Hi, I’m Mark. Previously an IT Support Professional & Wrestling Coach, I became a full-time snowboarder and freelance writer in 2024 when I officially retired from the corporate grind. I also healed my hernia last year, so I can get back to the activities that I love so much. I had given up snowboarding & wrestling in my 50’s due to injuries. I had to give up hiking in my early 60’s due to the Hernia injury, but now, after healing the hernia, I am back. I got my health back.
These days, I spend most of my time at home healing, or out with my friends over at Vicinos, the Cheers of NE Scottsdale & up in the mountains of Arizona. I also attend Flat Earth meetups in the Phoenix metro area. Flat Earth is one topic that Darko and I disagree on, and that is ok.
I started this web page in April of 2025 to document my healing journey in life and now, in retirement. I’m turning 62 later this year, and plan to start collecting my social security payments as early as possible; I worked as a Wrestling Coach & an IT support professional for almost 40 years, working for organizations such as Montclair State College, Rutgers University, Portland State University, Albuquerque Public Schools, Virginia Beach Friends School, Lego, Nike, Columbia Sportswear, & Salesforce.
I developed my first injury at Portland State in my early 40’s my first day of coaching wrestling there, hurt my neck that day, back around 2005. The neck injury spread over the next 10 years into my shoulders, elbows and wrists. The injury(ies) got so bad in my elbows, that I could no longer attempt pullups, as that would injure my elbows. I couldn’t do pushups either, because it would hurt my wrists.
Fast forward to January 2021, I developed an inguinal hernia to the list of injuries, and the hernia just wouldn’t heal! The hernia got worse and worse to the point of being scary, I was sure it was about to become strangulated and I would need immediate surgery, and be sucked into the medical system. I was searching for natural cures but just wasn’t finding any, until I found Darko Velcek’s YouTube Channel. This site is a dedication to Darko’s work.
You can also find me on facebook at this page: http://www.facebook.com/brucethefatshark
Heal Your Hernia 