Mark Barrette | Hammer Gel Fun Run

Mark Barrette: I started endurance sports with a very different and unusual background;  in track as a pole vaulter for Purdue University.   After graduating from Purdue and University of Indiana Dental School, I became a 5k, 10k runner and dabbled in bicycle racing in criteriums, time trials, and road races.   In the early 1980's when triathlons started, I realized that being a good runner and biker was not adequate for being a good triathlete; so I joined a masters swim group.  It was the missing part in my training.   Since my family of a son and two daughters were young and training time was at a premium, I didn't attempt an Ironman for ten years until 1991.  However, I found time in this period before to do quite a few shorter triathlons.  In the 32 years that I did triathlons, I did 16 Ironman races qualifying for the  Hawaiian  Ironman World Championship six times.  Also I participated in two Age Group World Championship at the Olympic distance.    In the last three years I've been racing bikes as a Masters Cat. 4 in road race, time trials, and criteriums  as well as mountain bike and fatbike races.    In the early 1980's when triathlons started, I realized that being a good runner and biker was not adequate for being a good triathlete; so I joined a masters swim group.  It was the missing part in my training.   Since my family of a son and two daughters were young and training time was at a premium, I didn't attempt an Ironman for ten years until 1991.  However, I found time in this period before to do quite a few shorter triathlons.  In the 32 years that I did triathlons, I did 16 Ironman races qualifying for the  Hawaiian  Ironman World Championship six times.  Also I participated in two Age Group World Championship at the Olympic distance.    In the last three years I've been racing bikes as a Masters Cat. 4 in road race, time trials, and criteriums  as well as mountain bike and fatbike races.    I retired from my dental practice two years ago and also retired from ten years of coaching runners, swimmers, and triathletes.  I've been associated with Hammer Nutrition for the last ten years and  the last three years, I have been traveling for Hammer Nutrition and doing seminars for runners, bicyclists, triathletes, crossfit participants, and Navy Seals