Saturday, July 23, 2011

David Clark: Interview


David Clark 2010 (Leadville 100)

David Clark
Ultrarunner/Triathlete/Coach
Occupation: Speaker/Sales/Consultant


David Clark: 2005
 So how did he do that? The hard way...that's how. Meet David Clark.


One of the most significant health issues facing the future of America is obesity.  In fact, sources report that as much as 2/3 of American adults are overweight or obese. This is a sad and true fact. Today, you can't go more than an hour without hearing an advertisement for a diet or weight loss program, promising to help you lose that "extra weight".  I've watched my friends and family struggle with weight loss my entire life.  Their weight fluctuates and they modify their diet accordance with the latest fad, whether that be Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc... (But rarely did I see an effort to make real change in lifestyle...establish a training program or focus on long-term goals rather than the immediate benefits promised by one program or another.)

Since I was a child, I was involved in sports. I never experienced problems with weight control so, to this day, I have difficulty understanding this seemingly universal problem amongst Americans and those in other westernized countries. For me, the equation is simple...eat less, exercise more. But, then again, I've never been in the position of so many people who identify weight loss as their primary resolution every new year.

Examples of this seemingly simple solution of "exercise more and eat right" are hard to find.  In fact, the general acceptance of extreme measures like gastric bypass surgery, plastic surgery, and liposuction, have become the solution for many.

Last year, I met David Clark. He was about 170 lbs and training for Leadville 100 mile.  What I didn't know was that David had been 150 lbs heavier just a few years prior.   I'm excited to share an inspiring story of one man who decided to take charge of his life...for his health and happiness. From 320 lb alcoholic to ultrarunner....David Clark is an example of what can be done when you drive human performance... 

David Clark: 2005





 I asked David to share some insight into what fuels his body and mind on the mountain trails of Colorado...






Q: Hi Dave! Please share a little about yourself...


A: I was born in upstate New York and spent most of my life between the NYC and Washington DC metro areas. I moved to Colorado in 1994 after spending a little time in hell, or Los Angles as some call it.
I went to college at the University of Colorado Denver and studied biology and chemistry. My goal was actually to go into medicine but after losing a friend to cancer I decided I wanted something different.

I went to work in the retail furniture business while still in college and adopted a very sedentary lifestyle. By the time I was 29 I owned and operated a chain of 13 retail stores and lead a very high stress/ and high success lifestyle. That lifestyle just about crippled me and before I knew what had happened my weight skyrocketed to 320lbs and I was drinking excessively... and by excessively I mean I was an amazing drunk.


Q: So, if you don't mind...tell us about your "worst day ever" and your "best day ever"...

My worst day ever was the last day I drank. I woke up and laid in bed in a haze of chemical withdrawal and complete hopelessness. I had quit drinking a few weeks ago and fell off the wagon for perhaps the 100th time. As I stared up at the ceiling I wished I was dead. I felt as if there weren't a shred of light or promise in my life despite the fact that I had two beautiful kids and a great life I was hiding from. I was snapped "awake" from that state of depression by a bout of violent shaking that sent me sprawling onto the bathroom floor as I frantically rushed into the bathroom to get to the toilet before I vomited on myself.

My best day ever is the very same day.

Q: That's no joke. You have experienced some serious crap Dave. Thanks for being so open about this. I bet you have an interesting perspective on the tendencies of people to look for the easy way out or convenience......what do you think about all these people having their stomach stapled, liposuction, or taking medications to reduce their hunger?

A:  I usually try to stay away from telling people what is right for them. I cannot make judgement on other peoples choices because I have no idea where they are coming from. However, if I do know anything it is what amazing power people have to change and re-invent themselves if they take action. I will say that I am sad that so many people sell themselves short in life. The only frustration I truly experience in my daily travels is watching people "wall themselves" into a place where they feel they are trapped.

I see people who have dreams and goals and they don't take action because they are afraid they will fail or because they look really hard to find obstacles. I want to shake them and say "don't you ever say that to yourself again!! You can do this." I know for a fact that if people take action and jump into the abyss they will figure out the rest on the way. I have seen people who lacked the confidence to face a day without a drink go on to lead national companies or inspire millions.

Q: Your story is amazing. Ultrarunners are diverse, but you really stand out in the crowd. Thanks for sharing such personal details. Why do you think you were able to find success in the area of weight loss when so many millions of people can't?


A:  I am a very stubborn man, Jerry.   I think if there is something specific that set my weight loss apart from some of the stories you hear, is that I set out to fix my thoughts and behaviors, not necessarily my eating habits. Certainly what I ate and how I ate had to change- but I tried to manage my state and energy more then my calories. After I tackled that monster, the rest just fell into place creating a new and better life that I wanted. Maintaining the weight loss became as simple as learning to enjoy my new life.

Q: Honestly, what do you think about those who are overweight and say, "Oh, I can't do that."

A:  I usually ask them if they truly believe what they just said.  I also like to ask people "Do you really believe you are incapable of losing weight? Do you think your particular body and brain operate outside the laws of biology and physics?"   After I have their attention we often sit and chat about real world stuff and how to get leverage on ourselves to produce change.

Q: Why do you think so many westerners struggle with weight control?

A:  The choices we have for food are very confusing. I don't think most people have a very clear idea of how and what they are eating. It is hard to change a behavior when you don't see it as a bad one.   I think once people become more aware of how food makes them feel and what role it has in their life, the perspective becomes clearer.

From a purely biological point-of-view, it becomes difficult for people to change how they eat because our bodies tend to change and adapt to the food we put in them on a regular basis. If we feed our bodies junk, the body figures out how to survive on it- that may result in poor health, diabetes and weight gain but the body has "adjusted" to try to live off these nutrient deficient and toxic foods. Once this happens the body "craves" these junk foods and the healthier options aren't appealing and it almost seems like an episode of "Fear Factor" to consider eating or choking down something as simple as a plate of rice and broccoli.

The good news is the opposite is true, after a brief period of time, if you feed your body healthy and well prepared foods, your body will adjust to the new composition of menu items. With high quality calories available to build with, your body can burn fat, build muscle and provide energy for you. You become lean and clear minded and you even crave the better food sources...

Q: How has your diet changed through these years of dramatic transformation?

A:  Just as you can eat about any type of junk food to get fat, you can also achieve weight loss and health through many different choices. The absolutes seem to be relatively obvious to us; avoid processed foods and sugary things; eat lean meats and lot of veggies.

I personally switched to a plant-based diet a little over a year ago and it has been a very big part of my training and racing as an ultrarunner. I don't follow a "Vegan" diet due to any political or moral reasons, I do so because it has increased my energy and improved my ability to recover from hard training. I do get some whey protein in some of the powders I use on race day and from my post-workout recovery drink.



Q: How does ultra-endurance help you stay sober... What do you say to those out there who struggle with addiction in one form or another?

A: I have spoken at great length on this topic and it is a complex one if we chose to make it so. It is also simple and pure if kept in perspective. I escaped a life of addiction and death by breaking down the barriers I built around me. I had to apply unfiltered and brutal honesty to my life, my role as a human being and the damage I was inflicting on myself and others. The honesty and straight forward way that I chose to live enabled me to see that I had built a prison for myself. When I tore down those walls I found I could see for miles in every direction, so I went for a run.


2011 24hr Treadmill Run


24hr Solo Run


Q: Your 24hr treadmill run was really powerful. How is your training coming along right now for the Leadville 100 race?

A:  My training is going exceptionally well, and in fact I feel I have found a great state of balance and effectiveness currently. It has been an amazing journey so far and my experience with running is evolving each day.

When I first came to running I extracted my measure of satisfaction and physical change and embraced the simplicity of just lining up at the start and finishing the race. Many people know me as the "back of the pack" former fat guy who runs ultras, and I still am. But what is changing is my ability to move quicker on race day. I have had a great race year and find myself becoming more and more fit. My best finish in a race was at the Silver Rush 50 last week- 7th division and 26th overall. I am not in jeopardy of winning yet, but I am getting to the vegan ice cream at the finish line faster.

I know Leadville can chew up and spit out much better runners than me, so I refrain from feeling "confident" for the 100 this year, but I do feel I have trained hard and I am ready to go. I will be lacing them up and trying to do something special. I will put it all out there.

Q: What are your plans in the next couple years? What about in the 5-10 year plan?

A:  I want to try to continue to set an example for my kids to follow. Run hard- don't do anything in a half- assed way- and never be afraid to fail.

I hope that through my story two things will happen. One, people will find their own strength to make positive change in their own lives and break any limitation or addiction that is defeating them. I want people to see a positive vision of recovery that includes a powerful and beautiful embrace of life and it's ups and downs.

And secondly, I want to set an example for kids to embrace a a lifestyle of fitness and pressing to the limits of potential. I want kids to see the depths and heights of addiction before they ever use drugs.

Something else big that I have going on now is my relationship with The Partnership @ Drugfree.org. We are launching a national campaign called "You Are Not Alone". I feel incredibly honored to have been asked to be the national spokesperson or face for the effort. To be asked to do something so powerful with such great impact and for such an amazing organization is humbling, to say the least.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org is having a 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on October 18th. I will be there to speak on my story regarding sobriety, but I will also be running too...

I will be running 500 laps on a high school track (125 miles) I will be doing this as a simple example of how we can keep moving forward and accomplish difficult things if we don't lose focus and get caught up in the "bigness" of our undertaking. If I start to think of running in a circle for 36 hours I will lose my mind- instead I will stay in the moment and move forward with my friends there to help.
Q: I understand you are the race director for the American Heroes Run in Longmont, CO? I don't know how you find the time! Tell me about that event...

A:  This year will be the 2nd year of the event. It is a grass roots running experience but growing exponentially. I wanted to do something to bring attention to all those people (including yourself Jerry) who put themselves on the line to protect us and this great country.

The event is on September 11th and the course is open for 9 hours and 11 minutes in tribute to those lost on that day. It is a great event for first time runners/walkers all the way to ultra freaks. The course is a one mile loop around a beautiful lake. We have a 5k, half marathon, marathon, and ultra. We also follow the 9/11 timeline. The race starts at 8:46am, the time the first tower was hit. We sing "God Bless the USA" at the time the second tower was struck, and we continue with this as the day's events unfold.

Q: Where does your incredible patriotism come from?

A:  My father. I was carted around as a child to Arlington Cemetery, MT Vernon and all the battle sites of the Revolutionary War. I was amazed at the incredible bravery of our founders and I was awestruck that a man would pick up a pitch fork or gun and fight the largest military force on the planet for a chance at freedom and better life for people he may never meet.

Q: Tell me, what drives you to be "Superman" David Clark?

A:  My kids drive me in all that I do. I want to be remembered as a man who never let fear hold him back. I want to be thought of as a good man and a good friend.

You know, I catch a lot of shit for the "Superman" tattoo I have on my calve. The truth is I have no delusion of being Superman. In fact, the idea for the "Leadville 100 Superman" finishers tattoo came from my son who called me superman at the finish line last year. The reason I actually took the step to put the ink on my leg is my sincere belief that we all can be Superman for a day.




Then...


Now.


 More Info:
David Clark's Website
American Hero's Run
Interview by: Jerry Armstrong





 







2 comments:

  1. Great guy but also a little self-absorbed. The idea of a documentary being made about him has gone to his head a bit..

    ReplyDelete
  2. There is no documentary about me. There is a documentary about the Leadville 100 and I happen to be in it by divine joke.

    ReplyDelete

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