Dave Mackey has been a Colorado resident for 25 years, the vast majority of which were spent running and racing in Colorado, across the United States, and overseas. Some highlights include being selected as the 2011 North American Ultra Runner of the Year, two-time USATF Ultra Runner of the Year, and USATF National running titles at 50K, 50M, and 100K distances. He has completed the fabled “Leadman” race series three times and is shooting for his fourth in 2021, once again with a prosthetic leg. Dave has been a professional runner for almost 20 years. He was also a professional multi-sport adventure racer in the 2000s, being lucky enough to race multi-day adventure races on professional adventure racing teams on six continents. 

In May 2015, Dave dislodged a large rock while climbing off Bear Peak above Boulder, Colorado, 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.  He still runs, bikes, or skis just about every day. 

Otherwise, Dave is a regular married Dad with an 11-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl. Dave works his day job as a physician assistant, which he loves. He has been on the board of the American Trail Running Association (ATRA) for 20 years, as well as a Boulder-based climbing advocacy non-profit, and volunteers medical at trail running events and for the Band of Runners camp for veterans and gold start families. 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.