Mark grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia. He has always been very active in sports, playing baseball, football, and basketball as a kid. He joined the track team at Western Branch during his junior year and went on to compete for Radford University and Virginia Tech. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2002, he moved back to the area and began working out with the Running Etc. group on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He started working at Running Etc. in July of 2003. Mark’s first marathon was the Philadelphia Marathon in 2003. He completed his first triathlon at Sandman in September 2008, and he finished his first full Ironman Triathlon at Ironman Florida in 2011. This led to running ultra-marathons, working his way up to 50 milers, 100 milers, and even 24 Hour Runs. Mark lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, two sons, and twin girls. Mark and his wife run their long runs together at First Landing State Park almost every Sunday.