David Roche, a trail runner and coach from Boulder, made history last Saturday by running the Leadville 100-mile race in 15 hours, 26 minutes, and 34 seconds, breaking a 19-year-old course record in one of the nation’s oldest ultramarathons.
Roche, a two-time national champion in sub-ultra distance trail running, had never competed in a 100-mile race before Leadville. Remarkably, in April 2024, he was hospitalized after being struck by a driver while riding his bike on Nelson Road. About a week later, he was back running with his arm in a sling.
The previous Leadville 100 course record was set in 2005 by Matt Carpenter, who completed the race in 15 hours and 42 minutes.
“I put a big scary goal out there early this year: chasing the historic 15:42 Leadville 100 course record by one of the GOATs, Matt Carpenter,” Roche wrote on Instagram after finishing the race. “Approaching my first 100 miler, though, I’m not sure I truly believed. I kept joking about where I’d drop out and what my order would be at the Leadville Taco Bell.”
Roche thanked everyone who supported him, especially his wife, Megan, an epidemiologist, coach and advocate for runners. Megan was part of David’s support crew during the race, which took place on their 10-year wedding anniversary. “She’s the best coach in the world, and I’m sorry for making her work on our anniversary,” Roche wrote on Instagram.