After HOURS
Iron Drive
Juggling a young family, a job
as a brokerage director and
peak training for an Ironman
competition is just ordinary
routine for John Marshall
Every morning, John Marshall gets up before the sun and
runs for up to 22 miles or rides his bike for hours. He returns home by the time his three kids, all under the age of
five, wake up, then he’s off to work in Downtown Miami. After work,
it’s straight to the pool to swim laps for up to two miles.
Besides spending his days as director of commercial brokerage
at Cushman & Wakefield of Florida Inc., Marshall is training for
an Ironman Triathlon in China, hoping to qualify for the annual
nationally televised world championship in the hot, windy lava
fields of Kailua-Kona, HI.
During the triathlon, Marshall will have to swim 2. 4 miles, bike
112 miles and run a full 26.2-mile marathon. He will race all 140.6
miles in the same day, as fast as he can, in order to be one of the
top 1,500 competitors in the world.
Training for the big event goes on year-round, with little time off.
“There are times in the middle of core training where I’m doing
long runs of 22 miles and riding bike for six hours—but you can’t
do that all the time because it hits hard on your body,” explains
Marshall, who has competed in five Ironman competitions, including the 2006 championship in Hawaii. In order to achieve
this feat, he works with a coach to plan his workouts and watches
what he eats, consuming lots of whole foods, fruits and vegetables in three solid meals a day.
Marshall had competed in marathons before he began the
triathlons, then competed in his first Ironman competition in Lake
Placid, NY. That experience, which he shared with his family, inspired him to continue pursuing the event.
Marshall, who has always been active and played ice
hockey in college, says the competition has made him more
disciplined.
“The sport is addictive,” he
says. “It has helped me be
more balanced in life and more
organized. I’m very goal oriented, and that helps with work
and Ironman and family.”
When asked whether the
early morning training affects
his business day, he doesn’t
hesitate in answering he arrives to work energized.
“I start off the day with all my endorphins kicking from the moment I walk in,” Marshall says. “Work is supportive, and as a matter of fact Cushman & Wakefield is on my jersey.”
Participating in the Ironman competitions also has benefits on
the business side, he explains. Clients are intrigued by the hobby
and often ask about the events.
Meeting other athletes during the competition has also brought
about business opportunities, he says.
“What’s interesting is it’s rubbed off,” he laughs. “I work on a
five-member team at Cushman & Wakefield led by me and (
senior director) Alan Kleber. Now Alan just got into triathlons and
is doing a half-Ironman at the end of year.”—Crystal Proenza
Know someone in Florida commercial real estate with an interesting hobby or
sideline outside of work? E-mail ccronan@remedianetwork.com and provide
details. Suitable candidates may be featured in a future After Hours.
