An ultrarunner found a new way forward after an injury changed his course

LOUISVILLE, Colo. - For ultra-runner David Roche, running is much more than a sport -- it is a way to connect with himself and the world around him.

"Running is my ultimate form of self-expression," Roche said. "When I'm running, there are moments when I feel like my full self -- not just a brain on sticks, but a living and loving human."

Those moments of connection are what have kept Roche returning to the trails, including to the Leadville 100 Mile, a race that has become deeply meaningful to him personally and professionally.

But after years of pushing his limits, Roche found himself facing a very different kind of challenge: During a 100-mile race in October, he tore his plantar fascia.

As Roche returned to full strength this summer in preparation for his third attempt at the Leadville 100 Mile, he began subconsciously compensating for the healing injury by putting more weight on the outside of his foot.

A minor foot sprain in June progressed into what he initially thought was peroneal tendonitis.

Then, on Aug. 3, an MRI revealed something more serious: a stress injury of his fifth metatarsal.

"That area of the body is called a 'watershed' zone, meaning it gets very little blood flow," Roche said. "Stress fractures in that area are often surgical because they may not heal otherwise. The MRI and subsequent CT set off a race to get this fixed before the problem got worse."

With time becoming a concern, he turned to AdventHealth Avista orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Ocel.

After seeking advice from physicians across Colorado, Roche repeatedly heard the same recommendation.

"Everyone said that Dr. Ocel is one of the best in the world at what he does," he said. "He has operated on Olympians who come back stronger than ever, and everyone I talked to said he's a kind, caring magician."

Roche was quickly connected with Dr. Ocel's team, who made room for him to be seen at the first available opportunity.

Now, he is focused on recovery and on the people and moments waiting for him on the other side.

"I can't wait to do two things: playing tag with our 3-year-old Leo followed by going on a little 30-minute run with my wife Megan," Roche said.

Eventually, he hopes to return to Leadville and perhaps accomplish something that has long seemed almost impossible: breaking 15 hours at the 100-mile race. But he also knows that recovery may change his perspective on what success looks like.

Whether his future includes another 100-mile finish, a different milestone or simply a slow run with his wife along the Boulder Creek Path, his definition of the perfect run has never been about pace or distance alone.

"If that's the only run I could ever do the rest of my life, it would be enough," he said.