Meb Wins Boston

Like a boss - courtesy of Google images

On perhaps the most emotional day of its 118th year history, mighty Meb Keflezighi rolls out the clutchest no-chance underdog win in decades, running to the title in 2:08:37. He started the day in Hopkinton as maybe the unlikeliest of American contenders with a chance of pulling off the upset, but came through with a super-hero effort as the first American to win in Boston since 1985.

Guy was such a minimal threat in a stacked field of sub-2:06 guys, that they let him go when he created separation at mile 10. That proved to be an enormous strategic error since Meb had with him an ace-in-the-hole that nobody could have suspected (perhaps even himself) - he had shown up prepared to solo a 2:08. And like a complete badass - the names of those who perished in last year's bombings actually hand-written on to his race bib - he did just that, breaking the tape on Boylston in disbelief of just about everyone that was watching.

Donning the laurel wreath - courtesy of Google images

Meb is now firmly vaulted into the pantheon as the only American marathoner with an Olympic medal and wins at both Boston and NYC. Shorter was double gold but won his majors in Fukuoka; Salazar and Rodgers won both majors but came up short in the Olympics; Joanie has Olympic gold and a Boston title but no victories in NYC; Deena Kastor has Olympic hardware and a NYC title but not Boston. Joanie and Salazar also have the accolades of world record holder.  

New Mexico finishers in this year's Boston Marathon can be found here

And because I'll likely never have as great an opportunity to tell this, here's a quick story I have about Meb and a New Mexican connection to his career: Old man Meb was in my graduating class so I've serendipitously followed his career since that time. A friend I ran with in junior high (Capshaw Falcons!) left with his family to California before we started high school, and he landed at Jesuit High in Sacramento which happened to be some running legacy juggernaut type of place. My man Matt Farley then went from being a talented runner, to a national class California state champ caliber of runner, and his in-state rival was San Diego's Meb Keflezighi. Farley got the better of Meb a few times and the two were the prohibitive favorites going into their first big matchup on the national level, Kinney XC Nationals. Matt had told me how the two of them were in agreement that the guy to key off was New Jersey's Bob Keino, son of Kip. The Davis brothers from Spokane were a threat as was the one dangerous unknown in Colorado's Adam Goucher. Farley came in as the California XC champ and defending state 3200m champ but had a rough day finishing 9th while Meb chased Goucher (Go Buffs!) across the line. Goucher, Meb, and 5th place Brad Hauser were future Olympians. New Mexico legend Brandon Leslie happened to also be in that race, finishing 6th as a junior. Farley went on to run for Stanford, his career soon ended by injury. Meb ran for UCLA, stacking-up multiple All American honors and titles, future Olympic podium/NYC Marathon champ/Boston Marathon champ/stone-cold rockstar. The end.

Related Posts: 
 - Olympic Marathon Recap - London '12
 - New York Marathon 2013
 - BOSTON!

Easter Pilgrimage - As Interpreted by Endurance Athletes

El Santuario de Chimayo

Dwell in Santa Fe or the northern Rio Grande Valley long enough and one will soon associate Holy Week and the coming of Spring with the Easter pilgrimage of the faithful to the holy Santuario de Chimayo. It's a lovely custom - serving as a marker of seasons, as a nod to our rich local culture and the old ways and a tight connection to the land around us, and as a personal affirmation of faith and re-birth.

For most that choose to undertake the pilgrimage, the trek to El Santuario begins just north of Pojoaque. From here the road to Chimayo is maybe 14 miles. The more adventurous (often those seeking a greater level of devotion or religious piety) will begin closer to Santa Fe, leaving Thursday evening and walking through the night. Some literally bare crosses that they've fashioned together for their journey. Though less common, solitary pilgrims can be seen earlier in the week making the journey north along I-25 from places as far south as Bernalillo. A remarkable image of humility and grace.

Early morning, along the ditches of the Rio Grande

East near Cochiti and Tetilla

Now these are long stretches to cross on foot. Which is really the point of it all I suppose, to stretch oneself and bend the mind to look within. When studying the longer routes though, much of it breaks down to just walking for miles along the shoulder of a trafficked highway. There is little here to inspire, and romantic images of the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela are quickly retired.

But this is where a few big-mile guys from these parts approached the Santuario pilgrimage with a new vision. Why not run it? An all day trek from Santa Fe is then shortened to several hours. If it's viewed as a run, why not add a few miles so it can be run off-road? And the leap-of-logic coup de grace - if we're going to run from Santa Fe why not just run it all the way in from Albuquerque?

And that's what they did. Friends Espo and Houghton routed a course from the north valley of Albuquerque along the ditches and Indian Service Roads, up and over La Bajada and the path of the Camino Real, across the Caja del Rio, then east along the Rio Tesuque in Jacona and up the into the foothills of Nambe, finally turning north once more through the ghostly barrancas to the Santuario.

Marc framed by the Jemez skyline

Kris stands on the La Bajada cliff bands, Sandia skyline

I know all of this first-hand because I was asked to help pace them in from Nambe, at the very end of their twenty-two hour 92 mile pilgrimage. My aid wasn't pacing in a literal sense, but rather as mental company to ease the temptation for them to quit. Houghton had actually blown-up in the Caja and had to abandon at 70 miles. Friends met them near Jacona and helped guide Espo up to Nambe where we joined and ran through the night into Chimayo. It was midnight, a partial moon was lifting over the mountains, and as we moved along we passed walkers that had come out to make their journey after finishing a full day of work. We turned and entered the gate into the Santuario at 1:30am. It was stunningly beautiful, and remains so in memory three years later. Quite the experience. I think of it often this time of year and am very satisfied to have finally made a story of it.

The Nambe Barrancas and the last segment to El Santuario

random shot of Espo looking like a badass

Marc had no visible reaction when entering the Santuario. The guy was well past drained and had been for hours. He later told me he wasn't quite right for several weeks afterward, the experience perhaps etching itself permanently into his being. Houghton, distraught that he couldn't complete the pilgrimage with his friend, returned (from Albuquerque) the following day to walk out the remaining 22 miles of footsteps. And the ancient rewards of the pilgrim and the theme of the Easter season are replayed. And what was once aged and old...becomes new once again.

Related Posts:
   Espo's original run-report here
 - La Luz Trail Run Recap - 2013
 - Fair Chase, Antelope Hunting on Foot
 - Armijo Runs to an Olympic Trials Qualifier


View Santuario de Chimayo Pilgramage - NM in a larger map

Pipped at the (By)Line

A cool writeup on New Mexican milers was published yesterday over at BringBacktheMile.com. These guys do a stand-up job of promoting track via its most exciting race. They've compiled lists of all the U.S. sub-four milers; records lists; chronological and progression lists; and now lists by state.

What made the New Mexico writeup so rad was that it was my work - highlighting Aragon, Young, Maas, Krummenacker, and McNiff. Got me fired-up to see these guys get the spotlight on a more heavily trafficked corner of the web. The writeup also outlined the history and difficulties of running a sub-four mile on New Mexico soil, drawing from another post I penned just a few months ago. A shame that the article didn't link directly to my writing since I had layered in all kinds of additional detail and anecdotes and lists to ramp things up to Defcon-1 level of cool.

The story got attention, and tweets and emailed links and shares and pluses - very rewarding. All except for one glaring error right at the end of thing:

My name is not Ben.



Related Posts:
 - New Mexico's Four Minute Milers
 - Sub Four Mile at Altitude
 - The Tough Guy List

Snowpack at Santa Fe and Taos Fall Short of Last Season

Sunday was the final day of the ski season up at Ski Santa Fe. The final day as well up at Taos Ski Valley including the final day the resort will be operated by the Blake Family since its founding.

Not a great year for skiing in northern New Mexico due to the dry weather and light snowfall. Continuing a trend of below average years, this season's snowpack came in below last season even though the snow arrived a month early for us. Pajarito Mountain never opened. The departure of Santa Fe Mountain Sports marks the second ski retailer to close up shop in the last four three years. All a bit sad for those with memories of snow and wintry seasons of years' past.

Below are some interesting year-over-year comparisons, from this season and last, of reported base depths at Ski Santa Fe, Taos, and Crested Butte, CO. They're sourced from onthesnow.com , my go-to snow/ski app for tracking ski conditions (which is not at all helpful in NM since the next ski season is nine long months away). The base totals in red for Santa Fe and Taos clearly show the large early accumulations in Nov/Dec then very meager additions for the rest of the season until late the final month. Colorado saw quite a bit more in the way of moisture and storms beginning in February that just didn't sweep south to our end of the Rockies. Last year most of the Colorado snowpack tracked fairly evenly with ours, an average base depth at the Butte of 40-50in (not an impressive amount).


Lots of other cool snow stats to click through for recent years at the website, showing a highwater mark of 258in of total snowfall in calendar year 2010. Just 71in in 2007. Last year's snowfall, which mirrors this one, recorded 147in of total accumulations.

Related Posts:
 - Taos Ski Valley Bought up by Wall Street Financier
 - Sangre de Cristo Mountain Works Closes its Doors
 - New Mexico River Levels Spike to 30 times Average