Lake Bluff resident David Mark competes in marathons. But that alone is not what makes his running hobby extraordinary.
In February, the 51-year-old employee of Abbott, a health care company headquartered in Lake Bluff, ran the Tokyo Marathon. It was the sixth marathon Mark completed in less than five years, a feat that spanned three continents. That made him the first runner to be earn the Abbot World Marathon Major Six Star medal, awarded for successfully completing all six AbbottWMM races — in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
Pioneer Press freelance reporter Jon J. Kerr caught up with Mark for an interview about his remarkable athletic career.
Q: What got you into running?
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A: I never ran at an early age, only recreationally in college. I ran the Chicago Marathon in 1998 and took a 13-year hiatus and got back into it in 2011. I thought, ‘What am I going to do next?’ So I qualified for the Boston Marathon. It was the next step.
Q: After you ran in Boston in April of 2013, you ran in Berlin in the fall of that year, followed by London, then New York, then Tokyo. Only 600 runners have completed all six races. What compelled you to compete in all of them?
A: I’m fortunate enough to be healthy enough to run events like these. Once you’ve done one, you (are motivated) to continue to do it and strike on to bigger and better races. I have goals in specific races in my age group that provide motivation. Some days it’s harder to get out of bed than others, but it keeps you moving. In 2014, Abbott became a sponsor, and there was a sense of urgency, more a sense of pride to complete the marathons as quickly as possible. I ran the last three 10 months.
Q: You also compete in triathlons (featuring a swim, a bike and a run). How does the training differ?
A: When I was just running, that was my primary exercise. But it took a toll on my aging bones. A friend had gotten into triathlons and cycling and encouraged me to join them. That was six years ago. The two of them go hand-in-hand. They kind of compliment the other and I’m not taking the pounding on my body. I’ve found I’m more focused in my running. I’m back on my bike for a few events later in the year. I’m doing a half triathlon in July and a full in September.
Q: You’ve competed in so many places around the world. What are memories that stand out?
A: Every race is a wonderful event and a unique view of the city. They all have something special: the skyline of Chicago, Central Park in New York, Buckingham Palace in London. Chicago is my home, but London is my second home. In Tokyo, it was a beautiful day and the fans are very supportive in a unique way. Running through the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was very memorable. I did a half triathlon in the Austrian Alps. It was absolutely spectacular, reminded me of how flat Chicago is.
This story has been updated to indicate that David Mark ran his first marathon in 1998 and took 13 years off before returning to run more marathons in 2011.
Jon J. Kerr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @prepspioneer