Words have the power to both destroy and to heal.
When used in a way that is both true and kind
they can change our world
__Buddha

Last year, the cash prize money paid for our CCUM was 23,000 pesos.

Finishing my run in the Urique town plaza after running up and on-to that other single-track trail section to the bridge at Arroyo Mescalera and back, El Presidente de Urique called the ol' Caballo Blanco into his office, wanting to know where I had been and why I did not meet with him yesterday. I told him that I had been thinking. He told me what they were going to start calling the race.

"The what?!"......I gasped, responding to his suggestion of calling the race El Caballo Blanco Memorial Urique Canyon Ultra Marathon. "For one thing, that is too long a name, and besides, I am not dead yet!" He said that I certainly should be, and why wait until you die? And besides, Corridos--folk songs never die, and they want to honor the way I celebrate living. umm...."Gracias?" I think. "Well......What do ya want to pay for prize money this year?" I asked. He said that he will pay 50,000 pesos--at the deep canyon exchange of 10 to 1, that equals almost $5,000 dollars. That's great, and El Zorro is buying 7 1/2 tons of corn.

"And what about las mujeres--women?" I asked...... "How 'bout $500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third? And in addition, any woman who finishes in the top 10 winnings, also wins the overall prize for the place she takes". For example; La Brujita came in 4th last year. This year, first woman gets $500 in addition to the 4th place overall prize of $500= $1,000 bucks.......He is considering that idea, and probably will go for it.....Not a bad take for a little witch and/or our seed farm!

Prizes:

• 10th through 6th places: $200 and 1,000 pound of corn
• 5th place: $300 and 2,000 pounds of corn
• 4th place: $500 and 2,000 pounds of corn
• 3rd place: $700 and 2,000 pounds of corn
• 2nd place: $1,000 and 2,000 pounds of corn
• 1st place: $1,500 and 2,000 pounds of corn

The odds of winning a prize are pretty darn good considering last year there were 41 runners! We would hope that all stateside runners would want to give back most of their prize as Korima, to help support our seed farm project.

Here in the land of korima, we have no corporate sponsors; only a circle of truth and beauty.