The Long Game - Fit for Life

Episode 11: John Bermudez - Fitness is a Non-Negotiable…

In this episode of The Long Game, Mark sits down with endurance coach and multi-time Boston Marathon qualifier John Bermudez to talk about fitness, purpose, and playing the long game in life. John shares his journey from growing up in Southeast San Diego, navigating corporate careers in music and entertainment, to building a coaching business centered around helping everyday athletes chase big goals. Together they dive into Boston dreams, balancing family and health, controlling the controllables, and why fitness isn’t just about race medals—it’s an investment in being around for the people who matter most. This conversation is a reminder that health isn’t optional, and the work you put in today determines the life you get to live tomorrow.

Episode 10 - Joe Beckerley on Health, Strength, and Racing for Life

Mark sits down with longtime friend, former business partner, and endurance coach Joe Beckerley to revisit their shared history in triathlon, Performance Strength Lab, and the endurance community. Joe shares how a Crohn’s disease diagnosis pushed him out of an unhealthy corporate routine and into boxing, running, triathlon, and eventually coaching. The conversation explores the mental and physical power of endurance sports, the importance of strength training for athletes, and why community, patience, and consistency matter when building a lifestyle that lasts well beyond race day.

Episode 9 - Why You Keep Showing Up (Or Stop)

In this episode, Mark explores how the people and spaces around our workouts quietly decide whether we stick with training for years or drift away. Drawing on Maya Angelou’s quote about how we remember feelings more than words or actions, he shares what it was like to be a nervous beginner in a boxing gym and a co-owner of Performance Strength Lab, where community mattered more than perfect programming. He reflects on the loss of those gyms, a recent conversation with coach Chad Christman of Ignite Fitness in Missouri, and the realization that he misses belonging to a training community as much as coaching one.

Episode 8 - Strong for Life with Coach Chad Chrisman

This episode is about playing the long game with your body. Coach Chad Chrisman joins the podcast to share how to build real strength, stay consistent through busy seasons, and train in a way that supports your life—not burns you out.

Episode 7 - The Rent is due, it’s Time to Collect

The Rent Is Due, It’s Time to Collect…. This is a race-day reflection from the Bedrock Valley Gravel Race, and we break down preparation, pacing, execution, and recovery—showing how race day simply reveals the work you’ve already put in. Beyond the result, we dive into what it truly means to stay in the long game: finding your “why,” staying consistent through imperfect seasons, and understanding that the real payoff isn’t just performance—it’s showing up for life, for the long haul.