The Ironman Triathlon is the most difficult one-day sporting event in the world. It starts with a 2.4-mile ocean swim, followed by 112 grueling miles of cycling, and then finishes with a 26.2-mile marathon in the heat of the tropical sun. For most of the 1,500 men and women who compete in the Ironman crossing the finish line amounts to a victory.
Mark had a different destiny…
His first six attempts, all losses, were casualties of everything from flat tires to internal bleeding. Yet each defeat served to galvanize his commitment to fulfilling his dream of becoming the Ironman Champion. Finally on his seventh attempt Mark won, beating Dave Scott in triathlon’s greatest race ever.
Allen went on to win a total of six Ironman titles in six attempts. His final victory came at the age of 37, making him the oldest champion ever in this incredibly challenging event! Mark completed a 15-year career in the world of elite athletics with a 90% top-three finish record and going undefeated in 20 races over a three year span from 1988-1990. He was named “Triathlete of the Year” six times, and after retiring in 1996 was called “The World’s Fittest Man” by Outside magazine.
Still living the principles that enabled him to turn adversity into success, Mark was recently awarded the highest ranking any speaker ever receives from the Northwestern Financial Network for a keynote address he gave to their advisors. Mark works for NBC Sports as an expert analyst each year at the Ironman and provided commentary at the Sydney Olympics for triathlon’s debut at the Games.
Mark is also an award winning author for the recently released book titled Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You that he co-authored with Brant Secunda. They received the prestigious Nautilus Book Award in the category of Health, Healing and Energetic Medicine in 2010.
