Without Team, Indigenous Woman Wins

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

International admiration has caused the news about a young Tarahumara woman, María Lorena Ramírez, who won an ultramarathon in sandals and with her indigenous attire.

The 22-year-old girl ranked first on the podium after completing the 50 kilometer Ultrail Cerro Rojo race in seven hours and three minutes. The competition was held on April 29 in Puebla, Mexico.

This feat was announced by the Facebook page Let all Tehuacán find out, in charge of spreading relevant news from the Puebla community. In the publication, made on May 13, it was noted that Ramírez won "without a hydration vest, without tennis shoes, without lycra and compression sleeves." And she added: “Without all those gadgets from today's runner. Without going around posting her miles on Nike, without Facebook, she just out of necessity won.”

The lack of sports equipment during the ultramarathon by the young woman was confirmed by Orlando Jiménez, organizer of this event for the second consecutive year. “She didn't have any gel, or energy sweets, or a cane, or glasses, or those very expensive sneakers that we all use to run in the mountains. Only a small bottle of water, her cap and a bandana [a scarf] on her neck, "Verne told the Spanish supplement.

In this competition the girl had as rivals other 499 athletes, from 12 countries. She received a cash prize of 6 thousand Mexican pesos (running in races, Ramírez is dedicated to caring for livestock; she walks 10 to 15 kilometers daily with her cows and goats. She is currently considered one of the fastest long-distance runners in the Tarahumara community.