A unique view of David Roche’s Leadville course record

(All photos by Cody Bare.)

By Henry Howard

Teddy Bross had a unique view of David Roche’s Leadville course record, which set aside Matt Carpenter’s once-unthinkable mark that stood for 19 years. As Roche’s only pacer during the 100-mile record setting day, Bross accompanied him for the final 38 miles at a blistering fast pace.

Leadville is an out and back 100-miler with more than 18,000 feet of gain in the Colorado town that sits at 10,119 feet above sea level. During the race, runners reach an elevation of 12,600 feet.

While the race was Roche’s first 100-miler, Bross had finished UTMB, Western States, Bighorn and others like the Wasatch 100, which he did just a few weeks after his journey with Roche. Certainly, crewing for hours on end and then jumping in to pace at a fast pace presents its own challenges, even for an experienced ultra runner.

As a family physician, Bross uses his residency experience to improve his running and vice versa.

“Man, I love this question really because I'm probably a better crew and pacer than I am an actual racer,” he says. “I love the races so much and I love the people who are at the races so much. It is just been such a huge part of my life. I get a lot of energy just from being around those events. And so the actual kind of the day of crewing and doing these long days, maybe part of it again just comes hand in hand with going through medical residency and you work 24-hour, 28-hour shifts and doing 90-, 110-hour weeks sometimes. And you just go, go, go.”

Earlier this year Bross crewed and paced friends at the Cocadona 250 and for his coach, Matt Urbanski, at Western States.

“I find that in those moments when somebody is really relying on me that I can feed off of that energy. And I knew that David, every step that we took coming out of Twin Lakes was the furthest that David has ever ran. And I don't think that either of us really knew how he was going to respond and how his body was going to respond once we left Twin Lakes. And there was a lot of hype around that. There was a lot of excitement around that. And getting to kind share in that journey with him, gosh, you get to feel so many amazing emotions.”

Bross did most of the talking during their adventure. And as they approached each aid station, Roche was feeding off the anticipation of seeing his wife and young son.

“Every time we would be getting close to an aid station, I would start talking about how we would get to see Megan and Leo. And how just you could almost feel that love pulling David in toward the aid station.”

For Bross, his commitment to Roche fueled his energy.

“The emotional energy is probably what carried me through,” he says. “I'm physically fit, but when I race, I don't run what David ran. I don't run seven minute miles. I'm decently fast. But part of it going into that was I just knew David depended on me and was looking to me to help him through some of those tough moments. And just even having that expectation I think is helpful to me to rise to that occasion.”

‘One of a kind’

Roche is grateful for the support of Bross, and really all of those in the running community who supported him from afar.

“Teddy is the best person that we have ever met,” he says. “Fred Rogers said, ‘Look for the helpers to find faith in humanity. Teddy is the ultimate helper — the world's greatest sports doctor for elite athletes of all different levels and goals, the type of person who will drop everything to be there for someone, a superstar athlete himself. And when he gets there to offer help, he's brilliant beyond belief. Teddy is one of a kind.”

The two were connected via Urbanski, Bross’ coach who is a client of Roche.

“We really didn't have a ton of face-to-face connection until I went and crewed David at Canyons last year, which was just such an incredible experience,” Bross recalls. “Worlds collided in that moment where it was just almost like one of those things. I became overnight friends with the Roches. It's been really amazing getting to spend time with them and finding all those small little things that we share together.”

The bonding was immediate at the Canyons race.

“David really had to fight through this point at the Canyons 100K and come into that finish line,” he says. “That was the furthest he had ever run and had to really battle through some low points. When he came in across the finish line, I was like, ‘OK, so we need to start recovery process here.’ But David, he was so generous with his time. There were several people wanting to have conversations with him, take pictures and talk to him about things on the podcast. People talking to him about difficult things right after he had just completed Canyons. And I was just blown away how he was able to keep himself composed, how he was able to remain patient and spend time with people and still, in a very caring way, have those difficult conversations with people. And that's been something that I've actually seen both Megan and David do. And maybe it becomes easier when you share it all first publicly, but I don't necessarily think that that's true.”

Challenges before race day

Even before arriving at the Leadville start line, Roche had quite a journey. During a training bike ride, he was struck by a car, thrown 100 feet, and suffered a concussion and busted wing. A few weeks later, they were attacked on social media amid the Spring Energy controversy.

“They've gone through a lot of really difficult things and have had just like any other human, tough reactions to some of those things,” Bross says. “Whether it is health related or whether it is emotional concerns. And perhaps it bodes well for ultra running and perhaps how David actually did what he did at Leadville, but to be able to compose yourself emotionally and stay calm and move through something that's very difficult. That gets reflected over and over again in ultras, especially when you start going further. That was probably one of the coolest things I witnessed initially with David was his ability to work through that, staying calm, composed and collected, even though he was dehydrated.”

When Roche won Silver Rush to gain entry into Leadville, it was the same post-race show.

“He emptied the tank and was there, talking with everybody, greeted a lot of people at the finish line and spent a lot of time talking with people,” he said. “And it's very cool. It’s reassuring that David and Megan are open and genuine. That's how they are in real life over and over again.”

As David’s coach, Megan was clear about what was next after Silver Rush: the Leadville 100, his first 100-mile race. I had never met Teddy in 2023 when he came out to the Canyons 100k to crew me. “After I qualified, Megan's first line was ‘Text Teddy now to reserve him,’" Roche recalls.

Race day

Bross caught up with the Roches the night before the race for dinner at Ollie’s in Frisco, then waking early the next morning when Roche went through his pre-race routine. After crewing, mingling with other crews and runners, it was time for Bross to accompany Roche.

“David comes running down from Hope Pass and he looks like he has not run a step in the race. He's got a beautiful stride. He comes barreling in. We took David to the aid station where we had all of his stuff and I threw on my vest and started pacing 38 miles from Twin Lakes all the way to the finish.”

Late in the race, they hit a rocky trail where Roche had a misstep or two and almost twisted an ankle. Bross said they focused on “quick feet, picking up your feet.” At that point only an injury or going significantly off course would interfere with setting a record.

“That was very much at the forefront of his mind — making sure, we are not going to take a wrong turn,” Bross says. “Luckily I had run Leadville twice. I knew that area very well. Every time I told David, ‘Yes, we are on the course, I got you. Don't worry about it. Follow me.’”

Just before May Queen, the last aid station about 12.6 miles from the finish, Bross had to stop due to GI distress. He finally caught up to Roche at the aid station where he was refueling and getting a fist bump from Leo.

“Then David takes off and he's running down the road toward the boat ramp and onto the trail. And I thought that may be the last time I see David. I know he's got this record on his mind and he's running so well right now.”

Bross did catch up and they finished the final section together.

“We were just talking back and forth a little bit, me telling David some good stories from when I had run Leadville, anything that would fill my mind a little bit and just keep us a little preoccupied as we were making those last miles.”

Leadville allows family members and friends to accompany runners during the final mile. “Megan actually met us probably with three quarters of a mile to go to the finish line, and David and I see Megan up at the top of this little hill going back into town,” he says. “As soon as we had met up with Megan, I let Megan and David just run together. I jogged behind them. And then about a hundred yards before the finish line, I just peeled off and went around up to the other side around and then waited for them at the finish.”

Mission accomplished

Roche finished in 15:26:34, beating the previous record by over 16 minutes. Cue the celebration, questions from media on site and congratulations from everyone at the finish line.

Amid the hoopla, it was time for Bross to take care of himself. He had become dehydrated.

“I was so dehydrated. I was sitting down, just hanging out. And I just was trying to get my bearings about me again. All my focus was on David and I really just did not do a very good job of taking care of myself. So I probably downed three bottles of water and I was still drinking Scratch at the finish line, trying to get some electrolytes back in myself.”

Bross shared in the joy of the achievement, taking it all in. But the helper was now on the receiving end.

“I was just so happy and excited that we had actually made it, that we had accomplished this goal,” he recalls. “Then all of a sudden the tables turned a little bit, Megan was taking care of me and David, and we were both sitting there and I was having this letdown where my body was just shivering almost. And as soon as I got some fluids back in me, started feeling 100% better.”

Roche is quick to credit Bross.

“Teddy helped me troubleshoot, but maybe most importantly, I just knew I was out there venturing into the unknown with my security blanket, Teddy,” he explains. “After the race, as I was vomiting in the medical tent, Megan rubbing my back and laughing with Teddy as I went through my first post-100 experience, I reflected on how lucky I am. Teddy is a hero for everyone he meets. At Leadville, Teddy was our hero. The record never would have happened without him.”

Speed drill

Name: Teddy Bross

Hometown: Golden, Colo., grew up Cincinnati, Ohio.

Number of years running: 18

How many miles a week do you typically run: 60 to 70

Point of pride: Nolan’s 14 finish, 53:00:09 in 2021

Favorite race distance: 100 miles

Favorite pre-race or training food/drink: “Most runs are at 5 a.m. before work, fasted when around one hour. Otherwise, Precision 100 mg caffeinated gel before workouts, any oatmeal instant oatmeal before races.”

Favorite piece of gear: Katayden filter flask

Who inspires you: “My wife, Hailey, in her demeanor, kindness and accountability.”

Favorite or inspirational song to run to: “Hamilton, My Shot.”

Favorite or inspirational mantra/phrase: “I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart).”