María Lorena Ramírez Hernández (born January 1, 1995) is an indigenous long-distance runner belonging to the Rarámuri ethnic group. She lives in Rejocochi, a small community in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.[1] She became internationally known after winning the Cerro Rojo UltraTrail in 2017, an ultra-distance race of 50 kilometers while wearing huaraches. She finished with a time of 07:20.[2] She competes wearing traditional garb, including her trademark long skirt.[3]

María Lorena Ramírez
Personal information
Born (1995-01-01) 1 January 1995 (age 29)
Guachochi, Chihuahua
Sport
CountryMexico
SportMarathon, ultramarathon

Biography

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Ramírez was born and has resided in the locality of Ciénaga de Noragachi, in the municipality of Guachochi. She takes care of her family's goats, walking between 10 and 15 kilometers every day with them.[4] She belongs to a Mexican Indigenous community, the Rarámuri, historically known for their endurance and for their aptitude in long-distance running;[5] in fact, the term Rarámuri means "light feet".[4][6]

Her brother, her father, and her grandfather have also been runners. Her brother, Mario, participates in the same races as she does. Ramírez even participates in races at greater distances (100 km) and, in some, has been among the first.[7]

In 2019 Ramírez was the subject of a Netflix documentary, Lorena, Light-Footed Woman.[8][9] In October 2019, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Mexico.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "La corredora rarámuri Lorena Ramírez se retira de la ultramaratón en Canarias" [The Rarámuri runner Lorena Ramírez retires from an ultramarathon in the Canary Islands]. El País. June 11, 2017. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "Una tarahumara gana en México una ultramaratón corriendo con sandalias y falda" [A Tarahumara woman wins an ultramarathon in Mexico running with sandals and a skirt]. 20 Minutos. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Life on the run is more than a tradition for Rarámuris like Lorena Ramírez". www.fresnobee.com.
  4. ^ a b Olarte, Miguel (21 May 2017). "La falda de María Lorena" [Maria Lorena's skirt]. El Progreso. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Una mujer tarahumara gana un ultramaratón en México sin equipación deportiva 5" [A Tarahumara woman wins an ultramarathon in Mexico without sports equipment 5]. El País. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. ^ McDougall, Christopher (March 1, 2011). Nacidos para correr [Born to Run] (in Spanish). Debate. ISBN 9788483069479.
  7. ^ "María Lorena Ramírez, la mujer tarahumara que ganó maratón de 50 km en México" [María Lorena Ramírez, the Tarahumara woman who won the 50 km marathon in Mexico]. La Verdad. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Lorena, Light-Footed Woman' on Netflix, a Breathtaking Short Documentary About a Mexican Ultramarathon Runner". Decider. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  9. ^ "Lorena, Light-Footed Woman Review: Absolutely Extraordinary". Ready Steady Cut. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  10. ^ "Corredora rarámuri, Lorena Ramírez aparece en portada de Vogue" [Rarámuri runner Lorena Ramírez appears on cover of Vogue], Diario de Morelos (in Spanish), Cuernavaca, Oct 4, 2019