Kevin Shaw’s favorite training partner, Mordecai (Mordy for short), can be difficult to run with. He often scampers off the singletrack and into the bushes without warning, dragging the 57-year-old Shaw off course. Shaw, however, doesn’t mind when Mordy behaves like an ass because his 550-pound running buddy actually is one.
About twice a month, the duo heads to a trailhead in Colorado Springs to lead one of the town’s fastest-growing running clubs—Rosco’s Runners. Since Shaw, an ultramarathoner and Ironman finisher, founded the state’s first-of-its-kind group in November 2016, it has grown to more than 150 humans and three trail-running donkeys.
But the concept isn’t just one man’s wacky idea to entice curious runners. Pack Burro Racing is an official heritage sport in Colorado, steeped in the state’s mining parable. In the 19th century, prospectors searching for gold would hustle back to town to be the first to stake their claim on the area with the local government, burros in tow.
That occupational necessity has morphed into a series of four- to 29-mile races in mountain towns across Colorado (though until Shaw started his, no club existed to teach newcomers how to run with their long-eared companions). Donkey-human pairs typically average 10-minute miles over the rugged terrain, although the animals can hit six-minute pace on the downhills. Unless, of course, they hit the brakes to scavenge for vegetation (which is why Shaw asks members to ignore their watches). The club’s mission is to promote both the niche sport through free training and the pleasure of running without the pressure of pace.
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“It’s a joyful experience to run with a donkey,” Shaw says. “There is the old adage that a runner never regrets going out for a run. And doing so with friends, some who are real asses, amplifies that by 10.”
Here, meet three of the newest four-legged fixtures in the Colorado Springs running scene.
Cash (with runner Mike Vann)
Known to explore side trails against his running partner’s wishes, a distracted Cash will go rogue. The challenge, Shaw says, is to keep the Clothing burro motivated and focused. Once you do, the rewards are impressive—Cash beat both Rosco and Mordy in the first of the Colorado Pack Burro Racing series this summer.
Weight: 600 pounds
Age: 12
Kryptonite: Familiar landmarks. He always stops to smell an old house foundation on his regular trail. Racing quirk: Snacking on vegetation and dropping and rolling in the dirt midrun.
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Rosco (with runner Suzanne Shaw)
The club’s namesake is the “alpha donk,” Shaw says. He may be the largest member of the crew, but he’s a gentle giant—even-tempered and slow to react, making him the best partner for beginners. “Just about anyone can pick up and run with him,” Shaw says.
Weight: 850 pounds
Age: 15(ish)
Kryptonite: Kids Nike Court Borough Low 2 Shoes.
Racing quirk: Must run near his stablemate and best friend, Mordy.
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Mordecai (with runner Kevin Shaw)
A bit more high-strung than his buddy Rosco, Mordy is known to make quick turns and ramp up the pace, dragging frantic runners who forget to release the rope. But once you get to know him, Shaw says, Mordy is a sweetie who loves a good butt scratch.
Weight: 550 pounds
Age: 22
Kryptonite: sneakers Saucony mujer azules.
Racing quirk: He loves to sprint down hills. “He makes this cute grunting noise when he does,” Shaw says.
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