Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco cancelled due to drug murders

The ultramarathon founded by the late Micah True, the Ultramarathon Caballo Blanco, was cancelled over the weekend due to a double murder related to drug violence near where the race is usually held.

The race is held around the town of Urique, Mexico, in the country’s Copper Canyons. The race was cancelled after two police officers were abducted and executed by a group of heavily armed men. Their bodies were found about 20 km outside of the town. The local police commander was also abducted and remains missing.

According to Trail Runner, runners who had travelled to the town to run the race had heard gunfire all weekend. The military offered to help provide protection to runners during the race but on Saturday race officials officially cancelled the event.

Blue Ridge Outdoors also reported on the event, saying about 100 runners ran a modified route of the course on Sunday anyways, noting that “several” were attacked by bees during the race.

The 50-mile ultramarathon was made famous by Chris McDougall’s bestselling book Born to Run which was a major spark in the barefoot running trend. The book is being made into a feature film starring Matthew McConaughey.