Monday, April 29, 2024
As an author, fitness trainer and senior athlete, John Clark has had some interesting experiences — many of which did not occur until after he reached the age of 60.
Clark, who lives in Kempner and is a member of one of Copperas Cove's three Exchange Clubs, shared his story of going from being apprehensive about aging to finally embracing the opportunities and embarking on new adventures. He talked to the Gatesville Exchange Club about his experiences on Feb. 9.
For much of his life, Clark worked as a reporter, including 13 years spent at the Temple Daily Telegram, before writing books. He has since written "about 20 books" on a variety of topics, including "Finally Fit," about his experience of becoming a pole vaulter for the first time at the age of 60, and competing in the National Senior Games.
Asked about his favorite book, Clark said it is probably "Camino: Laughter and Tears along Spain's 500-mile Camino De Santiago."
"That was life-changing," Clark said of his walking journey on the famous trail in Spain which takes people on a 500-mile pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle St. James in northwestern Spain.
Clark said as a newspaper reporter, he learned that if he had a question about something, "probably somebody else has the same question."
One book he wrote was about seeking answers, finding out about people's spiritual beliefs and why they had those beliefs.
"I was on a spiritual journey, so I drove around Texas and would go up to people randomly and ask them questions (about their faith)," Clark said. "My first stop was in San Saba. I asked a man what he believed and why, and traveled around the country asking the same questions, about what people believe in and how they came to believe it."
Clark said he was partly inspired to write about those questions of faith by the loss of a loved one.
"My mother died in 2000, and that affected me in a lot of ways that I didn't understand at the time," he said. "I became disenchanted with life, so I decided to be a teacher."
Clark said he enjoyed the first three or four years, and then changed school districts to a job situation that proved to be difficult and frustrating for him.
"I did it for 18 years, although I didn't like it for most of the time. I started teaching at 45 and thought it was too late to change to something different then. I felt like I couldn't jump ship at that point."
As he grew older, Clark said that began to weigh on his mind.
"The summer before I turned 60 — in August — that really freaked me out," he said. "It really got to me. I was miserable with my job. I let myself go physically and would come home and drink to try to forget about the day and then go to bed. I was 50 pounds heavier then, and I was miserable."
While viewing Facebook one day, Clark said he saw posts by a childhood friend, Bubba Sparks, whom he had grown up with in Houston. Those posts focused on Sparks' experiences as a senior athlete.
"He talked about winning a gold medal in master's pole vaulting at age 64," Clark said. "USA Track and Field has a masters division that starts at age 35 and goes up from there. One guy is 84 and he is still pole vaulting and getting world records — it's great. I decided I wanted to try pole vaulting."
Although he has been involved in athletics in junior high, Clark said he had quit his involvement in sports when he was in high school and "that had always been one of my huge regrets in life."
Clark reached out to Sparks and asked if he could also start pole vaulting. With Sparks' encouragement, I ended up doing it," Clark said. "On Sunday mornings I would practice pole vaulting for a year. The first six months was kind of a mess. I hurt myself. I pulled every muscle from the waist down at least once."
The training regimen encouraged Clark to work on becoming fit.
"I told my wife there probably weren't a lot of drunken, fat pole vaulters, so after six months, I started working at it and got myself into shape," he said. "I started entering competitions. The first was the Senior Games and it was a disaster. He said he performed poorly on his first attempt, but the second was better. From there, things continued to improve."
Clark has since won five medals for pole vaulting.
"I've enjoyed working with good coaches," he said. "No matter how bad a practice is, they'll find at least one thing you did right. My record is (8 feet, 6 inches) and I'm not happy with that. But once you reach the 8-foot level you start winning something. Last year, I was 17th in the country and 46th in the world, or something."
People have told him that what he has done is inspiring, which led him into another line of work.
"I decided to become a personal trainer — especially for seniors," Clark said. "The shape I was in, I was depressed and out of shape. I didn't care because I was depressed, I just wanted to get it (life) over with. I want to spread the message that it doesn't have to be that way.
"I now specialize in senior fitness training and have done that for about three years," Clark said. He works with people at a gym in Copperas Cove or in people's homes.
One of his clients is in his 80s and in a wheelchair but works to improve his fitness level.
"He inspires me because he works hard," Clark said. "I saw my dad get into a wheelchair and refuse to exercise, and he never got out."
After he retired from teaching, Clark began writing for the Killeen, Copperas Cove and Fort Hood newspapers. He wrote profiles on military veterans and their spouses, which led to another book.
His walk on the Camino De Santiago is among his most memorable experiences, Clark said.
"For some people it's a religious pilgrimage, but for me it was mostly for adventure," he said. "At first I was terrified because I'd never been out of the country. We would walk all day and stay at hostels (inexpensive accommodations that often feature dormitory-style amenities).
"I was scared when my wife took me to the airport (to fly to Spain), and I thought, come on, you're not going to prison)."
Clark said he was still apprehensive about the journey when he arrived, so he looked up the cost of an airplane ticket home before beginning the walk. "It was like $2,500 bucks, so I said, 'I'm not doing that.'"
Those walking on the trail carry backpacks with them, and the advice is to travel light. Clark said he had to learn the hard way to do that.
"The backpack is supposed to be no more than 10% of your body weight, but starting out, mine was like 50 pounds, because I thought I needed all that stuff," Clark said. "The first day, I went eight miles and thought I was dying."
A sign for a hostel along the way was a welcome respite. Clark said he met some interesting people along the way, and that those experiences enriched his journey.
Clark's books are available online and have no connection with Tom Clancy's fictional "John Clark series." To find books Clark has written, the internet search should focus on John H. Clark III, author and freelance writer. A website focusing on his books and writing services is www.johnhenryIII.com.
He is also available for seniors who are interested in fitness. More information can be found at www.fossilfit.net. Clark can also be reached at golfnman13@yahoo.com or by calling 254-290-1829.
