Mark Park-Crowne

Name: Mark Park-Crowne

Age: 56

Location: St. Albans

About me: Grew up on bikes, swam at a local club, and ran cross country and longer distance track at school. Got into running properly at University with a friend, did a number of Great North Runs. Life got in the way until I found myself forty and a bit portly, when I started running again to get lighter for climbing hills on my mountain bike. When Allie and I got together*, triathlon was inevitable!

*(Allie edit: our first date was a 2hr muddy trail run, second date was weights at the gym – as I had to make sure he was Ironman-boyfriend material!)

Previous experience: A few sprints and Olympic distance events, then Castle Howard Middle Distance, and Wimbleball Half Ironman, which taxed my sense of humour.

Current goals:

  • Stick to shorter distance triathlons, plus runs up to half-marathons, knees permitting
  • Swim, bike, run in lovely places with my family
  • Avoid any talk of a full Ironman

Bucket list: Don’t have one

Random facts: 4th dan blackbelt at Ki-aikido, or “country dancing” according to kick-boxer Allie.

Have raced a couple of Fastnet offshore yacht races, and hold a yacht skipper’s ticket. RedAlertPT sailing trip anyone? I think there’s a long distance sail/run event to be done…