Coach Mark Highsmith

Mark joins our staff Monday, December 4th and we are very excited for him to begin coaching. Mark is a very accomplished coach, having been in the collegiate S&C coaching world with Georgetown University, as well as obtaining his CSCS and SCCC professional designations. Mark has a Bachelors of Science in Exercise Sport Science from East Carolina University, and is also a recent graduate of our FCC Level 1 program. He brings much fitness knowledge, but with focuses that include Weightlifting, as well as both men’s and women’s athletics, even some personal training.

Tell us a little about where you are from and what growing up for you was like?
I am from Arlington, Virginia.  When I was a kid I loved to do what kids do… skating, exploring, and ding-dong-ditching the neighbors.  As I grew up, I started to focus more on team sports and fitness.  Soccer was my main and favorite activity through middle and high school.  I grew up playing with my 2 best friends, who I am still very close with today.

When was your first introduction to fitness? How did it impact your life?
I started “training” in high school.  This mostly consisted up long slow distance running, push-ups, dumbbell curls, and sit-ups.  Although I had virtually no idea of what I was doing, this early interest pushed me to pursue exercise sport science at East Carolina University.

When did you get into fitness professionally?
I interned with the Georgetown University Sports Performance staff as the final step to complete my major.  This eventually turned into an assistant coaching position, as well as a head coaching position at 2 local high schools.

What are your favorite things to do in the gym?
Olympic lifting (i.e., snatch, clean & jerk, or variations of the two).

What kind of people have you worked with? Whom do you most enjoy working with?
I have primarily worked with collegiate athletes but have spent a good amount of time with high school athletes and the general population as well.

What’s your all time favorite TV show?
Game of Thrones.  Narcos is a close 2nd.

What’s the best doughnut you’ve ever had?
Krispy Kreme – Hot Now – Greenville, NC

What’s an embarrassing fact or story about yourself?
When I was a baby I was so fat that I didn’t really have a neck, and I would get cheerios stuck in my fat rolls under my chin.

How do you best achieve balance between fitness improving vs. ruling your life?
I focus on quality and consistency, and try to avoid chasing numbers.

Who was the most inspiring person/athlete you’ve trained and why?
One of my former athletes played her sport and did some type of structured training year-round while dealing with an ongoing, but manageable stress reaction in her spine.  Her mental drive and dedication to the program was unmatched by any other athlete.

You get one album to listen to the rest of your life. What is it?
Jon Pardi – California Sunshine

What are you most looking forward to about coaching at Performance360?
Becoming part of the best gym community in San Diego.

Mark is extremely excited to be a part of the family here, already participating in different classes all of the past two weeks. Make sure to say hello, introduce yourself, and welcome him to Performance360 when you see him in class as either a shadow coach or member participant!