For the White Horse

Michael Randall Hickman ran by many names such as the Gypsy Cowboy, Micah True and most recognizably, Caballo Blanco. Regardless of moniker, he ran. He was an amateur fighter, a serious runner and the charismatic key figure in Christopher McDougall's best seller, Born to Run. I just finished reading the book and learned that Caballo Blanco died in March of this year while running in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico. After reading the book, I, like others feel as though Caballo met with a fitting end.

 

Even with 20 years of running history I found many take-aways from the book. Among those were Caballo's zeal for running and simple living. In honor of the man I only knew through pages of a book I set out for a long run in uncharted territory. I ran through woods, over fallen trees, across packed red Georgia clay, sand, gravel, through brush, mud and even crossed a stream in two places. As I ran, I tried to be mindful of what it means to truly live, to appreciate the gift of running and to be free.  

 

The water was cold and the extra miles led to a little soreness. I pushed through not in a morbid sense memoriam, but in celebration and gratitude for the reminder that running and the wherewith all to do it regularly is a gift.

 

Muchas gracias Caballo Blanco. Correrse con Dios.

 

Tom