Inspiration for the Race

What originaly inspired me to conduct the MAS 50 miler, is my Mexica (pronounced Meh-shee-kah) roots to Anahuac ( Ah-nah-wak). Anahuac stretched from Central America to North America. Within that much vast territory there were, and still are, a mosaic of First Peoples cultures. We did not have the horse until after 1519, so up until then we used our feet to travel. There were roads and trails that led from Central America all the way up into the present day Southwest. We ran or walked from small communities to metropolises or visa-versa. We did this to communicate, trade, celebrate, and even war. Therefore, the Motlaloani (the runner) is held highly, and is a well respected women/man in each community, because we can reach and cover vast land the fastest.

An example of the motlaloni skill to cover long distances comes from a book named Indian Running: Native American History and Tradition by Peter Nabokov. In his well documented book, he tells about the Mexica motlaloani. When Hernan Cortez arrived on the shores of Chaniztlan, the motlaloani within twenty four hours has described to Montezuma what they have seen, it was 260 miles away! There are many other amazing and well documented stories in the book Indain Running.

As I was growing up, my father Juan Martinez, use to tell me stories about the Tarahumara runners. My dad being an ultra runner, in the early eighties, and proud of our peoples running traditions, would tell me all about them. Two stories that I am proud of, and I can directly relate to, are about my family. The story of my great grandarents walking from Chihuahua, Mexico to Sante Fe, New Mexico, in the early 30’s, where my grandfather was born in an abandon railcar. And when my father broke and set the course record from Phoenix, Az to Tucson, Az, 118 miles. He ran it in 21 and a half hour. My father who was a great ultra runner has also inspired me to create the MAS 50 miler.

I would like to think of myself as a Motlaloani, who was observing and listening to my father and the many Mexica runners that I came in contact with. These runners I observed were carrying on a rich and long tradition, (even if they didn’t know it) that is in our being. Nican Tlaca (We People Here) are the original trail ultra runners in the Western Hemisphere. Tlazohcamati – Thank you

Chris Martinez – Race Director

Awards

First place will be awarded in each of the following categories:

• Open Race Men
• Open Race Women
• Masters Men
• Masters Women

top