320lbs to a sub 20min 5k ParkRun - How to be better than most 

You are 100% better than most RU-vidrs.

Thanks to you and this video I did my first 5km run last night with my daughter. Haven't run for 25 years. I'm 58 now but I did it! Thanks Mark.

The is better than most Ted Talks.

Thanks Mark, this was a great video. I completely relate to your journey and your "better than most" ethos. I also had that burst of inspiration from Spartan. It started out because I was doing them (when none else was), then you got that first burpee free race, then you get the longer races and the trifecta weekend, then you start looking at podiums. It's all about finding those opportunities to iteratively improve. I've also been aiming for the sub 20 min Parkrun. I'll get there one day!

Engaging and amusing as well as motivational. Love your work!

A good model for a life with less people feeling they have failed. Thanks for sharing.

Mark, started watching your channel. Absolutely amazing motivation. The better than most thought process has really resonated with me, I have lost and gained weight over years. At the ripe age of 48 and having been recovering from an Achilles tendonitis problem (through covid so no physiotherapy available) I ended up at 5' 11" being just under 1 6 Stone. I am back to running using the couch to 5k, and whilst I am not breaking any records, i am whilst I am out 'better than most' who are sat on the sofa etc. With some changes in diet, some running and cycling I have dropped to 15 Stone 3lbs. Great motivation, please keep the feeds coming. Top bloke.

Legend! Talking about you at my first park run yesterday, most people know you!

Just subscribed to you mate, having watched your video about being a heavier runner first. I used to be a track and field sprinter and high hurdler in my 20s- county champion, nationals etc. Used to. I’ve had to dispel my ego, and start with baby steps. So I’m on week 4 of a couch to 5k app, and on my second week of week 4. But I’m determined to keep going….

You remind me very much of myself. I’ve just turned 40 this past autumn. I’m 6’5”, and I was an athlete most of my life and was into amateur bodybuilding. However, maybe around 2009 or so I went from roughly 240 to 300 lbs. I was depressed and un-motivated. However, winter 2011 I decided to get back into shape. Ended up getting down to 218 by December of the same year. Complete with six pack and extreme vascularity. Fast forward to 2019, got married, had two kids, COVID, and I’m back to the upper 280s (mostly since the wedding). I’ve purchased a treadmill and a Kickr trainer, and luckily bought a set of 90lb powerblocks at the onset of COVID. I’m doing well with my training, but it’s nice to see someone in my near age bracket with similar stats really crushing it. It’s certainly motivation for me to keep pushing myself. Thanks for the vids, and I hope your keep posting.

Just started watching your stuff. It's very well done. The comments about Christmas had me laughing out loud. Ended up here as considering a 50k next month, but am a heavier runner. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂

Can’t beat breaking through Parkrun plateaus. I’m 44, 220lbs and I’ve just broken through sub 24 minutes - what a feeling! It really is unbelievably rewarding to pick something up and progress to the point where you find yourself performing at a level which makes you re-think what might be achievable

Great video! I too started at around 32/31 minutes, but now running 22, aiming for sub 20, and am motivated by my age grading.

I am newly subscribed. Great videos. At least here we've established why you're so funny in the other videos - you've done stand up. Anyway, much as I admire what you've achieved, (i) I wish we'd seen videos of you at 26 stone running, because that's when it's hard to start and (ii) the fact that you've never been injured is luck. I have injured my calves regularly, despite following training tips like the ones you've mentioned. I am currently rehabilitating after a nasty calf tear before Xmas. Still not able to run, but I know where to come when I am able to start. I might try videoing my overweight body to show the actual journey. Until then, I'll work my way through your videos.

Your videos are inspiring and laced with great humor.

LOL clearly still bitter about that christmas run

Ok, fitness aside, we want to know the breed of your dogs!? A couple of Jack Russell terriers? Another one that looks like a bull terrier? Thanks, my kids want your dogs or ones like them!

Starts climbing, buys aggressive bouldering shoes 😂 your poor toes

Great channel, great motivation. I did 5k/20min runs last summer, but I stopped running completely after moving to a new city last autumn. Last week I went for a run and all my past efforts were totally gone! oh no! I want to start up again, and your channel is motivational, engaging and fun! Thanks! It will be interesting to see how your kickr bike progression will effect your running, do you think that it will have a noticeable effect on your running speed?

Loved it. PMSL at the 13:00 mark. Being ticked off about not getting the chance at a sub 20:00 min park run. Very funny 👍

Fantastic video! Very motivating!

Don't you use the Garmin chest straps for running? It gives a lot more data that can be helpful in analyzing and improving your running technique. I use them all the time, since chest straps give way more accurate HRM data than the wrist type.

Mark this video is great. Glad that you're reaching/have reached what most haven't.

Ok I give in, wheres the link to your stand up set?!

Your garage has come a long way….

Awesome motivation

thank you 😊

Mark, love your channel, thank you. You mention in this video you were running 23min something 5ks then you started obstacle, half, full and ultra marathons and you’re touching 20 minutes. This 20min is a goal of mine, currently at 22.15 and working on increasing weekly mileage but haven’t done much specifically on strength. Have you any idea how much the strength training helped percentage wise on reducing your 5k time? Many thanks

Got my first parkrun on Saturday 18/02/23 got running bug from finding your videos a few weeks back at age 40 myself. Today I ran a 5k to see where I’m at and as soon as I got back I checked the website to see yesterday’s results and was happy to see my 26:44 would of put me in place 43 of 133 now as you said the competitor in me is already saying ok so on the day we can definitely beat that and that drive is what will make getting out of bed at 4am 3 times a week to run before school runs and work more worth while. Thanks for the videos I’ve binged nearly your whole channel in 4 weeks 😂

Love this, great ethos

Hi Mark... Discovered you quite by chance as I'm buying a Fenix 6X Pro, and was interested to hear about the body battery I had never heard of... But can't wait to experience... Then came across this video... I think this is one of the most motivational videos I have seen, and has me wanting to go out for a run (after midnight)... I'm just starting week 3 of C25K and just wanted to complete 5K and lose some weight... Now I realise I can probably do more... Here comes all the things I thought were not possible... Thanks

Hey Mark.. Happened to come across your channel viewing H701 vids. (Looking forward for 2year review?). Really enjoyable watching the content you upload.. Thanks for sharing.. Fz1 🏍, German Shepherd running partner🐕‍🦺.. Hope training for the Marathon is going well😎

This is cool. Ty

Hi Mark, great video. I started running a couple of years ago at 18.5st and 6ft3 around the 30 min 5km. Just recently run a 22:56 so definitely going in the right direction, but your videos are such an inspiration to some of us bigger chaps who never thought we'd be successful at running! Keep it up 💪👏

I don't get why it matters how you're doing relative to other people. Why not better than I've been before? Or was that my best possible effort for my current circumstances? Or was it a joyful effort?

Not sure how I came across your videos but I am so glad that I did. Really useful and entertaining as well. Thanks Mark

Inspirational thankyou

I was waiting for before and after pictures!

Excellent! Fun and inspiring.

What does your strength training routine look like??

Hmm very good advice...🤔👍

When’s the next vid coming?

I really enjoy your content

V entertaining.

Spot on Mark 😎

Love it!! 🤣🤣🤣

Random but what breed is the dog? Jack Russell?

I cannot break my Rekord of 27:00 minutes...... When i m trying to run 05:15 - 05:30 per Km for 5 Km my heart rate spikes to 180+... thats my doom 175 ok .... above this and my speed is dropping..... i m running intervalls and long runs 10ks somethimes...... Whats the best solution ? 1: Only speed training ( Sub 29 min minimun for 5Ks / heavy intervalls sub 05:00 min/km ???????????????????? 2: Long endurance runs above 7K to 15Ks in about 06:00 - 06:30 min/km tempo for 1/2 jear to build stamina ?????????????