We’re here. We’re healthy. WE ARE ALIVE. Let’s do this 🧡

Track fun before the baby comes! 12 x 400 in 64-65 seconds!

100 feet. Another chance 🧡

If an athlete stays fast year round on strides and hills, I think we can reshape what endurance aging curves look like 🧡

Imagine my absolute JUMP SCARE when I opened our package of 1 million gels to this photo 😂

100 feet. I don’t remember the bike crash in April, or that ensuing flight into the fence. It’s cliche to say, but when my brain rebooted like an old PC, I was given another chance.

In the bodycam footage from the first responders, I kept asking “Is Megan ok?” The brain injury fooled me into thinking she was riding with me that day. “I need you to assure me that she’s safe. That’s all I care about.”

I always was scared of having a 2nd kid. A few weeks later, we learned that the Universe had a stellar sense of humor, and that kid is on the way into the world soon. I can’t wait to meet him.

I thought my racing season was questionable. The recovery process sucked and was non-linear, with some horrible brain days persisting 6 weeks later, when we dealt with more adversity. I wished I could turn my brain off for it.

I considered leaving ultrarunning entirely. But I realized that was a fearful way to treat a 2nd chance. I leaned into the love from you all, I owned who I was, and I called some shots.

I was always scared of the 100-mile distance. I was given another chance to move toward the fear. From July to October, I did 2 100-mile races, and I had one of the best 4-month stretches in the sport’s history.

——

Every time I ride past that fateful intersection, I start to cry. In June, those were tears about what I felt I lost.

Now, they are tears about what there is still left to do.

100 feet. Another chance.

Life is too short to let my fear be the one steering. When by brain rebooted, it came back with a new command:

Take more chances. Tell more stories. Own your brain, dark spots and all 🧡

Thank you all so much for being there. I am so inspired by your stories. LOVE YOU ALL 🫶

Top Sports

David Roche

100 feet. Another chance 🧡

2 Photos

19 Comments

Splits

Sign up to view more activities from David Roche

We’re here. We’re healthy. WE ARE ALIVE. Let’s do this 🧡

Track fun before the baby comes! 12 x 400 in 64-65 seconds!

100 feet. Another chance 🧡

If an athlete stays fast year round on strides and hills, I think we can reshape what endurance aging curves look like 🧡

Imagine my absolute JUMP SCARE when I opened our package of 1 million gels to this photo 😂

Want to see more?

The #1 app for runners and cyclists

Sign Up for Free. Track your progress and reach goals. Join 100 million active people on Strava.

See More from David