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Valentine’s Day run: La Jornada de Las Quebradas 53K
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Ultra runners from all over the state, as well as plenty from out of state, will head to the Quebradas to test their endurance in the La Jornada de Las Quebradas 53K taking place on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. This race offers beautiful views in the sandstone and limestone canyons of the Quebradas, as well as big views out west to the Magdalena Mountains, Socorro Peak and up to the Ladron Mountains.
An informal version of this race began in 2021 with about eight runners. The Socorro Trail Running Series organizers set that race up to go about 26 miles along the Quebradas Backcountry Byway. In 2022 the current course route was created. It starts and finishes at the Bursum Spring Loop Trailhead, about three miles up the Quebradas Backcountry Byway from the Escondida side.
“Now the route is a lollipop loop, with the out-and-back section along the Cerrillos del Coyote trail and the loop in the Gordy’s Hill area,” race organizer Luis Contreras Vidal said.
The race has been growing each year, from the initial eight to about 14 the next year and up to 33 finishers last year. Rocky and sandy, this rugged course has lots of smaller ups and downs that add up to a total of about 4,500 vertical feet in elevation gain. While some of the other events in the Socorro Trail Running Series have choices for distances, this particular event only offers the 53K, which is about 33 miles.
“Parking limits the number of participants, so for now there will not be other distances offered. If I change the start to Escondida Lake in the future, the race could potentially include shorter distance options,” Vidal said.
Participants’ registration fees cover event permits and insurance, plus supplies for the aid stations and some prizes for winners. Runners will also get a meal from Cubish, a local food truck. Afterwards, a portion of the profits from the race will go toward funding the Socorro High School Cross Country team and maintenance of local trails.
This year the event will be sponsored by Type2 Gear, a Santa Fe–based running brand which sells trail running hydration gear.
“Also, Ben Stout, the current course record holder, is running the race again this year. It will be interesting to see if he sets a new record,” Vidal said.
Top performances:
Men:
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Benjamin Stout, 3:51:20, 2023
Chris Murphy, 4:29:39, 2025
Nicolas Glatt, 4:45:06, 2025
Tyler Freeman, 4:58:11, 2025
Michael Carilli, 4:58:47, 2024
Women:
Hannah Kligman, 5:16:36, 2024
Sophia Torres, 5:21:15, 2025
Jennifer Lievois, 6:07:26, 2025
Sarah Bradley, 6:08:25, 2024
Alyson Kirk, 6:08:27, 2025
Check-in begins at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14, and the race starts at 7 a.m. Race info can be found here, including a link to register:
https://www.socorrotrailrunningseries.com/la-jornada-de-las-quebradas-53k
