Lean Horse Ultra Marathon

Cody High Elk 2009

Posted on 05. Jan, 2010 by admin in Ultra Tales

Mitaku Owasin (My Relatives)
My Lakota name is A’tun Wan Pi Win(Looks For Her)/Winyan Waste Win(Pretty Woman)-
English name is Codi M. High Elk, I am an enroll member for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
in central South Dakota on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
I am a single mother of four sons;
Wambli Gleska-Spotted Eagle (Brady Paul Knife-deceased)
Lakota Hoksila-Indian Boy (Justin Corey Knife)
Inyan Cannumpa Luta-Pipestone Man (Jeffrey Red Tomahawk) and
Toka Hunpa Wi Ca Ki-Takes the Enemy’s Shoes (Jalen Charles Knife) and
my beautiful granddaughter, Wambli Gleska Win/A’Tun Wan Pi Win-Spotted Eagle Woman-
Looks For Her (Jailynn Rose Knife).
This was my first time running an Ultra and I can say I was really looking forward to it. In
February 2008 I was diagnosed with Pre-Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma. I have been
participating in powwow competitions all over Indian country and ran a little but nothing like the
Half Marathon, FullMarathon and the ULTRA. I danced for 31 years until the death of my oldest
son Brady Paul Knife on November 10, 2006. It is a Lakota way that when you loose a loved on
to death you will mourn for one year. In my case it was 17months when I was diagnosed with
these illnesses. I told the doctor that I will beat this just give me a chance. So I began running, it
took me 40minutes to do 1.5miles, I cried at that point because I went from running 10 miles a
day to nothing and now I was struggling to get back what I have ignored for many months.
So it was then that I decided to train for the Half marathon, I pledge four marathons in the four
directions and the marathon in the Black Hills will be my last for that year. I have fulfilled my
pledge, and wanted to do something more to challenge my spirit and that was when I read about
Trail Marathons. I searched for one close by and LEAN HORSE had one coming up. So I told
my sons I am going to do this one. Everyone that I have told said “You are crazy”. Yep I am in a
way.
But it was my chance to pray. See my Grandfather told me, “Women don’t Sundance or go on a
vision quest” So with that in mind and respect, this running is my sacrifice for my family and
people. After the loss of my son, the sudden death of my Dad on December 27, 2008 and only
brother on April 2, 2009, running brought back hope and life to my heart.
I will continue to run every chance I get. I am not into competition with other runner but myself.
I couldn’t finish for I was in extreme pain from PLANTAR FASCIITIS. I felt bad but I believe
the Creator had told me I have done enough for my prayers. Next year..I will do my WOPILA
(Thank You) runs to the Creator. Thank you for sponsoring this GREAT run. I enjoyed
participating the Deadwood, Leading Ladies and Lean Horse Ultra very much.
Running to defeat Diabetes, Hypertension among my family and people.
See you next year. Pilamaye (Thank you.)