Real fathers back their words up with action, and thereby set the example for their families to follow. The truth of this comes out in the life and work of Mark Ellis, as a look at his life will show. Mark Ellis is no less than the Country Manager of Fitness First, a chain of upscale fitness centers in Metro Manila. And as befits a leader of an organization such as his, Mark is also a triathlete – a serious competitor in the age-group divisions of his chosen sport. Mark is also a family man; husband to his wife Doray, also a triathlete, and a committed father to two lovely daughters, in whom he works to inculcate the values of the active life and the love for family.

The passionate professional.

Mark puts great value on the things that truly matter, like his work. “The benefits of exercise on a scientific side have been proven” he says, “I define exercise as a feeling of well-being. It’s from within, should I say, and not this outside image that people have. It’s that rush you get from exercising.” And beyond the inner rewards of active living, the parallels between life and sport are not lost on Mark. “Most people are quite competitive, our society makes us competitive in the things we do and certainly, sport is a great way to be competitive. Often in work, you’re striving to achieve goals, targets, budgets. In sport or in exercise, you also strive to achieve a goal, achieve time, achieve a result. I believe that both in exercise and your work you’ve got to be continuously setting yourself goals.”

And the results speak for themselves. “My triathlon experience has made me a better leader at work. It teaches discipline, it teaches you patience, it teaches you commitment, it teaches you focus; all those are key components that make a good leader or a good manager.”

The committed competitor.

Going deeper into his attitude toward the sporting life, the natural winner in Mark emerges. “I am personally quite a competitive person. I like to win. My goal is to always get a podium finish for my races. When I go out to race, I’m really psyched up, committed, driven to achieve that goal.”

Speaking about what the most important lesson the triathlon has taught him, Mark expounds on a value all true fathers must have. “Probably the most important thing it’s taught me is the word, ‘commitment’. When you commit to do it, it means other things like discipline, focus and priorities all come into play. It has taught me commitment in other areas of my life like marriage, my children, my job. It means, starting something, and taking on the obstacles in front of you, but never losing sight of what you’re working towards.”

The full-on father.

When asked about what things, besides triathlon, give him a rush, “Spending time with my family is the absolute thrill for me; My week wouldn’t be complete without them.” These are among the “small wins” that truly matter the most to Mark, as he explains, “Small things often go unnoticed, or they seem unimportant, but they really do create the ultimate win. Just spending time with my kids for example, gives me a rush because I like to let them see that I enjoy being their father.”

But of course, triathlon isn’t all about intense competition. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t have fun,” Mark says. “We have fun, we meet some great people; triathlon has been great for me, with my wife because it’s something we do together. And I can talk about spending time with my family; we train together, so that’s quality time for us.” And, sharing a story about the time he and his whole family joined a charity event, Mark says, “We got the little girl in the stroller,” he says, “we brought the dog along as well, and so the whole family was out doing a 5k run.” Fatherhood, then, is close to the heart of what Mark holds dear, as seen by how he cherishes time with his children. “I want to be part of their lives. I want to be hands-on, I want to watch them grow up. I really want to encourage that time we spend together. There’s not always enough time to spend together during the week because I’m working, so weekends for me is really a sacred time.” A sacred time for the rush of fatherhood.

Rush to Infinity Run
June 29, 2008 @ The Fort, Taguig
5/10/15km run
Registration (June 16-20):
Old participants (registered during the March 30, 2008 Mizuno Infinity Run) – Php150
New participants – Php200
Late registration (June 21 onwards) – Php250
On-site registration – Php300
*Submit registration forms at the Mizuno store Bonifacio High Street.
**Get a Php50 discount when you buy a bottle of Rush from Mini Stop or 7-11 and present a receipt upon registration. (Same discount applies regardless of the number of bottles purchased.)

Download Registration Form

Patrick doesn’t only top his basketball games, he also tops his classes. It’s hard to find young men like him these days. But for this multiple-time honor student and MVP, it’s not that hard to do what he does. “I’ve practically been this way my whole life. My parents raised me very well, making sure that I have my priorities straight and to ensure that I am wise when making decisions.”

Indeed, he had it in him since he was young. Patrick was part of the International School of Manila’s basketball program for 7 years and was team captain and MVP since he was in 9th grade. Since then, he has constantly won not only games but also awards like The Coaches’ Choice award, All-tournament award, and Team sportsmanship award year after year.

His achievement goes beyond the court however, as he was placed in the math honors class when he was in high school and was constantly in the honors list of students in his school.

But his proudest moment was when his team defeated a team which lost only twice in its 27 preliminary games. “I’ll never forget being one of those two teams that achieved such an underdog victory.”

Best of both worlds

Patrick sees himself just like any student his age. “I myself love sitting down with a great game on the PS3, or at an internet café with some friends.” He makes it a point that he lives a balanced life. He defies conventional school stereotypes, being both a “jock” and a “whiz.” Of course, he manages to enjoy time with friends, family and loved ones.

What makes him different is his passion. Patrick has a true love for his sport and has untiring drive to do just as well in his schoolwork.

Inspiration to achieve

His parents, his coaches and his friends are the people who drive him to do his best. They are his inspirations and his greatest supporters. But he is most thankful and inspired by one special person: “God, it’s all about him. This may seem like a very cliché answer but it’s the truth!”

A boy who has achieved so much yet remains so humble is such a rare quality in young people these days. At a very young age, he has developed a close relationship with God, and it is because of this, Patrick says, that he is who he is today. He attributes all his talents and successes to the Almighty.

“Before every test, game, trip and so much more, I am sure to pray a good prayer. It has absolutely paved a way for success in my life, from then until now, and for the future to come.”

Secrets to Success

How does he do it? One just has to wonder. Passion, and a clear goal does it for Patrick. Having fun with what he does helps too. “It’s very important to go outside, catch some sun, work up a sweat and have fun playing sports!”

Of course, he makes it a point to keep himself both physically and mentally fit. He does this by working hard and by getting his daily dose of Rush Fitness Water. Being fit isn’t his only goal, however. All his actions are part of his commitment to live a life full of meaning. It’s a good thing he started young. “Being fit allows one to live longer, be more confident and even live a fuller life.” Indeed, Patrick is well on his way to living a full and fulfilled life.

Be Fit to achieve

Patrick’s secret? It’s simple. He makes it a point to always keep himself both mentally and physically fit to help him keep in tip top shape both for sports and school. He does this by exercising regularly, studying well, and getting his daily dose of Rush Fitness Water.

Studies show that energy, body fluids and electrolytes are depleted as we go about our daily activities. When we get dehydrated, our anxiety level tends to soar, giving way to the onset of stress. Since the brain is 75% water, and our muscles are about 60% water, it makes sense that we perform and think more clearly when we are properly hydrated.

Rush Fitness Water is enhanced with just the right amount of electrolytes and minerals our body needs in carrying out daily activities. Since it keeps energy and hydration in perfect balance all day, Rush helps us stay in top physical and mental condition everyday.

Rush Fitness Water is for the Active Achiever like Patrick. If you too live an active lifestyle, going for your goals everyday and determined to achieve — then Rush Fitness Water is for you!

She is a competitor at heart, having been a member of the National Triathlon Team, National Cycling Team and National Duathlon Team. But that wasn’t enough for this achiever. From being team captain of the first all-women multi sport team, Kaye Lopez eventually found another love— training to be a chef. Now a culinary student, Kaye is going all out to excel in the kitchen.

A lifetime of achievement

Since she was young, Kaye has always been an achiever. Her life has been spent trying out new things and excelling in them. Throughout her life, she has collected a number of achievements and successes.

“My parents always encouraged me to engage in extracurricular activities. I’ve tried almost everything— piano, voice, drums, gymnastics, ballet, tennis, taekwondo, table tennis, badminton, scuba diving, volleyball, etc.— and all of these I was able to achieve while being a consistent honor student.”

For Kaye, it has always been a balancing act between excelling in sports and in school. She graduated among the top 10 of her batch in one of the most prestigious high schools of the country— the Philippine Science High School. During this time, she was also honored with the Athlete of the Year award. In her senior year of college, she graduated cum laude for BS Psychology at the University of Philippines. What makes it more impressive is that during this time, she was also training to compete for the Southeast Asian games.

Even before she studied cooking full-time, Kaye already made inroads in the culinary field. She was a co-owner of a small meal delivery business called Fresh Start Meal Program. They delivered diet meals to people who wanted to lose weight. Her life revolved around fitness and nutrition, and she loved every bit of it.

Her most recent achievement is one as a culinary student. Being invited by one of her professors to be a student assistant at the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management was a great experience, and something she is incredibly proud of.

The perfect balance

For Kaye, It’s all about balance. With everything she has on her plate, balance plays a crucial part in her everyday life.

“I think being an achiever means being the best and finding balance in all aspects of your life—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.” Her secret is making sure she keeps herself both physically and mentally fit to face the challenges she sets for herself. Because of this, she’s able to make time for everything close to her heart. Of course, despite her full schedule, she never forgets her friends and family.

“I am blessed to have friends and family who understand how important and demanding school is right now. I try my best to make time for them, even if I have to split myself into several pieces in order to accommodate everyone.”

Rush to more success

So what’s next for this multi-achiever? It wouldn’t be surprising to see her as a world-renowned chef one day. You can’t help but wonder what she’ll do next. Of course, she doesn’t see herself giving up sports completely. But for now, her plan is to finish culinary school and focus on cooking.

As for the source of her success, God is in control Kaye says. “There is no defeat when God is in control. Everything is part of his grand plan and always for the good for those who believe. It’s all about passion, discipline, commitment and hard work. About focusing all your energy in achieving your goals.”

“If you put your heart, mind and spirit in a physical activity that you enjoy doing, then it will radiate into other aspects of your life— faith family, career and relationships.” Now that’s what we call a winning philosophy.

Be fit to achieve

The perfect balance. That’s how Kaye reached her goals. With the perfect balance, you can achieve anything you put your mind to. That’s why Kaye keeps herself both mentally and physically fit everyday with Rush Fitness Water. It helps Kaye to stay fit and focused so she’s ready to face her daily activities.

Studies show that energy, body fluids and electrolytes are depleted as we go about our daily activities. When we get dehydrated, our anxiety level tends to soar, giving way to the onset of stress. Since the brain is 75% water, and our muscles are about 60% water, it makes sense that we perform and think more clearly when we are properly hydrated.

Rush Fitness Water is enhanced with just the right amount of electrolytes and minerals our body needs in carrying out daily activities. Since it keeps energy and hydration in perfect balance all day, Rush helps us stay in top physical and mental condition everyday.

Rush Fitness Water is for the Active Achiever like Kaye. If you too live an active lifestyle, going for your goals everyday and determined to achieve– then Rush Fitness Water is for you!

I, in consideration of and as a condition of the acceptance of this entry for myself, my executors, administratros, heirs, next of kin hereby waive, release and forever discharge the event organizers, sponsors, promoters, agents or servants from all claims, actions or damages that I may have against them howsoever cause, arising out of or in any way connected with my participation in this event.

I authorize the use of my name, voice and picture and any information provided by myself on this entry form to be used without payment in any broadcast, telecast, promotion or advertising. I also agree that the information that I have provided may be used by the event organizer for the purpose of promoting future and other events for the promotion of face sponsors, products and services.

(Parental Signature needed for Participants below 18 years old)