Dave Mackey has been a Colorado resident for 25 years, the vast majority of which were spent running and racing in Colorado, the US, and overseas. Some highlights include being selected as the 2011 North American Ultra Runner of the Year, two-time US Track and Field Ultra Runner of the Year, and USATF National running titles at 50K, 50M, and 100K distances. Dave has made a partial living through trail sponsorships for almost 20 years. He was also a professional multi-sport adventure racer for several years, being lucky enough to race multi-day adventure races on every continent except Antarctica.

Almost three years ago, Dave dislodged a large rock on a route he’d run hundreds of times while climbing off Bear Peak above Boulder, somehow surviving a 60 foot fall. Unfortunately the large rock fell onto his left leg, and subsequent complications over 18 months led to the choice to have his leg amputated below the knee. Just over a year after the amputation, in January, Dave ran a 50K trail race, and desires to complete many, many more.

Dave has been on the board of the American Trail Running Association (ATRA) for 18 years, as well as a Boulder-based climbing advocacy non-profit. He also worked professionally as a rock climbing guide for in the Boulder area and Rocky Mt National Park, as well as 12 years working as a guide and educator for programs such as Outward Bound and the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, teaching outdoor education to people with disabilities. Dave currently works as a physician assistant in Denver and lives in Boulder with his wife Ellen, Ava(10), and Connor (8).