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Big turnout for the 28th Annual Corrales Ditch Run
CORRALES — The Kiwanis Club of Corrales, in partnership with Dave Gives Back, put together the 28th annual Corrales Ditch Run Sunday.
The Corrales Ditch Run consisted of a half-marathon, a 10K, 5K race, a 1K fun run, and a search and rescue (SAR) tactical challenge. Some pop-ups in attendance included REI, Trader Joe's, Ex Novo Brewing Company and Alma's Salsa. Village Pizza even dropped off plenty of pizza.
Coming in first place of the 10K race was runner Michal Dichter with a time of sub-40 time of 39:01.
"I am just bouncing back from being sick, so I was kind of surprised there was no one ahead of me," Dichter said. "The Corrales Ditch is legendary in my small circle so when I found out there was a race on it, I had to do it."
Rounding out the top 10 for the 10K race: 1. Dichter (39:01), 2. Jacob White (40:24), 3. Matt Robinson (44:50), 4. Jeff Gauthier (48:37), 5. Jessica Rice (48:38), 6. Elena Dunn (49), 7. Nathaniel Hutchinson (50:03), 8. Christopher McGrew (50:44), 9. Ken Erickson (51:29), 10. Ruthann Goradia (51:32).
Runners ran as a pack, in costume, with strollers, with their dogs, and some in matching shirts, including a group who honored their best friend who passed away in 2023.
"My best friend, Estella Martinez ... we would always walk the ditches. She knew these ditches like the back of her hand. We would walk them, we would run them, we got in trouble on them. She passed away about a year ago," Mae Dotson said. "So, we are running the ditches today in honor of Estella Martinez."
Dotson, and friends and family of Estella Martinez, wore purple shirts that said, "Running the ditches with my bitches." And on the back of the shirt was a picture of Estella Martinez.
All races weaved through the dirt acequias (ditch banks), some asphalt and the Corrales trees. The courses went past the Old San Yisidro Church, the Corrales Cemetery, and in many parts of the course, you had clear views of the Sandia Mountains.
Volunteers from the Rio Rancho High School Key Club were in attendance and kept runners on the correct course. They also helped with traffic flow and led many chants to motivate runners as they reached the final stretch of the race.
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"We are committed to, and dedicated, to helping our community. And today that is in the form of helping with this race, and cheering on runners," RRHS Key Club member Pharrah Clark said.
All proceeds go to help support and maintain an annual Kids Kamp that takes place every June in Vanderwagon, New Mexico. It’s a five-day camp that is free to local families that would otherwise not be able to send their kids to a summer camp program.
In 2021, the Kiwanis Club partnered with the Dave Gives Back Foundation, which supports the emergency services of Search and Rescue. In 2016, David Cook went missing while doing a solo climb of either Pyramid Peak, Maroon Peak or North Maroon Peak, possibly all three, and never returned. To honor David, his wife Maureen Cook, and family, started the Dave Gives Back Foundation to raise awareness for Search and Rescue. In fact, 100% of the proceeds made by Dave Gives Back goes directly toward Search and Rescue.
If you would like more information on David Gives Back visit davegivesback.org.
