MIT MEMBER STORY HOUR:

MARK T. BLOOMFIELD

This season, we will are telling stories of members in our community that are meant to inspire, uplift, and encourage everyone in their journey with MIT. Have a story in mind? Email it to Coach Hannah (hannah@fleetfeetcolumbus.com). 

​

This week we start with Coach Mark Bloomfield, whose journey to running in London in 2024 is nothing short of inspiring. Please consider making a donation to Mark's cause at the link below.

Hello, 

​

I am Mark Bloomfield, and I am running in the London Marathon 2024, not only for myself, but for Action On Pre-Eclampsia. This is an organization that aims to raise public and professional awareness of pre-eclampsia, improve care, and ease or prevent physical and emotional suffering caused by the disease. They do this by providing information and support to members of the public who are affected by pre-eclampsia and support research into finding a cure. Pre-Eclampsia is caused by a defect in the placenta, which joins the mother and baby and supplies the baby with nutrients and oxygen from the mother’s blood.  

I am 62 years old, have been working out and running races for the past 9 years. It all started when I was in the Porcupine Mtns of Michigan and was unable to hike, hunt and do I what I needed to do. At this time, I was smoking 3 packs of cigarettes daily and did not have any sort of workout routine or healthy eating habits.  Shortly after returning from the hunting camp, I hired a trainer, and I bought an entry into a Spartan Sprint race here in Ohio. Afterall, it could not be that hard. That was the start of my journey.  

My first race was the Cap City 5k, then I did Warrior Dash and then did the Spartan Sprint, and I was hooked. Since these races, I have done 2 25k’s, 10 half marathons, 7 Crim 10-mile races, Spartan Beast, Indian Mud Run, Mud Guts & Glory, numerous other OCR event and many 5,10 and 15k races.  

I found a local running store, Fleet Feet, that had a program: Marathon in Training (MIT). I have been with MIT for 8 years now, and am now a pace coach for walkers, or “Party in the Back” as we call ourselves. We pride ourselves in not quitting and keeping going forward.  I really enjoy everyone at MIT, as they encourage everyone to keep on going and to get it done. This ranges from the fast people to those who are not quite as fast. They give me what I need, to keep on going.  

October 2020, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma Cancer. Thankfully, I had a doctor who took regular blood tests every 6 months. I started Chemo and treatment Nov 2020, which involved daily chemo drugs and weekly shots. I had Stem Cells taken from me also. On March 24,2021, I went into The James at Ohio State University and received a large dose of chemotherapy and then on March 26, they gave me back 2 million of my Stem Cells. At this point, it was a waiting game for my blood counts to come back up from the chemo and then 12 days later I was released, my cancer was officially in remission. I slowly started to workout and run and train. February 2023, I completed the Winter Warmup Half Marathon in Columbus and then 2 weeks later, the Ft Lauderdale Half in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. April 2022, I completed the Pro Football HOF Half Marathon. 

Since this point, my focus has been on working on making myself as healthy as possible and to not quit and continue to move forward.  

Since I have been doing my races, I have always wanted to do longer and/or harder races. I actually did the two 25k’s before I had attempted a half. I did them 2 weeks apart... oops. Not the smartest idea.  I have been playing around doing 1 marathon race and just one. Was looking for a few factors: time limit, course was it hilly or flat, where the race was and where I could do a race for a charity. That is how London came into play. I was reading up on the London Marathon and the course is basically flat, they have a generous time limit, this would be a great excuse to do a race overseas, and then travel for a few weeks and then I could do this for charity. Might not be a charity that everyone has heard about, but it is a great charity.

Any charity that help mothers and their baby’s, in my mind, is one that needs supporting.  

Any donation would be highly appreciated and would go toward a great charity. Please consider giving what you can, and I Thank you Very MUCH!! 

Coach Mark