Mark Van Akkeren

Austin’s Triathlon Source

Triathlete of the Month

Date of Birth:  January 29th 1980

Height: 6’ 2”

Athletic Background: nationally and internationally ranked swimmer

In the Beginning: both my parents swam (my dad held a HS team record for 25 yrs) and got me in the water at a very young age. I was blessed with a natural athletic ability and as soon as I hit the water as a 6 yr. old I just took off.  4 yrs later I moved into year round/USS swimming and from there I was fortunate enough to have been coached by one of the best coaches in the U.S., mark boerner, who was able to help me develop my talents.

When was your first multi-sport race: 1998 Cinco Ranch Sprint Triathlon

What was your first memory of your first ever run or race of any kind? Hmmm..well Sharon Spuler (4th, 2000 Olympic triathlon trials) who had been training with our swim club said that she would get us in to this 'race' for free.  as it was two weeks after nationals I said ahh what the hell ill give it a shot.  well the swim went by in a flash and then I got on a 51cm borrowed bike and managed somehow to mash for the next 18 miles... before waddling in on dead legs to T2 and then proceeding to shuffle for the final 5k.  As a couple of friends and I sat on a bench in the sweltering sauna known as Houston in august I remember thinking 'dang it.... there is no way I will EVER do one of these again'   well we now know what happened to that proclamation

Racing Career Highlights

Personal best Olympic Distance: 7th AG USAT Nationals 2:02

Personal best Half IM: Ralph's California Half Ironman April 2004 4:42

Personal Best Ironman:  hmmmm at some point this year this blank will get filled.... as to where.... that is left to be determined 

Personal Best 10K Run: split from 3M half marathon 36:45

Personal Best Half Marathon:  1:19

Personal Best Marathon: yeah right!

Personal Best Duathlon: um I don’t think duathlons involve water.... sorry but no comprende 

Advice for new Multi-sport athletes (or runners): if coming from swimming.... WEIGHTS and be very careful on the run volume.... gravity sucks for amphibians.  Patience as in life is a virtue and above all else you just gotta have fun doing it... otherwise its just not worth it

Personal Favorite Swimming Location: Texas Swim Center and Deep Eddy Lake Michigan 

Personal Favorite Cycling Route/Location: Long rides into Texas Hill Country or the Wisconsin farmland (grandmas house) on a hot summer day   TT work on South Mopac 

Personal Favorite Running Route/Location: Town Lake trail... where else?

Personal Favorite Multi-sport race: too new to the sport to have a fav... but any race where you can have as much fun after the race with your friends as you did during the race would have to qualify as good

Personal Favorite Running race:  me run what.... 3M was cool... in fact it was my first and only 

Personal Favorite Product(s): LITESPEED BLADE... Asics shoes... TYR swim...

Personal Favorite Quote: nothing famous but just something simple....'you just gotta have fun'

Personal Favorite Movies: The Bourne Identity, RONIN, and the new Bond flicks.... and I am always a sucker for Return of the Jedi

Most Embarrassing Moment in your competitive career (so far): hmmm not really embarrassing so much as it was funny... Trilogy triathlon 2000 my swim wave left 3 minutes after the pro/elites... as I had just finished my swimming! career two months earlier I was still doing pretty well I n the water... I believe I managed to pass most of the elites and get out onto the bike pretty quick and having come from Houston and only ridden the beast, my dads 40 lbs yellow Schwinn, when I raced I was needless to say unprepared for the first hill after the 360 bridge... as I crawled up the hill I remember everyone passing me with this horrible look of astonishment on their faces as to what the hell was this Speedo clad 'thing' doing on the bike course. Ah well live and let live :)

Role Model(s): my parents for knowing that to have a complete life takes balance and faith

Biggest ambition in life: to be happy and successful at whatever I attempt.... but its gotta be fun

What are the three biggest things that have had the biggest impact on you life? The fact that I was an internationally ranked swimmer as a high school student and the time management that I had to accomplish to get the huge amount of school and training hours in all in one day.... my horrible time in Nebraska.... long story too long for here.... basically made me realize that there was more to life than sport.... getting into UT business school... even thought its not that big of a deal I felt as though I got a second lease on college life when I started b-school here