Mark Beckwith

I believe that my true character is realized when I push beyond the limits I set for myself.

My personal goal for the end of the 2009 season is to go under 10 hours at Ironman Arizona in November. Longer term I am focused on qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona in the 30-34 age-group. My motivation for doing this goes beyond athletic performance, but for a cause bigger than myself.

During a routine doctors visit recently for a sore neck my mother was given the diagnosis of having a cancerous tumor on her spine. She has always been a strong and health-conscious woman who works out every morning and eats a healthy diet. It made me realize that cancer does not discriminate and can impact any family at any time. Although she is in treatment and should make a full recovery this form of cancer has a 75% chance of reoccurring and that news motivated me to try and make a small impact towards research and treatment of cancer. Today this cancer might have a 75% chance of reoccurring but if continued efforts are made towards the research and treatment of all forms of cancer then maybe a treatment can be found so that that 75% becomes 50%, 25% or zero percent before it strikes again; not just in my mother's case but for everyone living as a cancer survivor. I ask for your generous support in not only helping me reach my goals, but more importantly helping find a cure.

Upon graduating from College where I played lacrosse I quickly gravitated towards endurance sports competing in adventure races ranging from 12, 24 and 48 hour events and highlighted by a 5-day expedition race in the British Virgin Islands. Since 2004 I have focused on individual endurance sports and have completed a number of marathons with a PR of 2:58, two ultra marathons and triathlons consisting of a few Olympic distance, 1/2 Ironman and 8 Ironman races. Since 2008 I have been training with VisionQuest Coaching where I met E2C founder Jason Sissel and learned about Endure to Cure. Professionally I am a real estate developer and property manager in Chicago as well as a licensed Real Estate Broker and General Contractor operating as Beckwith Ventures, LLC and Beckwith Management, LLC.