Dave Ryding - Skier

❤️ River Ryding ❤️

One month old ✅️
Eaten like a horse ✅️
Bulking ✅️
Still hungry ✅️
Poos a lot ✅️

Pretty much all on point, I'd say 🫡

Southport Seaside 10k = 35:10 ⏱️

Here's a thing nobody warns you about when you stop ski racing: your brain doesn't get the memo.

For 20 years, I was a professional athlete. Every single day was some version of "how do I get better, what went wrong, why did that turn feel like garbage." My mind was quite literally always 'on'. Turns out you can retire from the sport, but the little voice that lives rent-free in your head asking "Yeah, but could you be doing MORE?" does not retire with you.

So now I run. Because I've realised I genuinely need something to work towards physically or I start slowly losing the plot.

Let's be clear, I am nowhere near as committed as I was as a pro. My WHY is different now. These day's I've also got to (try to) be a dad, a husband, and do what some people insist on calling "PROPER WORK." Revolutionary stuff. The training window has shrunk from "my entire life" to "the 45 minutes between nappies and emails."

My main aim is really over 5k, but breaking up the 5k routine with the occasional 10k reality checker works brilliantly for me. Keeps me honest, accountable, and fresh.

And that's exactly why a goal matters. A number on a start line gives me structure. Structure gives me routine. And routine keeps that busy, restless, slightly ridiculous brain of mine calm AND active at the same time, like giving a border collie a job so it stops eating the sofa.

35:10 isn't a world title. But it's a line in the sand, a box ticked, and a small win measured in the only currency my brain has ever accepted, time and did I get the most out of myself today.

Answer: Not bad. But, this is how I would train and run it better next time!

Onto the next one.

New chapter. Same fire. 🔥

I am immensely proud to share that I'm officially a HEAD brand ambassador. ⛷️

It's hard to put into words what this means. I started out on a dry slope with nothing but a dream, to then, one day, ski among the very best in the world. Every early morning, every fall, every small win built toward being the best I could be.

Skiing gave me everything, the love for the sport, the mountains, the community, and a relentless drive to get the most out of myself every single day. That drive is exactly why HEAD feels like home. Since joining, I've seen up close their passion to excel in every area and squeeze the absolute most out of their potential. That obsession with high performance and quality is the same thing that gets me out of bed each morning.

I feel truly privileged that HEAD are giving me the opportunity to continue my life in the sport I love, and I'm ready to take it with both hands and with full commitment.

The start of something special, and I couldn't be more excited to represent a brand that matches my hunger for what's next.

To everyone who's been part of the journey, THANK YOU. Let's go. 🙌

*Disclaimer, as of yet, this is not a dry slope comeback announcement.

Yee - Haw! Child birth is a rodeo, that's for sure!

I was ready for the arrival of child number two, and once again, extremely grateful that science lets us bank this one's stem cells with Future Health Biobank Future Health Biobank

Dads, buckle up, pack all 17 hospital bags, and try carrying them into the delivery "suite" in one trip without dropping the emergency snacks!

This is our second child and we are very grateful that we're doing this again. We banked our first child's cord blood too, and it wasn't even a close call deciding to do the same this time.

Quick version of what it actually is: stem cells are basically the body's building blocks, and some of them live in the umbilical cord. Right after birth, before it's normally just discarded, that blood can be collected, and the sample stored for potentially decades. It's the only chance to collect them, there's no do-over at month six or year two. Cord blood stem cells are already used in over 80 standard treatments today, and because they're your child's own, they'll always be a 100% match for them.

What appealed to us first time round still does, that something normally thrown away could actually matter one day, and that we get to make that call at all feels like a genuinely new option earlier generations of parents never had. Second time, it's less "should we" and more "obviously, why wouldn't we."

Process itself is easy and non-invasive, Future Health Biobank sorts the science, we just sign the forms and (apparently) carry bags.

Becoming a parent again has a way of making you think in decades, not days. Small decision now, could matter a lot later. Feels worth it either way.

Bags packed. Snacks smuggled back in. Ready when you are, kid.

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED i managed to get a code for my followers 'Ryding10' to use over the phone or via email!

🤌 Keeping the engine ticking over 🤌

I've been hunting for this pb for a while now... finally stepped up, and got it done!

5k = 16:30 🚀

Got to love sport. Got to love getting after a goal!

❤️ WHAT A DAY! ❤️

This year, Team GB 🇬🇧 teamed up with junior parkrun UK to celebrate National Olympic day this year. You all know my love for a parkrun, so I took up the opportunity to represent British Olympians and join my local one Hesketh Park juniors in Southport and to talk a bit about my career, but also how much these events mean to our population.

Coupled with it being my daughters 4th birthday on Sunday, fate meant, she ticked her first one off at the earliest possibility 🤣 birthday parkrun!

To leave with a smile on her face was the only goal, and to be asked when we could go running again shows the true power of these events.

Massive thanks to all the volunteers who give their time to make these events happen, and I hope I added a little bit of something to the day. See you soon! Nina wants her 10 parkrun T shirt 🤣😉

Park juniors

What to do on the hottest day of the year... strap the Gams into the car seat and head out!

Had to laugh in 36 degree heat with these 3 out and about.

It was a real honour and a privilege to be invited to attend Reed’s School on Friday evening for their Sports dinner.

Having the opportunity to share my journey and the lessons I learned along the way was very special. Made all the easier by David Garrido guiding the discussion 👊

I also had the chance to meet the Ski Team athletes and staff and talk in depth about all things preparation, nutrition, mindset, and of course the, 'are you going to race dryslope again?' topic!

A truly amazing, warm, and friendly environment to be in.

Some rather stimulating questions from the audience, too..... 🤪

It did only allow for a 6 hour sleep before Parkrun mind 😉

Thanks to everyone involved in making it a great evening! See you again.

Where it all began - - Bucket list Parkrun complete!

Great day for it. I finally ticked the box of running at the very first parkrun location!

Dusted Dame Kelly Holmes in the process (obviously joking, and yes, she has way more medals than me)

Lost a coffee bet to Jamie Alldridge at London prices.

Went full send for a 17.11 - that elusive sub 17 still haunts me!

GREAT DAY OUT! After a rather late night with Reeds school last night.

That was the 1 millionth Parkrun event.. crazy how many lives it has changed!