Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Farrell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
What’s good everyone? This is your boy Mark Farrell aka Ninjabeta2.0 aka “Bring That Noise”. I’m a little obsessed with keeping my body in tip-top shape for the next challenge! Let’s rewind back in time here. One might ask. How does one become an American Ninja Warrior? Well, I started watching American Ninja Warrior little by little. Little did I know I would become obsessed with the show to the point where it changed my life. Besides being an American Ninja Warrior. I love to cook.
I love trying to cook new recipes with my fiance. We have been trying different variations of greens rice and sushi! We absolutely love it. I can’t forget about my amazing kids who are my support system. My son Ben and my daughter Kiara support me and cheer me in competitions on our off-the-show. I couldn’t bring them with me when I competed on the show, unfortunately. It was hard, but they give me the strength to be successful. I love playing games with them. This ninja dad just enjoys being a goofball around them whenever possible! The centerpiece in my life is my future wife scheduled for marriage on August 20th!
Woohoo, I got it right! Lol. I got on one knee and it’s been all downhill from there. Proposed and had a beautiful sunrise in the background. She and I love to travel whenever we can while making goofy faces along the way. J couldn’t ask for a better partner in life that would enable me to be as successful as I am right now. I love her with my heart and soul. I try to be the best dad to her as well.
Help with raising our kids properly. Bringing our kids back and forth from school when I can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I worked in a warehouse work for several years. I was used to working nights, weekends, and holidays. I pretty much didn’t have a life because I was doing school full-time online as well. I pretty much felt like a zombie the entire time. I finally achieved my bachelor’s in-game software development and started my career in the software industry. Since I wasn’t moving around as much and my once conditioned body was fading away. I gained a lot of weight and smoked cigarettes since I started warehouse work.
It wasn’t a habit I was proud of and I think I quit several times actually. I remember I would watch American Ninja Warrior in my free time, but never really had that much time to watch it because of college school responsibilities. My fiance and I started watching the show before we go to bed every night. She actually would go to bed and I would still watch previous seasons and started getting obsessed. I even started watching the show Sasuke, which is the Japanese version where American Ninja Warrior spawned from. I was inspired to the highest degree and I googled ninja warrior gyms in the area and there was one that was only 10 minutes away.
I decided that I didn’t want to embarrass myself right now. So I worked out at a regular gym for 6 months first. Then I enrolled myself in ninja warrior classes at Ninja Warehouse. I remember Karson Voiles, who is the gym owner just creating these intense workouts. He would squeeze every second into the workout. I remember having trouble driving home because my hands and forearms were just so worn out. I remember starting in my early thirties and questioning myself. What am I doing to my body? Is this going to get any better? I noticed myself starting shedding off the weight and I couldn’t get rid of this cough I had.
I told myself I’m tired of excuses and need to take it to the next level or just quit going for the American Ninja Warrior dream. I through almost a full pack of cigarettes in the garbage and said I’m done! Cold turkey and was ready to start the next step on my journey. I’m not going to lie it was really hard to just stop like that mentally. I told myself I was weak for being so addicted. Haha, I had to tell myself this to beat the addiction. After 6 months I was feeling stronger and healthier like I never felt before. I competed in local competitions and submitted videos to American Ninja Warrior since season 7. This season I was picked finally, but it’s now season 14. So you can say I have been trying for quite some time.
In season 9 I decided I would try the walk online in Denver, Colorado. I will never experience it. I told my boss at the time that I wanted to try the walk online. I told him that I would need probably 2 weeks before American Ninja Warrior arrives. Whoever is in the walk online first has the best chance to run the course if you weren’t called from submitting your video. Some people don’t even apply and just try their chances in the walk online. So I’m keeping my eye on this Facebook group for ninja warriors. There is a guy named Jesse Lucero. I will never forget his name. He started the walk on line 3 and half weeks early and posted the pic on the Facebook group to prove it has started. I was in disbelief! Who is this guy and why did he start it so early?
I ended up telling my boss I need to leave now. I told my boss the urgency of the situation and he supported my decision. He mentioned I could just work remotely for a week prior. Then I could use my vacation during the remaining time I was out there. Luckily my fiance supported my dream as well. She took care of Ben and Kiara who are our kids. I think Ben was 8 and Kiara was 2 at this time. I love them so dearly, but I was definitely thankful for this opportunity. So I ended up finding a hotel that would allow me to pay weekly rates. I wasn’t happy that I was having to do this, but I had to follow my dream.
So Jesse Lucero started the walk on line 3 and half weeks early to secure walk-on-line runner #1. So when the show gets there and they might have time for a few random walk-ons. Then he will be the first. I leave half a week after I saw his post. The rule of the walk online is you have to post a pic of you in that same area to the group to secure your spot. I started seeing ninjas post pics every day. I was nervous and I wanted to leave sooner to secure a better spot. I drove from Ogden, Utah to Denver, Colorado. Throughout the day and I remember it being like 2 in the morning. I took a pic of myself and submitted it to the group to secure walk-on line #11. Did I think to myself really? I’m here 3 weeks early and I’m number 11. So be it.
Anyways, the line ended up with almost 30 walk-ons before the show arrived. I ended up developing a brotherhood with these fellow ninjas. I loved spending time with these guys and getting in some solid training. I would get as much face time in on my phone as much as I could, but it just wasn’t the same. My daughter cried after a few days of me not being there and it was really hard to deal with. So American Ninja Warrior arrived finally and runners started at 9 pm till 5:30 am the following day. I see 5 walk-ons run right before any of the main contestants started running. I saw this and I was excited. This is good I thought to myself. I watched the entire time and was warming up because I didn’t know when I was next if ever.
At the end of all the contestants who were called. The next 5 more walk-ons were called to run. I was excited! They called my name. Mark Farrell, please get on stage. I got on stage and I heard 3 beeps. After the third beep. You just go as fast as you can. I heard the beeps and after the third beep the whole stage lit up red. I looked up and said, “What is this?” The main producer said I’m sorry no more runners. He said we don’t allow any more runners after the sun comes up.
My friends and others who I knew in the audience were just in awe and sad. I was sad and shocked. My friends helped me get through it. I was so close. I use this memory to fuel me whenever I run any obstacle course. I use the anger and bring the noise to allow me to take it to the next level.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m also a software engineer in test who specializes in writing test automation to try to break software engineers’ code in any way shape or form. Everywhere I work I go as a ninja in the software industry. The software industry is always evolving. As a QA software engineer, it’s your responsibility to keep up to date with the latest trends to add to your skillset as a QA software engineer. It’s your responsibility to adapt to any software language when being placed on a team. I study the most reliable current test frameworks to test web services.
I build automated pipelines to allow my tests to run. I adapted myself to be able to test on any ios, android device through simulated devices and run that through automated pipelines. Along with being able to test whether functionality works through front-end or backend APIs as well. I have gained agile certificates. I also study different coding algorithm challenges consistently to keep my mind sharp at all times.
I don’t want to say that I’m the best at what I do, because I have met some pretty well-rounded engineers. However, I know what it takes to be highly desired in this industry. I’ll continue to adapt to this competitive market of the software industry to provide the best future I can for my family.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I live in the great city of Ogden. There is a Washington Terrace and South Ogden, but essentially it’s all part of Ogden. I like that it doesn’t take me long to get around in the city. Ogden is big, but not a high-traffic area like Salt Lake City, Utah. I have driven in rush hour in California and I can tell you that isn’t for me and I hope Ogden stays the way it is.
We live right next to Hill Air Force Base. So we get excited to see the thunderbirds every year. It’s the talk of the city when it arrives. I go to the Ogden Athletic Club, which is a family-oriented gym. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone, there is cheering me on. We go hang out around the historic 25th street from time to time.
Ogden is known for history and 25th street is the perfect example of keeping that history alive. It’s fun just to go hang out in the area with the family. From going to watch a movie, or getting some ice cream at the original Farr’s Ice Cream.
Pricing:
- $20 – Bring That Noise Shirt (Blue)
- $65 – Bring That Noise (Blue/Black Jersey)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjabeta2.0
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkFarrellNinjabeta
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/Ninjabeta20
