About Coach Mark

I’m a 2008 Minnesota transplant by way of Montana and South Carolina.  I’ve been in some sort of competitive sport all my life.  I was on the football, track, and gymnastics (yes gymnastics) teams in high school.  I enjoyed a degree of success in football as an inside linebacker and became the first to receive a football scholarship from my school.   It was my love and passion for football that led me to a life of athletic pursuits and competition.

I took a break from college for a while because well, life happens and sometimes interrupts our best laid plans.  I joined the Airforce and became [for lack of better terms] a professional athlete competing in combat and training exercises and competitions involving the US Special Forces and our European Allies.  After leaving the Airforce I embarked on a several decade long pursuit of body building and power lifting and had relative success in both disciplines.    

In my late 40’s I started questioning the long-term health benefits of my power lifting endeavors verses an endurance-based exercise regimen.  At 48 years old I went to a part of the gym I’d hadn’t visited in decades; the dreaded treadmills on the second floor.  My goal was to run 1km.  I finished, but it was ugly.  Therein started a decade long journey from dipping my toe in the water as a runner to the complete emersion as an ultra-endurance athlete. 

My passion is overall health and wellness and living a long active life.  My goal is to partner with and support athletes at all levels in their personal quest to define and redefine who they are as an athlete and competitor, WHILE enjoying the journey, community, and health benefits.

Racing Experience

Endurance Sports

·       35+ Endurance Race Finishes

·       Ironman 140.6 Finisher

·       20+ Ironman 70.3 Finishes

·       Ultra Running

o   2x 50k

o   1x 53 mile (Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim)

o   Twin Cities Ultra Looney Challenge

·       20+ Marathon Finishes 

Years ago…

·       Southern States Body Building Championships (runner up, Novice Division)

·       5+ power lifting competitions

Passion

As it applies to athletic endeavors, I’m most passionate about moving the bookends on what I believe is possible in terms of my mental limitations and physical performance.  Foundationally, I believe tomorrow’s performance can be better than today’s and my next race can be my best.  This is of course underpinned in equal measure by a passion for living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining my overall health and physical capacity as a ‘seasoned’ age grouper, pursuit of multiple athletic disciplines, and building a book of knowledge and experience behind the science and art of performance, ALL WHILE having fun and enjoying the company, accomplishments, and journeys of my training partners and teammates.

Education

B. S. Human Resource Management

M. S. Management

Certified Triathlon Coach, United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA)