Overcoming Challenges, One Mile at a Time
Hi, I’m David Theriot. My journey into running wasn’t typical—I didn’t even consider myself a runner at first. After wrestling in high school and years of martial arts, life threw me a curveball. A knee injury from Jiu-Jitsu sidelined me, forcing ACL surgery. I needed a goal, so I set out to run a marathon—despite never having raced before. In 2010, I crossed the finish line of my first marathon in under four hours. I was hooked.
But I didn’t stop there. I craved more miles and bigger challenges. In 2013, I took on my first ultramarathon, a 100-miler. It was brutal. I twisted my ankle around mile 40, and the pain at mile 60 was intense. Still, I pushed through and finished in fifth place. That race sparked a passion for ultrarunning.
Since then, I’ve faced more setbacks, including another knee surgery. But each time, I came back stronger, running races from 50Ks to 240-mile adventures, even winning a few along the way. Highlights like the Tahoe 200, Western States 100, and the Moab 240 remind me that we are capable of far more than we think.
I’m not done yet—there are still plenty of miles left in me. Running has taught me that no matter the obstacle, we can push through with determination and grit. And if I can do it, so can you!
