Arnolfo Quimare and Miguel Lara Pre-2012 Run Rabbit Run 100 Interview

A video interview (with transcript) with Tarahumara runners Arnolfo Quimare and Miguel Lara before the 2012 Run Rabbit Run 100.

By on September 14, 2012 | Comments

The Tarahumara runners from Mexico have long had a legendary status among ultrarunners north of the border. The status grew exponentially after the publication of Born to Run. One of the runners in that book, Arnulfo Quimare, along with his friend Miguel Lara have traveled to the United States for the first time to compete in the Run Rabbit Run 100. In the following interview, find out why they’re here, how long they’ve running, what the Raramuri Running Project is, and how you can join them for runs in Copper Canyon, Mexico.

[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]

Arnulfo Quimare and Miguel Lara Pre-2012 Run Rabbit Run 100 Interview Transcript

iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Miguel and Arnulfo before the Run Rabbit Run 100. They are Tarahumara and visiting from Mexico to the United States. Welcome! How are you? Are you well?

Arnolfo Quimare and Miguel Lara: Well. Yes.

iRF: Beautiful mountains, yes?

Quimare and Lara: Yes.

Translator: They are quiet, but they say yes.

iRF: How many years have you been running?

Lara: 3 years.

Quimare: 10 years running.

iRF: Do you prefer running in the mountains or anywhere you can run?

Lara and Quimare: In the mountains.

iRF: Is this your first time running in the mountains in the United States?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: Is this your first time running 100 miles?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: Have you run at all at night in the dark?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

Translator: They do the different races where they are kicking the little ball for hours.

iRF: So it goes into the night?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: It will be cold tonight. Are you used to running in cold conditions?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

Translator: It’s cold out where they live so they’re used to this.

iRF: Why have you come to run at this race?

Lara: I was willing to come and compete here.

Quimare: Me as well.

iRF: Do you look forward to the experience of being in a new place?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: And the competition is exciting?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: Do you know how people in the United States admire the Tarahumara Indians and your running tradition?

Lara and Quimare: Yes.

iRF: Maybe you (translator) or somebody can tell me about the Raramuri Running Project.

Translator: Actually, it’s a project that Dave Hensleigh started. This is really an idea of not only running but trying to get people to get to know where they live and the idea that they can come and run with them up in the Copper Canyon mountains and have an experience. For that we are trying to, later on today, get out some information on how people can go and visit. What it’s about is that they are known and people can get the experience to run with them in the mountains.

iRF: I’m sure it would be an honor. Good luck (to Lara and Quimare).

Translator: Thank you, Bryon.

iRF: Thank you.

Bryon Powell

Bryon Powell is the Founding Editor of iRunFar. He’s been writing about trail running, ultrarunning, and running gear for more than 15 years. Aside from iRunFar, he’s authored the books Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons and Where the Road Ends: A Guide to Trail Running, been a contributing editor at Trail Runner magazine, written for publications including Outside, Sierra, and Running Times, and coached ultrarunners of all abilities. Based in Silverton, Colorado, Bryon is an avid trail runner and ultrarunner who competes in events from the Hardrock 100 Mile just out his front door to races long and short around the world, that is, when he’s not fly fishing or tending to his garden.