Mark Neilan

Mark, owner of Excel Fitness Center, is married and a father of two. He has an exceptional background in physical therapy and personal training. As a graduate of Blair Academy and The College of New Jersey, Mark was well prepared to enter graduate school. He graduated with a Master's Degree of Physical Therapy from the University of Saint Augustine in 2000 and was soon employed by Morris Area Rehabilitation Association (MARA) as a physical therapist. He was quickly promoted to Clinical Director. While Mark enjoyed working with rehabilitation patients, he wanted to work with people on injury prevention and maintaining fitness. He became certified as a personal trainer through the National Council for Sports Medicine Education and began working part-time as a personal trainer at the Total Wellness Center in Bernardsville in 2001. In 2003, he left MARA to work full-time as the Director of Personal Training at the Total Wellness Center. After two successful years as director, Mark decided to open his own business, Excel Fitness Center, located in Bernardsville, New Jersey in 2005. While training takes up much of his free time, Mark also dedicated time to further his education. He graduated in May 2006 from Temple University with his doctorate in Physical Therapy.

Mark's clients are inspired by his dedication to his own fitness. He has competed in eighteen marathons with a personal best of 2:50:09, a team triathlon, and numerous 5K runs. He also competed in and finished Jesse Itzler's Hell on the Hill race 6x to date. In 2018 Mark was the first ever to complete 29029 Everesting. Also in 2018 he finished 2nd overall in the Spartan Age Group National Series. In 2019 Mark finished 3- 50Ks as well as finishing 3rd in The Last Man Ultra by running 84 miles and got an overall second place in the Spartan Stadium Series for his age group. 2020 saw Mark complete two 100 mile races. He finished 6th overall at the Antelope Canyon 100 and went back to Last man Standing Ultra where he finished 3rd overall but completed 100 miles. 2021 was another Ultra year finishing the Leadville 100 mile trail race. Over the past 10years Mark and his staff at Excel Fitness Center have raised over $500,000 for the Semper Fi Fund.

For 2022 Mark has already completed the Long Haul 100 in 21:45:37and the Rocky Racoon 100 mile trail run in 19:27:53. For the rest of the year he is scheduled to run Spartan Ultra NJ, Hell On The Hill, Rim to River 100 and possibly the Spartan Ultra World Championship.