Life

'Big basketballer' Marc Mulholland answers 20 questions on health and fitness

Gail Bell asks experts and people in the public eye what keeps them going. This week: former Irish basketball player Marc Mulholland

Marc Mulholland, executive director of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic with his wife Maria and son Luca Picture: Presseye/Darren Kidd
Marc Mulholland, executive director of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic with his wife Maria and son Luca Picture: Presseye/Darren Kidd Marc Mulholland, executive director of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic with his wife Maria and son Luca Picture: Presseye/Darren Kidd

1. Up and at it – what is your morning routine?

I am a first-time parent who is up early no matter what day it is. We leave our son at his nanny and papa’s who take care of him while we are at work. I am the executive director of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic coming to Belfast this weekend and my wife is an art teacher, so it’s safe to say – like most people – we are up early and on the move.

2. What might you eat in a typical working day for...

Breakfast? I am the boy who lifted a pint glass bottle of milk in the morning for breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day, of course, but I try and hydrate myself as much as possible in the morning.

Lunch? I tend to graze – I am a big fan of avocado, tomato, and bits of bacon at the minute.

Evening meal? I was brought up on great traditional home-cooked meals of potatoes with everything, and I think as long as you get a balance, feel good and eat the right food groups for your body, you shouldn’t stress too much about your diet.

3. Is nutrition important to you?

Yes – I try to eat well. I had a rare heart condition in my early 20s which had an impact on my life and fitness for a long time. It was eating well that aided my recovery.

4. Best meal ever?

My wife makes fantastic prawn pasta, but I often find the best meals are the ones with friends and family, like Christmas dinner.

5. Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Pizza – I also have a bit of a sweet tooth and enjoy the odd packet of jellies.

6. Have you ever been on a diet? If so, how did it go?

Believe it or not, I have had to put weight on... people tend to think that dieting is always about losing weight, but it can also be about building yourself up.

7. Do you take health supplements?

I take MAG 365. I was advised by a personal trainer to take this – they said it really helps your sleep.

8. How do you relax?

Aside from spending time with my son, playing basketball relaxes me – focusing on something clears my mind and once I get in between those lines of a basketball court I can forget about my worries.

9. Teetotal or tipple?

I haven’t drunk much at all since my wife became pregnant with Luca. It wasn't really a conscious thing, but I have always been a lightweight when it comes to a tipple.

10. Stairs or lift?

Always take the stairs!

11. Do you have a daily exercise regime?

Recently, all of my energy has been focused on the Belfast Classic which will be the first time in history an ‘in season’ collegiate basketball tournament will be played in Europe. I try to get a few workouts in a week to clear the cobwebs though.

12. Best tip for everyday fitness?

Staying positive is the most important thing. Some people measure steps, but I would always say no matter what, always try to be mentally positive.

13. On a scale of one to 10, how fit do you think you are and how fit would you like to be?

I’m quite lucky as I have a natural fitness level as a result of managing my heart condition, but I’d estimate I am probably a six.

14. Have you tried, or would you try, alternative therapy?

I am a big fan of alternative therapies. The human body and mind are two very complex things and not everyone fits into one box.

15. Were school sports happy times or do you have a memory you would rather forget?

I earned my first call-up to the Irish Basketball team while I was in school. At gym assembly, my PE teacher said, "Stand up Marc; I would just like everyone to know Marc Mulholland made the Irish team – a great achievement." Afterwards, people seemed to accept me as ‘the big basketballer’ around school.

16. Did you ever have a health epiphany which made you change your lifestyle?

While I was ill I found the most difficult thing was the side-effects of taking the medication I was on. I spoke with my doctor about alternatives and thankfully they worked.

17. Best health/lifestyle advice you were ever given and would pass on to others?

A wise man once said to me "listen to your body". You know yourself if you’re not feeling healthy, so listen to that feeling and then do something about it. Also, remember to laugh a lot: it keeps you healthier than you would ever imagine.

18. Who inspires you or who would you try to emulate in terms of fitness/attitude to life?

There is an NBA basketball player, Jeff Green, who suffered from a similar heart condition to myself and managed to play again at top level. It’s nice to know that it’s possible to overcome illness through sport. Closer to home, my wife really inspires me with her great nature. She went through a tough time when I was ill, along with my friends and family. Any new father will also know that there is nothing more inspiring than the birth of your child. Luca drives me to be someone he can look up to and be proud of.

19. What time do you normally get to bed and do you get enough sleep?

I get around five hours of sleep a night, but with a busy job and a young son, I focus more on quality than quantity.

20. Would you say you have a healthy attitude towards your own mortality?

When I was very ill I thought about life a lot and what I would do if I got better. When I think about my own mortality and what I have been through, I am very calm about where I may be going to next.

:: Marc Mulholland is a director of the Sport Changes Life foundation and executive director of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic which comes to the SSE Arena this Friday and Saturday. For more see belfastbasketballclassic.com