[dwyerm]

I did race operations for the Leadville Trail 100 for a decade, including when the Tarahumara first raced.

The first year, Rockport was a sponsor and loaded them up with their best trail running shoes. The Tarahumara didn't perform well, although that could also be because of other gear issues and that they were not sure that the aid stations were for them. The second year, they stopped by the local landfill for old car tires, and made sandals from them. They set records that year. It was a bit of an embarrassment to the title sponsor...

[themodelplumber]

I saw something similar in the NHK video documentary about Japan's Ultra Trail Mount Fuji race (100 mi.). At just after 3:00 in the video[0] you can see two Mexican entrants of the Rarámuri people. However, one of them is wearing Nike shoes and another wears the traditional sandals. The results I thought were a bit embarrassing for Nike, no matter the exact cause (22 minutes; 29 minutes for the sandals result).

I was however really intrigued by the maize-based powder supplement drink they seem to enjoy. (Pinore, 15:00 in the video)

0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PsKvPTM8po

[xtracto]

I think it is Pinole ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinole ). It is a very tasty powder we have here in Mexico that we use to do some type of milkshakes. I loved it as a kid.

[mgr86]

From the cultivated crops the Tarahumaras prepare the following foods: Pinole, finely ground corn meal, is the most common. The meal is mixed with water and the mixture is drunk. A trait shared by many tribes of northern Mexico and the American Southwest, pinole is an ideal preparation for the highly mobile Tarahumara who carries, in a pouch slung under his arm, enough pinole to last him as much as a week while he is on the trail. Esquiate is similar to pinole but is prepared slightly differently, and, not being a dry meal like pinole, is not as transportable. It too is mixed with water and drunk. It is consumed as commonly as pinole and with this latter constitutes probably 75% of the Tarahumara?s diet. Other corn preparations, used less frequently, are atole (gruel), roasting ears, tortillas, tamales, and the cornflower.

Source:

Champion, J. R. (1970) ‘Study In Culture Persistence: The Tarahumaras Of Northwestern Mexico’. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms. Available at: https://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=nu33-013 (Accessed: 22 August 2019).

[starpilot]

Interesting. Do you think this https://www.ranchogordo.com/products/pinole-azul-heirloom-bl... is similar to what the Tarahumara drink?

[xtracto]

Sounds like it. The only difference I see is in the Corn variety, which in this case is the Blue Corn.

[stronglikedan]

Pinole indeed. FTFA, "To keep hydrated, the Tarahumara runners eat pinole, a corn paste, which is also part of their daily diet."

[arcticbull]

Technically every beverage in America is Maize-based :P and more than likely powder at some point.

[joachim4]

Many people got the story of that race from the book "Born to run". Could you tell your story of that race ?

[dwyerm]

Although I have a lot of stories from my time there, my view of this particular event was mostly from behind a desk. I don't think I can offer much personal insight to it.

But I strongly recommend a video that covers the second race. Not to be confused with the 2009/2010 Citizen Pictures video, this one was put out by a studio in Aspen and I think was produced for the Outdoor Life Network.

The problem is that I'm not sure how one would legitimately source the video today. But if you stop by my place I'll offer you a beer and arrange a showing...? I'll look it up tonight and let you know if I can find a source.

[billman]

I'll bring the chips :)

[skykooler]

I'd imagine running in the shoes you're used to using is probably easier, whether or not they're the best option.

[robben1234]

What's stopping the title sponsor from cooperating with the Tarahumara and making the sandals of their preference just with the sponsor's logo? They could even sell it later in stores.

[grepthisab]

Is this true? I read Born to Run, but the book seemed embellished. Are the accounts of the Tarahumara in that book apocryphal or did all this stuff really happen in Leadville?