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Minder, aka Mark Johnson
Born in London, raised in Gods own county; the english riviera that is south-east Essex and, for the last 12 years, a resident of Toronto, Canada. The youngest and most dashing of the Redbourn Postal ultras, Mark was hand-picked by the powerbrokers of the Postal team (mssrs Kenny and Vegro) to bring some international flair to the line-up. Vegro, the Don Corleone- figure of Hertfordshire team cycling, had been aware of the young Johnson phenom for quite some time (15 years to be precise), as he is married to Vegro's naughty little sister. It seemed a natural expansion. Vegro made the decision, and Kenny (Smithers to Vegro's Monty Burns) made the call. A few minor wrinkles were ironed out and Redbourn Postal had themselves a new member.
Mark is married to the lovely Paola, with two beautiful children, Finn and Amelia. He spends what time he has outside of work and training watching and coaching Finn's football team (big props to Islington Rangers 99 rep team !!!!) , watching Amelia dance (she takes after her mother) and taking in movies with Paola. Mark considers himself to be truly blessed to have the three of them in his life and suspects that when the lactic acid kicks in late on day 3, the thought of them waiting at the finish line for him the next day will be just the motivation that he needs to continue.
Currently training in Northern Ontario, where he uses his unconventional methods, such as bear-wrestling and bare-back moose riding to condition his physique into a chiselled block of granite, Mark was unavailable for comment (telephone lines still do not go as far north as his training camp, where the snow rarely completely disappears), but had, through his "people", left a short note containing thanks to all those who had sponsored him so generously and a scribbled "Bring it on!!!" rallying cry.
Please sponsor me: www.action.org.uk/~johnsoma
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