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memories
Akabill Molmen was a Hawaiian artist, ultra runner, photographer and friend of many. He handcrafted thousands of clay amulets for the finishers of the Ultra Caballo Blanco, Born to Run and many other trail running events. We would like to remember Akabill for his friendship and contribution. We miss you Akabill.
Former resident of Batopilas Canyon, German artist Lutz Köllges created these unique images of the 2010 Ultra Caballo Blanco.
Artist Sam Carbaugh created this comic in honor of Caballo Blanco in collaboration with Mas Locos Maria Walton, Josue Stephens and Flint Bordeau.
"I now find myself unusually shy and humble, very vulnerable. And, I move. I love running some long trail that I don't know. It keeps me in the present. And, I usually get to the top of the mountain, in this town of destination, fresh and surprised, that I'm there already. Because I'm not wondering where I am, or when the goal will be attained. Each breath, in the present. I need to carry this more into every day of living." Micah True- Batopilas Canyon
Here is a Race Poster from 2009. Please note contact information is no longer valid.
Eres Mas Loco? - Are you this crazy?
Reflections of Micah, from our friend, Robert
Scanning the crowd at the Leadville Trail 100 pre-race briefing in 1987 my eyes paused on a striking, tall, long-haired character wearing a “I Support Woman’s Athletics” t-shirt. As if by gravitation, my wife Jean Ward and I introduced ourselves to the free spirit with the unique name of Micah True. Jean and I had just returned to the U.S. from three years in New Zealand and were living near Nederland, Colorado. Micah informed us that we were nearly neighbors and suggested getting together soon for running adventures. So began a friendship I cherished deeply over the years and I am so thankful to Micah for being part of my life.
While I was unable to complete the 1987 Leadville race, Micah finished 10th and was the subject of quite a bit of media attention. He was asked about the whereabouts of his dog, a crowd favorite. Micah reported that True Dog was recovering from a fight with a cougar. Such was fodder for True myth.
It rained quite a bit at that race and Micah wore a poncho fashioned from a trash bag. Marathoner Frank Shorter, who was color commentator for the race film, made a disparaging comment in regard to Micah’s rain gear. Micah replied that it was “just as good as Frank Shorter gear, but a hell of a lot cheaper”.
Jean and my first social rendezvous with Micah was at his home off of Magnolia Road. From a small pull off we followed a faint trail that led to a tent he shared with True Dog. Truly Micah was living a Thoreau-like existence where material possessions were minimized relative to life experience. Among the prized possessions he did have was a yellowing newspaper clipping chronicling his kick boxing days where he was known as the “Gypsy Cowboy”.
After many a mountain run we would retire to Neo’s in Nederland for massive calzones and hearty conversation. Micah told how he paid expenses by moving people (both physically and spiritually as it turned out). That work provided him with sufficient funds to spend about half the year in Guatemala. Struck by his tall stature, long blond hair, and persistent running, the Guatemalans named him “El Caballo Blanco”.
One powerful memory I have of a conversation on one of our runs was Micah’s response to my voicing a shared passionate desire to run for many, many years to come. He replied that at 33 we were “pups among ultrarunners”. I have often thought of those words as I progressed from puppyhood to old dog status.
Jean and I left Colorado late in 1987 and moved to Oregon, then Montana, and then Alaska where we have lived for 20 years. Over those years we only visited with Micah a few times, seeing him at races. However, the connections of the heart remained strong and Micah and I shared periodic emails speaking of the possibility of my joining him on adventures in the Copper Canyon and his visiting Jean and I in Alaska. Regrettably, neither of those possibilities came to pass.
I miss you Caballo Blanco. Your spirit will forever burn brightly in me and all you have touched. Until we meet again my brother…
This song was written by Zachary Bergen, who by trade is a physicist, from Boulder, and also an extremely talented musician and composer. He has worked as a studio musician with several well-known recording artists.
From Zachary Bergen
These are my sentiments re: the song I wrote... There is an energy, a flow to life. We must find that flow and jump in. A return to innocence, a return to love. A return home. Micah was pure of heart and reached a state where it is impossible to maintain a physical presence because he was vibrating too high for this plane. I mean that literally, not metaphorically. There is no death and in that we can rejoice. Micah "is" and always has been "with" us. He is beyond time and hopes we'll join him because we can join him now. The song I wrote has always been there. It is of the same spirit that Caballo aligned to. For those of us fortunate enough to have realized the pure thread of embodiment that we witnessed, we carry a slight smile knowing that Micah knows and sees. I opened to that spirit and it flowed through me and came out as a song. We all can have that same spirit come through us and celebrate a unique gift to the world in whatever form appears. That is the best tribute we can give. Get on with it.
