THE ORIGIN
STORY.

THE KID WHO COULD ONLY RUN

Growing up in Los Angeles, Marlon discovered running — track and cross-country. It was the sport that only required running shoes. It was also a great outlet for frustrations. He ran the 800m in 2:57 on dirt and clocked a 4:31 in the 1600m at the USC All Comers Meet. No bike. No pool. No coaching fees. Just legs, lungs, and road. Triathlon was something that happened to other people — people with money, gear, and access. That gap planted a seed that would take decades to bloom.

Kennedy H.S. · 1600m Relay

MARATHON, THEN TRIATHLON

In 1996, Marlon ran his first marathon — the Los Angeles Marathon — finishing with a personal record of 3:44:03. The road that started with just a pair of running shoes had taken him to 26.2 miles. Then in 2001, everything converged at the Jamba Juice Triathlon — the moment swimming, cycling, and running came together as one. The sport that once felt like it belonged to someone else was now his.

SEARCH & RESCUE SWIMMER — GULF WAR I

The Navy gave Marlon what he couldn't afford growing up: elite swim training. He earned the designation of Search & Rescue (SAR) Swimmer — trained to enter the most hostile open water environments on earth and bring people home alive. He earned the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) designation and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award for his role in the U.N. evacuation of Somalia in 1995. The ocean was no longer something to fear. It was his element.

PSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR & THE MIND

After the Navy, Marlon earned his B.A. in Psychology from California State University Northridge. He put it to immediate use — spending nine years as a bilingual Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) specialist, working with at-risk children using strength-based behavior modification. Four of those years were at UCLA TIES for Families. He learned something that would define everything after: you build people up from where they are, not where you wish they were.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES

Marlon joined Children's Hospital Los Angeles as an intake supervisor for mental health services, rising to Manager of Language Services. He pursued his Master of Business Management and a Post-Master Certification in Health Administration (CERT/D-HA) from the University of Phoenix. He also became a nationally certified medical interpreter (CHI™). And in 2013, he served as Team Captain and head coach of the CHLA Triathlon Team — helping raise over $10 million for pediatric cancer research through endurance racing. This was the moment running, swimming, cycling, and leadership all converged.

$131,020 Raised

Walk LA · CHLA

COACH. SWIMMER. CERTIFIED.

Every credential earned in the water, on the road, and in the saddle — built on decades of competing, coaching, and leading.

• 1996U.S. Navy SAR Swimmer Certified
• 2004Tai Chi Chuan / Chi Kung Certificate · Chinese Shao-Lin Center
• 20041st Degree Shao-Lin Black Belt · Chinese Shao-Lin Center
• 2015USAT Triathlon Coach Certified
• 2016USMS Swim Coach Certified
• 2018USA Cycling Coach Certified
• 2026TrainingPeaks Accredited Coach

DIRECTOR OF LANGUAGE & HOSPITALITY SERVICES

In May 2022, Marlon rejoined UCLA Health as Director of Language and Hospitality Services — leading one of the most complex language access and patient experience programs in the country. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he brings cultural intelligence, operational excellence, and embodied leadership to one of the world's premier health systems. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Health Administration (DHA).

THE KID WHO COULDN'T AFFORD TRIATHLON
NOW COACHES IT.

Marl.On.1 LLC is the convergence of everything — the runner who had no bike, the sailor who mastered the ocean, the psychologist who builds people up from strength, the executive who leads with emotional intelligence, and the triathlete who crosses finish lines. He's not just coaching the sport. He's closing the gap — making elite coaching accessible, culturally intelligent, and rooted in a philosophy that started on the track in LA decades ago.