The race starts Saturday morning. “The 50K starts at 6 a.m. Saturday and heads up Cottonwood Lake up the North Fork Trail and up to the Corral Creek Lake,” Draney explained. They all finish off at Cottonwood Lake and enjoy an ice-cold drink and some watermelon and we send them on their way.” The two main things that have kept the Vaquero a popular attraction are its volunteers and it’s scenery. El Vaquero Loco is not slowing down and this year’s race is full.