) for who they are but don’t treat them as God” Meeting his dog Guadajuko was one of his most memorable guiding experiences.
“He emerged from the river when I was guiding a group of students, said True. “He escaped from drowning in the river and picked us up. He started walking with us and followed us all the way over from one canyon to another and got in on three square meals a day. [He] Slept with the girls in their sleeping bags at nighttime.
When we got to where we were going, the girls all left and I got stuck with Guadajuko. It means the equivalent of cool, awesome.
Late in the interview, the conversation tuned back to running and why he started running.
“When I was 21, 22-years-old, I had been smoking lots of dope drinking lots of booze, partying hard,” said True.” And I wanted to do something and I couldn’t. It was hard. My throat was bleeding, I was panting and feeling like crap and determined I did not ever want to feel that way again. I thought I was too young to feel that way and never wanted to feel that way again. It was one of those turning points where you either live or you start dying. I have had a few of those every seven or eight years.
I go through that same thing. So are you going to let it go or you going to live? So every now and then the decision comes up again.
I was curious if any obligations to run came with the notoriety of being a main character in the Born to Run.
“I feel bad if I don’t run and I feel good if I do,” said True. If I don’t run I don’t feel really good. I don’t have to meet up to any expectations. When I get things moving I feel better, when things aren’t moving they stagnate. When water is flowing it is cleaner.
When you stop moving you die.”
Many people know the Raramuri as Tarahumara. True explained the difference.
“Raramuri is what they call themselves.
It means light footed ones or running people.
Tarahumara is what the Spanish Conquistadors thought they heard from the Raramuri. And the Raramuri are gentle non-confrontational people.
They did not want to argue the point, so they said whatever,” True said with a light laugh.

THE FUTURE

Did he think about working with the Raramuri thirty years ago when he amped up his running? “I did not visualize the exact projects I am doing now but I guess I knew I would live a similar lifestyle. I knew I would not be doing a mainstream thing. Thirty years ago I knew little of the existence of the Tarahumara. I have always been and admirer of indigenous people.
I am sure I have dreamed and fanaticized certain aspects of my way of life. Some of it is not as glamorous as I have dreamt and some of it is more glamorous. I think I have always had a yearning for adventure and being different.”
He did not have any set in stone long term goals or plans except to run until he dies. He is writing a book Born to Run Free--True Trails From the Horse’s Mouth. Meanwhile rumors of Born to Run on the big screen surfaced when Jake Gyllenhaal and McDugal showed up at the recent Leadville 100 Trail Run.
In regards to the Raramuri he hoped they were going to gain something from the notoriety Born to Run has exposed them to. He feels a big responsibility to keep things real and to do his best to help the Raramuri to help themselves and to continue to run free, be respected and admired from the outside and looked at realistically. He wants them to gain from the exposure and experience and not necessarily in material ways.
The Raramuri way focuses on Korima. The Tarahumara word means “a gift, the circle of sharing.” The CCUM is based on those principals.
“The Ramuri share everything they have, said True. “There is no greed to speak of, people are just more generous.”
Seeing it all come full circle would please the White Horse “I just want to live a healthy life, live and love,” said True. “To do what I can with whatever I am blessed with. I have no material goals of being wealthy. I feel I am already wealthy in the ways I care about.”

April 7
Cave Creek, Arizona
5k, 10k Trail Run
Over the past few years the town of Cave Creek has engaged in a monumental effort to preserve pristine Sonoran Desert lands north of the Phoenix Metro area. By annexing over 6,000 acres of State Land into the Town, Cave Creek negotiated a plan to preserve over 4,000 acres as permanent open space which will be used for trail running, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and as a buffer against rapid urban expansion. They are raising funds to support the annexation to keep the trails open. Take part in the third annual Cave Creek Trail Run to help keep this land open. Enjoy the array of wildlife and wonderful scenery while participating in the 5K run/walk or 10K run on April 7. Your entrance fee will help preserve the Sonoran Desert. There is also a Kid’s Desert Awareness Run/Walk. The 10k gets the activities rolling at 7:15 a.m. For more details trek over to cavecreektrailrun.com

APRIL 27-29
Prescott, Arizona
Mountain Biking

Join Epic Rides as they turn up the volume once again on Arizona mountain biking April 29 to May 1. This year the Whiskey Off-Road expands to three days. The 15 Proof event takes place April 29 at 3 p.m. followed by the Fat Tire Criterium at 5:15 p.m. Saturday morning, April 30 the 50 Proof Category rides out at 7:30 a.m. and the 25 Proof leave at 9:30 a.m. The Pro 50 Proof gets underway at 8:30 a.m. at 8:30 a.m. May 1. Mountain bikers will enjoy a brief stay and steep climb on the pavement while making their way out to the endless single-track offerings located in the Prescott National Forest. Once in the forest, participants will experience technical fast single track, smooth fire roads, quality climbing and vistas that will leave them speechless.
participants plus spectators, friends and family will enjoy a community concerts with special musical guests located at the start/finish area. It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy a cool mountain evening in good company. Funds raised go towards the Yavapai County Food Bank. For all the details visit epicrides.com