1997: Mark Allen's Year of Change

Retirement from pro sports isn't easy for most. And this especially applies to those at the top of the ladder. Sport is their identity and calling it a day opens up a whole host of new challenges, one of of which is the realisation that one quite possibly might not be as good at anything else ever again. So how did Mark Allen cope with his own transition into civilian life?

Starting Over with Mark Allen

Rhythm Nouveau

'I had to figure out what "normal" life was really. Without any training or racing goals, my days took a while to shape into any kind of rhythm.'

Restart

'I immediately focused on coaching and corporate speaking. It sure wasn't easy going from being one of the best at something to starting at the bottom in other industries. So it took a few years to feel like I had a grasp on coaching and speaking at a level that I was proud of.'

Keeping Loose

'I stopped doing all training at first. But that didn't feel right – my body got tight and my mind didn't function as well as normal. So I started running regularly again, adding in some shorter rides plus surfing whenever the waves were good.'

Waterman

'Surfing remains my "go to" activity to this very day and I'm out in the waves almost daily. I still do some running and cycling to maintain my aerobic system as well as a weekly overall functional strength workout to keep the muscles firing.'

One-Sixty

'Interstingly, my body weight is still exactly the same as when I raced. 160 pounds. Sure, there was way more lean muscle mass when I was a pro athlete but the general weight remains the same!'

*Note: Header image of TV commentator Mark with Paula Newby-Fraser at Kona 1996 first appeared in Triathlete Magazine, December 1996.