Micah True, born Michael Randall Hickman and known as Caballo Blanco, was an American ultrarunner from Boulder, Colorado, who received attention because of his depiction as a central character in Christopher McDougall's book Born to Run.
20 Facts About Micah True
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In 2003, Micah True decided to organize a race for the Tarahumara people in Mexico that would help them preserve their culture and running heritage.
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Micah True died on March 27,2012, during a run in the Gila Wilderness, part of the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico.
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Micah True was born Michael Randall Hickman in Oakland, California, the son of a Korean War Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and the second of four children.
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Micah True grew up traveling the country as his family relocated to various nationally located Marine Corps bases.
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Micah True's family was conservative Roman Catholic, but True aligned himself with the counter-culture movement of the 1960s and 70s.
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Micah True attended Humboldt State University, where he studied Eastern religions and Native American history.
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At some point Micah True spent 10 months living in a cave in Hawaii where he fell in love with a rich girl.
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Micah True changed his name from Michael Hickman to Micah True.
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In 1993, Micah True came in contact with the Tarahumara or Raramuri runners from Chihuahua, Mexico.
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In 2003, Micah True decided to organize a race for the Tarahumara natives that would help them preserve their culture and running heritage.
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In 2006, Micah True had the idea of inviting American ultrarunners to compete with the Tarahumara.
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Micah True contacted Christopher McDougall, a writer for Men's Health, who would later write the book Born to Run.
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In 2009, Micah True was featured prominently in Christopher McDougall's best selling book Born to Run.
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Micah True said he sometimes felt like he had to "live up to the expectations of the book" and told people that the book contained exaggerations and inaccuracies.
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Micah True began using his celebrity status to help raise funds for the annual Copper Canyon race.
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Micah True spoke at various events, beginning with a Saucony sponsored event in Utah, and then eventually traveling to Sweden, Denmark, and England.
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On March 27,2012, Micah True failed to return after heading out for a run in the Gila Wilderness, part of the Gila National Forest in southwestern New Mexico.
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Micah True departed from the Wilderness Lodge in Gila, saying he was going for a 12-mile run.
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An autopsy was inconclusive with respect to the actual cause of death, revealing that Micah True was suffering from idiopathic cardiomyopathy, which had caused the left ventricle of his heart to become enlarged.