I am a 43 year old woman who has just recently started doing sprint triathlons.  I was referred to Mark through a mutual friend.  It did not take long before I felt that connection right away between us. When we first sat down last fall, I shared my greatest desire of completing a Half Ironman triathlon (in Sep of that year) with Mark.  He never said that it was impossible, even though I’ve had challenges with swimming and I had only just started triathlons the previous year (2 sprints).  He initially thought that it may be overly ambitious for this year, but all the same, he went to work on putting together a realistic and detailed plan and we both worked from there. He provided lots of very helpful reading, resources and regular weekly follow up advice which has been very beneficial for me.
Today, I have completed my first Olympic tri and all I can say is WOW!  I feel that I was well prepared and totally rocked it.  I cannot thank Mark enough for his generosity and support through this past year.  I know that he will continue to be a constant source of support for me as I work towards my main goal: completion of my first ever Half Ironman!    
- Lise Grondin, Gatineau, Quebec

I've known Mark for the better part of 35 years... first meeting him in a military capacity but I watched him jump into the sport of triathlon with a lot of vigour and determination – along with some impressive accomplishments along the way. Having been a fairly a recreational cyclist, a “sometime”swimmer...but not having ran for the better part of 25 years - I still wanted to try out a triathlon. So Mark sat me down a few months out before my first tri and laid out a very effective blueprint - which took into account the demands of my career and family as well as quite frankly my physical limitations. I ended up having a great race at the 2015 Elk Lake Triathlon (Victoria BC) - and I couldn't have been happier once I hit the finish line! I credit Mark not only for his intelligent approach in getting me through all my training, but more importantly for his wisdom in pulling me back when he thought I may be overdoing it at times. All in all he would make anyone an excellent triathlon coach! 

– Ron Johnston, North Vancouver BC

 As a blind athlete and a former Canadian Soldier, in the spring of the spring of 2017 I started working with Mark to learn how to ride a tandem bike in preparation for the Invictus Games later that year. Although Mark had never rode on a tandem bike prior to us training together, his incredible depth of experience in the endurance sport arena coupled with his patient, methodical and analytical approach to working towards a goal paid off well for me…as I eventually earned two silver medals in the cycling races at the Invictus Games. All told Mark is certainly talented in helping people move forward to their goals: I've seen this with him working as a volunteer with other challenged athletes such as myself be it in cycling, swimming or cross-country skiing. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who wants to bring out the best in themselves. MCpl (Ret'd) Lutz Stelzner - Oliver, BC

For many years, I had competed in running and military endurance races but Triathlon was a sport that fascinated me - but also intimidated me because I was not a strong swimmer and hadn't ridden a bike in years. But at age 50 - not an age that most people consider starting such a demanding sport as Triathlon - Mark (a former Kona World Championship qualifier) decided to help me achieve this longstanding goal. In laying out my program, he recognized my strengths, weaknesses, and inexperience in certain disciplines - and coached me accordingly. He taught me how to properly ride a road bike (gearing, cadence etc) and accompanied me on many rides- some in tough weather conditions. It was Mark who swam with me on my first open water swim. So how did it turn out? With Mark's inspiration and coaching as key factors, over a 2 year period I completed 8 Triathlons of varying distances, often on the Podium  and occasionally winning my Age Group (in the smaller local events). In my second year of Triathlon, Mark designed a personal training plan and coached me to top third finish (Age Group) in the 2010 New Balance Half Ironman (Victoria). Being able to finally call myself a Triathlete was a very proud moment for me, and I owe my success to Mark so much in this regard. All told, I would highly recommend him to not only aspiring rookie triathletes of any age, but also to experienced triathletes wanting to up their game.  Col(Ret’d) Dave Barr – Ottawa, Ont

As a runner who never seemed to get tired but also never quite made it to the podium, I decided I wanted to try a triathlon. I knew I was a good swimmer and biking couldn't be that hard! I knew nothing of the sport and couldn't find a coach but I did somehow turn up a fellow Armed Forces Officer, Mark, who was involved in the sport. Mark had a ton of racing success the previous season, winning a local race (Citizen’s Triathlon) and crushing Ironman Canada. Anyway Mark took me under his wing and developed a training program for me. Even better, he taught me proper swimming style for longer distances and it really made a difference even though I was already a pretty good swimmer. I never got very good on the bike but with Mark's help I learned how to conserve energy and hold my place in the bike portion of a race. I'd never have been able to do that without his help. I had a fairly successful debut in the sport at the Seagull Triathlon (Pugwash, NS) and was proud of myself. His advice for me to “Stay within yourself” when I felt like hammering perhaps a little too hard attests to his patience, wisdom and strong technical knowledge. He is so well suited to be a coach: my only question here is “why did it take you so long to decide here, Mark?” 

- Dale Robertson, Halifax, NS

I first met Mark in February 2019, moments after I fell on black ice and broke my fibula. He witnessed my fall and helped get me to the hospital. 

I expressed my frustration with my injury to Mark; I'd had goals to complete a Half Ironman that summer!  He informed me that he happened to be a Triathlon coach; it was almost like we were meant to bump into each other. I had surgery to repair my broken fibula and updated my goal to complete a Half Ironman in the winter. 

Working with Mark has been very helpful. He designs a realistic plan around your personal circumstances (returning from injury, in this case). He has provided key weekly workouts that take my strengths and weaknesses into account and allows me the flexibility to fit my cross training in. As a newer cyclist, Mark has helped me overcome some of my fears on the road. 

I completed my first ever Olympic distance Triathlon (Elk Lake 2019) just 5.5 months post surgery and very nearly qualified for the Cdn Forces championships in the process. With this great start, and Mark's continued guidance, I am well on track to achieve my Half Ironman goal this winter. 

- Chelsea Henderson, Victoria BC