Hey everyone, looking forward to meeting the new rookies and catching up with everyone else
Mark McDonald is one of five members of the 2019 field who are going for Ultimate Number 9. Number 9. Number 9.
How is your training going? Training was going well until I was sidelined with a stress fracture in March 2019. I have been back into routine since June, but it has been a struggle to find my way since then, I have not been successful in getting long runs in – still too many aches and pains
How will your ENDURrun 2019 compare to previous years? It will be a disaster lol 😂
What are the key pieces of advice to Rookies that you’ve learned over the years? Pace yourself, don’t get caught up in the races of others and have fun.
For someone who has never been to ENDURrun week, what should they expect? A summer camp like experience
What about ENDURrun keeps you coming back? The physical challenge and the camaraderie
What are your ENDURrun 2019 stories? I don’t have any expectations going into 2019 – I will take it one stage at a time and keep pushing until I can’t push any further.
What can we follow-up with you about in August for a profile part 2? Are my legs holding up to make it through the week.
What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2019? I like seeing the rookies experience endurrun for the first time. I have a friend that will be a first timer coming and looking forward to seeing her experiences.
What are you nervous about, if anything? Finishing
Can you share any details of your training? I have only been running a few days a week and my mileage max was 14km. Prior to my stress fracture I was running a 30km every weekend
What is your runner profile? I started running in 2006 as a way to combat weight loss. I started at 10km distance for racing, and jumped to the half marathon distance the same year in 2007. In 2009 I joined a Running Room clinic and this began my racing career and helped develop my skills and knowledge of pacing, nutrition, cross training, etc. I have made significant gains since then, and progressed to marathon distance and triathlon, completing 4 Ironmans since 2012. I have completed 26 marathons, countless half marathons and 8 ENDURrun Ultimate finishes. I now lead a group of runners out of Lifetime Fitness Ajax