by Grants, NM – The Mt. Taylor 50K run was held this past weekend and Indian Country’s own Craig Curley (Navajo) was the overall winner with an official time of 4:19:36.
The non-profit Mt. Taylor 50K is a scenic challenging mountain ultra created by runners for runners and is located only 90 minutes west of Albuquerque near Grants, New Mexico. The course leads runners over single track and jeep roads on a panoramic loop that first circumnavigates then scales the 11,305 ft strato volcano of Mount Taylor. The course includes 8 miles of the new Continental Divide trail that crosses the Cibola National Forest. The course is entirely above 9000 feet in altitude and has 7000 feet of vertical change.
Curley said of the race, “I entered a new race distance. I was transformed by the kindness of other runners, the preparedness of race volunteers and a gorgeous race course. Making the climb up 11,301ft to complete the Mt. Taylor 50k and win my first ultra is more than any words I can convey. Thank you all.”
Curley’s time is the second fastest time for the 50K event, second to another Navajo runner who had won the run in the past, Mr. Shaun Martin who ran ultra 50k in a time of 4:17:26 in 2012.
