In this text, we will briefly describe the way of life of the fastest and most durable people in the world!
Tarahumara and the tradition of running
The Sierra Madre mountains in northwestern Mexico are home to the world's best ultramarathoners. The Tarahumara tribe, which calls itself the Raramuri (people who run, that is, people with light feet), were "crossed" by invaders who did not understand their language.
Their philosophy and way of life have always been intertwined with running. Until 1992, few people knew about the tribe of super-runners. But then a man named Rick Fisher brought them to the Leadville Trail 100 – imagine a group of runners in colorful and flowing folk costumes and sandals on their feet at the start. Unaware of such a racing concept, most Tarahumara gave up around 56 kilometers.
The next year they appeared again and won first, second and fifth place. The year after that, Juan Herrera won first place and broke the course record (and all with a smile on his face!), and in 1995, three of the tribe were in the top 10 at the Western States 100. But after that, they gave up on ultra scenes, taking the secrets of the incredible run back to their canyon houses…
The people of this Indian tribe are divided into small villages that are separated from each other by several hours of running, scattered on the steep slopes of the canyon and at an altitude of 3,000 m above sea level. One of the most important events in the Tarahumara tribe are the rarajipari races, which are held several times a year. They last for several days, and have been held for centuries, always with the same rules and always between two neighboring villages. Preparations for the race are made for weeks, and the village elders choose the 10 best runners to represent the village. The race starts in the evening in one of the villages and runs towards another village several hundred kilometers away.
"People who run" strengthen their feet from a young age!
Although it is hard to believe, the Tarahumara have been strengthening their feet since childhood by passing a wooden ball to each other while running through the forest.
These incredible endurance runners manage to run so many kilometers in shoes slightly stiffer than flip-flops precisely because they are trained not to spare their feet, according to scientists.
What is the secret of the barefoot Tarahumara?
Most people wonder how it is that people who live in such modest conditions surpass the abilities of runners who train according to top programs. Part of the answer lies in their diet. Toni Ramirez, an American horticultural expert, has been researching the diet of the Tarahumara for decades. They hardly eat meat, eggs and milk at all. However, some nutritionists in America would say that they are almost on a starvation diet. Even the percentage of those who get cancer is negligible. In addition to moving around a lot and not being nervous like people in the West, they also have completely different menus, mostly eating corn, beans, fruits, vegetables and tortillas. Chia seeds mixed with honey and lime give them strength. On their ultramarathon races, they mostly eat ground corn in water, something similar to our polenta.
Their secret also lies in their way of life - apart from living at high altitude, which in itself is good for the athlete's body, the Tarahumara strive for simplicity and economy in all segments. The famous runner Scott Jurek once ran with them and noticed that as soon as they stop to take a break, all the Tarahumara sit down on the floor so as not to waste power in their legs. Furthermore, running barefoot or in sandals greatly strengthened the feet and thus excluded the possibility of injury. In addition, in the earliest years, they learn to run as well as walking.
Incredible beauty
Another segment that drives them again and again is the beauty of the environment in which they live. People who managed to access them testify that the Tarahumara often stop to admire nature and the landscape. Let us note that the first research description of that racing tribe was given by the Croatian Ivan Ratkaj,
who spent three years with them, in 1684. Recently, the destructive force of modern civilization threatens the racing paradise of the Tarahumara:
Deforestation on the slopes of the Sierra Madre leads to soil erosion and destroys the already scarce agricultural land. We hope that this will not extinguish the tribe of the best ultramarathoners in the world and that they will continue to live well in their traditional running lifestyle.
If only we were like members of the Tarahumara tribe!
