“The only thing I love more than running is sharing my knowledge and experience with other runners especially newer ones such as first time marathoners”
Coach Mark Buciak, QCC
Mark Buciak (PB 2:30:25) has over 40 years of coaching and running experience, having run 57 career marathons -- including 34 consecutive Boston Marathons and 7 Chicago Marathons.He is a member of the Boston Marathon's Quarter Century Club ("QCC"). Mark has successfully coached runners of all abilities, from first time marathoners to sub 3 hour marathoners. His coaching style consists of the 4 "E's":
Education: You will learn the correct and safe way to run. Encouragement: You will receive the proper amount of motivation to keep you going.
Empowerment: You will be given the tools and tips to run your best race and get you to the finish line. Entertainment: Coach Mark will make this a fun and enjoyable experience for you.
Coach Mark's program is the only marathon training program that has a 100% success rate for completion of the 2007-2013 Chicago and Boston Marathons, including a number of Personal Bests.
His Chicago Marathon training program starts on Saturday, May 17th which is over a month earlier than other programs. Meeting point 3 times a month for the Saturday’s runs is at Oz Park (Larrabee and Armitage) which has free street parking and is near the Red and Brown lines. Once a month Coach Mark takes his runners to the near-by forest preserves for a “Run in the Woods.”
All runs have pre and post run stretching and core work.
Mark is Program Director of THE ROAD TO BOSTON Training Program and Running Camps. He has presented running seminars for over 25 years across the country and has written for numerous magazines including: The Chicago Athlete, Windy City Sports, Competitor, New England Runners, Runner's World Webpage and The Official Program of The Boston Marathon.
Mark Buciak has been an active member of Old St. Pat's Church for the last 33 years. Mark has volunteered for countless events and projects, including leading the Old St. Pat's Blood Drive for the last 17 years and coordinating Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.
Coach Mark successfully helped many runners complete last year’s Chicago Marathon including many first time marathoners. He looks forward to coaching runners of all abilities achieve their marathon goals while having a safe and enjoyable experience.