March 31, 2012
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Caballo Blanco – Found dead
UPDATE – They found him dead nearly an hour ago. They haven’t reported how or why.
A very famous Boulder ultra runner, Micah True (Caballo Blanco), is missing in New Mexico. The legendary ultra runner was staying at The Wilderness Lodge and Hot Springs in NM when he went out for a 12 mile run Tuesday morning. True is 58 and has spent time at the Lodge over the years, and he is very familiar with the trails. A 12 mile run is a drop in the ocean for him, and he was expected to return in less than 2 hours.
Fourteen search and rescue teams — including three dog teams, five horse teams, a National Guard helicopter and a Civil Air Patrol fixed-wing aircraft are all searching for him. There is a group I belong to here in Boulder, the Boulder Trail Runners, that gathered together and carpooled to bring volunteers to aid with the efforts. Even the author if the book that made True famous (Born to Run) is assisting with the efforts.
True is a pioneer of ultra raves and currently is the race director of the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, a 50-plus-mile extreme race that took place in Urique, Mexico, on March 4th.
Boulder has the highest concentration of ultra runners in the world, and that is one of the draws that brought me to Boulder. I was so compelled to go with the group to help in the rescue efforts, but I am not qualified. This has inspired me to look into search and rescue training and volunteering, mountaineering and wilderness survival training. I am not taking any more contracts until September, so I have time this summer to train, if that is what I decide is the best plan. Regardless, my heart goes out to True and those searching for him. I am re-reading the book tonight and will continue to hope that he is found alive.
Comments (53)
Hopefully he is ok.
@TheTheologiansCafe - Thanks, it’s looking more grim everyday.
I am sorry to hear this. It would be nice if the found him well
It does not sound good. I hope he gets found.
@FrenzElectric - @Aloysius_son - Thank you, me too!
I’m truly sorry to hear this. Not the best news especially with him missing this long. Will keep thoughts and prayers positive for him. I commend you for taking the training necessary to become involved in something of this nature. Thanks for sharing this, Christina.
I hope he will be found soon and safely.
@MzSilver - Thank you, I hope he is safe, too. The training may not be able to be done in a single summer, but I am going to a volunteer meeting Wed so I will know more then!
@angys_coco - Thank you, me too.
That’s real sad, I hope he gets found soon, alive and OK.
@NewDog2 - Thank you, me too.
sad to hear. Boulder is amazing and it is no wonder there are so many ultra runners there! My uncle lives in boulder and is an avid bike rider. A short ride to him is 40 miles… don’t know how they do it
so sad
@voodoo_flower_child - This is the only place I know where 12 miles is a short run!
@godfatherofgreenbay - Very
Well, that is just terrible.
i’m sorry to hear that. (at least he’s found.)
@TheTheologiansCafe - Very sad. I don’t know why I am taking it so hard, I guess I just admired him so much and felt connected because we ran the same trails, even though I had never met him. Very sad indeed.
@promisesunshine - Now we know, and his family and loved ones can have closure. It’s all tragic.
So sorry to hear. One never knows when their time is up. I know you admired this man, sorry for you and all affected.
closure. that’s what i meant. definitely sad though.
So sad that they found him dead. Did I understand what you wrote-they found him dead?
@ccrider17 - Thank you
@Grannys_Place - Yes, they found him dead but I can’t find it in the news yet. The trail running group he was in (I am too) sent out an email with a promise of details to follow.
I didn’t see this earlier….very sad. Perhaps you can attend his memorial service if they have it in or near where you live.
@Shadowrunner81 - That’s a great idea, thank you. Yes, they will have it here as this is his home. I will attend, and not feel foolish for being so sad to lose a man I never was able to meet
It is sad they found him dead like that wow how awful
@SisterMae - Yeah
How very sad. I’m sure you will let us know the cause when you find out. I will add his family to my prayers. Thanks for keeping us informed.
@MzSilver - Thank you so much, you are such a sweetheart.
@BoulderChristina - Things like this make me realize how very fragile life really is. You need to live every day like it’s your last just to make sure you have lived it with gusto. @Againstthewind1 is right with one of his blogs. I am a ‘feeler.’ Just can’t help it.
My condolences to your running community. He seems to have been a real inspiration.
That sucks. the first things that come to mind…heart attack, snake bite. Keep us posted, it’s sad, sorry to hear it.
That is so heartbreaking.
Sadly, after he went missing for so long, I kinda expected this.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. My condolences.
@RighteousBruin - Thank you, indeed he was.
@DivaJyoti - Thank you, I will post what killed him when I find out. It isn’t unheard of for super athletes to have massive heart attacks young.
@Xcite_Me - Sad, isn’t it?
@Aloysius_son - Hope died with every day he was missing.
@lucylwrites - Thank you
I see Wikipedia is already updated.
i am so sorry to hear this. =/
just saw your update. and saw he was wearing shoes (not barefoot runner -writer)
sorry, i had skimmed it so quickly the first time.
@YouToMe - Thank you! It is very sad, indeed. He didn’t write anything, he was just the subject in a book called Born to Run. Very good, if you get a chance
@BoulderChristina - thanks much for the info. sounds interesting.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of someone you admired. I hope you are able to attend a memorial service.
@Erika_Steele - Thank you
A bummer for sure, especially hard to lose someone you admire.
Thats so sad!
How sad.
So sad …….
Sorry dear, I’m not a stalker. Seriously. I tend to read blogs like novels when I’m reading them, and you seem to be tonight’s “project”.
Dear Christina,
I read with interest your decision to add my poem to your collection of ”Poems About Death That Make You Feel Better” (which I am stealing from you to use as the title of my next collection.) I seem to blog more and more about death as my eternal final timestamp looms closer and closer. (I’m living to be 89, according to a test I once took on the internet! ) (Should take it again and see if anything is different.)
Now on to your blog entry. I really get upset when I read about (on the internet!) sudden and seemingly unbelievable deaths. (that upon first glance makes you wonder why the person died that way or in that manner.) Rodney King died in his swimming pool, and he was an excellent swimmer who was at home in water. I think he was depressed to have become a symbol. HIs book is coming out, too. (I’ll skip adding a link to my reminiscence blog about living “right down the street” from riot torn L.A. in 92)
There was a high school kid just this last weekend who had just texted his mom one afternoon telling her he’d been accepted into the water polo team, and two hours later he was found dead in the school pool after practice. Two coaches were overseeing the practice.
I seem to be reading stories at least once a month (I almost wrote: weekly) where some crazy starts killing his family and/or workmates. (Back in 2005 or so I blogged about how some guy here in L.A. held up a sign after his car chase sequence on the news, so the helicopters would record his name right. He just wanted his 15 minutes of fame. I supply too many links, it’s a habit, and the more I write, the more I “have a link for that”)
Other things get my goat too. But I’m meandering.
I don’t know anything about “ultra running” (and don’t need to, cause you report about it enough that I know about it now.) It’s even worse when we hear of someone dying doing what they love, When you mess with mother nature, you gotta believe going into the trenches that mother nature is going to be messing with you too. This is tragic.
What I will supply a link to is my 2009 essay Meeting My Mortality. (Face it, you knew the link was coming, sooner or later. didn’t ya?)
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philsopher, fool