The Alamo Cougars XC team participate in the Red Ribbon Relay

At 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, a group of about 40 left Alamo to begin the 34th Annual Multi-Cultural Red Ribbon Relay. The goal was to have its participants take turns to run, walk, or bike every inch from there to Socorro, a distance of 56.5 miles.

The Red Ribbon Relay promotes a healthy, alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. Tribal communities throughout the state, and even a few in Arizona, participate with their own relay segments. The shirt made for the event includes a map showing the communities and says, “United we run to be drug free.”

“Alamo Cross Country team is participating too, and community members,” said Virgil Sandoval of the Alamo Navajo Wellness Center. “Miss Alamo, Maile Pino, and Miss Elderly, Rosie Baca, are also participating. They started out in the first push from Alamo. We also have an ultra-runner involved, Greg Secatero.”

The Sheriff’s Department had a vehicle leading the way as they moved down the highways. A procession of about eight vehicles, including an ambulance of Alamo EMS, all followed along to support.

“Alamo Behavioral Health and Clinic, Alamo Chapter House, and Sheriff’s department are all collaborating as well,” said Sandoval.

They were aiming to reach Tumbleweeds Diner in Magdalena around noon or 1 p.m. and then get to Socorro by 5 or 6 p.m. They rolled into the plaza at 4:30, ahead of schedule, and then drove over to Yo Mama’s Grill for dinner. On Friday, Sept. 5, the relay group went from Isleta to the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque. Sandoval said next year they will try to get the permits to connect from Socorro to Isleta as well.

Alamo Cougars Cross Country

The XC teams had nine of their student-athletes join the Red Ribbon Relay event that Wednesday. Some ran up to 16 or more miles that day.

“14, 15, or 16 miles.” said one of the runners. “Oh, I don’t know, too many.” said another.

After running for the relay on Sept. 3, the cross country junior high and varsity teams went to their second meet of the year at the Daniel Chinana Invitational in Jemez, at the Steven Gachupin Complex, on Sept. 6. Official results were not in yet.

For their first meet of the season, the Cougars XC teams went to the Nashdoitsoh Invitational at the Tohatchi Hamburger Hill course on Aug. 29.

“My only Varsity girl ran and came in top 15 with a time of 23:50 which was exciting to see this early on in the season. One of my varsity boys also had a top 15 finish with a 12th place finish with a time of 19:07.” said Head Coach Ira Pino about the Tohatchi meet. “Everyone did well and seemed to be in good spirits. It was a good turnout.”

The junior high teams had a boy and a girl each place ninth.

Their next meet will be the Marilyn Cheromiah Memorial at Laguna Acoma on Friday, Sept. 12. Both the junior high and the varsity teams will be traveling for that meet.

Ultra-runner Greg Secatero knows all about long distance running. He has run the Cocodona 250 in Arizona three times, and he hopes to run it again next spring.

“Like 115 hours or so, depending on, you know, if it’s good conditions.” Secatero said when asked about how long it took to run that far. “My best one was Bigfoot. 87 hours for 200 miles. So, I mean, that’s considered the toughest.” The Bigfoot 200 is in Washington state.

Secatero hopes his running experiences will be a motivator for these kids to maintain healthy lifestyles. He ran alongside the student-athletes throughout the day, put in 20 to 25 miles, and gave a pep talk to the tired runners in the Socorro plaza at the end of the day’s segment.

“Yeah, 20-25 miles. Slow, but trying to keep up with the kids. Yeah, this one my heart rate was spiking. So, hopefully I inspire at least one kid in this group. I’m just blessed to be here with these guys.” Secatero said afterwards.