Coach Chris Clark ventured into the private coaching business several years ago with the model of working along side an athlete’s high school coach. Often times a private coach can get a bad rap for “stealing” athletes or “pulling” athletes away. Coach Clark has made an effort to ensure his model is synergistic with both the high school athlete and coach.
Coach Clark himself saw success in his own running career with a world ranking in the 3k. Additionally he has a masters degree in exercise science. Coach Clark currently works with forty different athletes across four states. Below, we discuss coaching philosophy, training styles, and athlete development.
For more information about his training program, use the contact form below.
https://www.clark-performance.com/contact
@clark_performance_coaching
Chasing the Standard: Can you provide a brief background of your coaching and coaching philosophy?
Clark Performance Coaching: I have a Masters degree in Exercise Science. I was a PA state medalist in XC in HS, 5x NCAA D2 All-American, and have run in several USA Championship races both in XC and on the Track. I was a professional distance runner for PUMA and then ZAP Fitness/Reebok for 4 years. I started coaching athletes while I was still in college in 2008. In 2013 we moved to Maryland. I volunteered with Atholton XC in 2013 and took over the boys’ program that winter. Our XC team was 2nd in the state as a team in 2014 and 2015. 2016 I switched from distance to sprints as that is what was best for the school’s program. After that, our girls’ team won several track county and regional titles. I started doing private coaching in both speed development and track/xc in 2017. I switched all my coaching to private during Covid and haven’t looked back since. There were some summers I worked with over 400 athletes between speed development, track, and xc work. I work with athletes from elementary school level all the way up to a couple pro athletes.
Chasing the Standard: Briefly describe your coaching philosophy.
Clark Performance Coaching: I’m an athletes’ coach. Meaning, I’m here as the expert, but the athlete always has a say in their training. I help them develop ambitious goals, walk them through what I feel is the best way to get there, and together we develop the outline of how we will do that. Sometimes I must hold athletes back. Most of the time I have to convince them they are capable of doing the mileage and total work needed. Often, they just need a road map they trust and someone to help them believe it’s possible.
Most distance runners need to run more to make it to the next level. 90% of the athletes who start working with me do more mileage than their HS Team does. In addition to volume, I believe training should revolve around developing energy systems using both heart rate and the athlete’s race PRs. We are looking to hit every energy system all year round, but in different proportions. Example: in the summer, the focus is aerobic volume, anaerobic threshold pace development, improving connective tissue density, and improving hip and core strength. However, all the athletes I work with do max velocity sprints in the form of intense “strides” and “fly sprints” all summer. Running economy and VO2 max work is sprinkled in based on training residuals.
I also believe the best “athletes” make the best runners. We are always improving muscular strength through on field or in weight room strength training, peak power through plyometrics and strength training, and ground reactivity through plyometrics and foot/ankle work.
Chasing the Standard: What are some typical results you have when working with athletes? What is a typical progression you are looking for in your athletes?
Clark Performance Coaching: The answer here is “It depends…”. I’m a big believer in looking at an athlete’s training background, coming up with what is the biggest training increase they can handle, and then letting the athlete and their body set the tone. Some athletes respond insanely fast, and we see big improvements in as little as a few months. Other athletes are farther along in the process, so the progression is slower but no less valuable.
Example – last year I worked with a female who was already D1 scholarship caliber. They were looking for me to help her break through a plateau she had been stuck on since sophomore year. She went from her best XC finish being 4th to being 3rd in the state large school division in PA which is insanely competitive. It was an amazing day and she ran 20s faster than she ever had on that course. We also got her 3200m PR from 10:37 down to 10:18. For her, that was a great year. More importantly in some regards, we got her volume up 10-15 MPW higher than ever before and set her up for an easier transition to UConn which is where she will be running this coming fall.
Conversely, I had another female who had never trained all year round who wanted a serious summer/fall training plan that set her up well for Indoor Track while being a soccer athlete. She went from 1600m PR prior of 5:29 to running 5:09 before the year was over. Her training age was what I would call “moderate”, BUT she is clearly talented and responded quickly to increases in volume and intensity.
The case study I like the best is the male athlete I’ve coached the longest. Every year we had a 20-33% increase in peak mileage. He went from a XC 5k PR of 17:54 as a freshman to 15:51 as a senior. He has actually run low 15s on the roads. He went from 30 MPW to up to 60 MPW before his senior year. He’s also went from a 10:20 3200m to 9:16 in that timeframe. He’s running for High Point next year on scholarship.
Chasing the Standard: One thing you mention is that you work with the high school athlete’s coach during the season. Athletes are with their coaches 5-6 days a week in season, so how do you balance that?
Clark Performance Coaching: This is where I bring the most value to the table. I was a high school coach for years and understand the demands and dynamics better than most private coaches. The way I approach working with athletes in season is…
- Offering a completely open line of communication to the HS Coach. I am an open book about how I train athletes and what I think each athlete needs. My goal is to fill any gaps in the athlete’s training and preparation that the HS Team and Coach are not filling. Some HS Coaches want nothing to do with me and are not supportive of their athlete having a private coach, but some talk to me every couple weeks. I love hopping on a call or text with the HS Coach to share what we are seeing and what we think needs to change. I actually do consulting work with Coaches and Teams all over the state. Those are my favorite setups. Everyone is on the same page and we are all helping each other improve to help the athletes reach their potential. This past year I consulted for 4 different HS Teams in MD
- I offer in person training whenever it makes sense. If the athlete has a day there is no HS practice, sometimes we train. If the athlete needs a tune up and we can get an extra session in that is in alignment with what is going on at their HS practices, we do it.
- Sometimes, the reality is the HS Coach doesn’t want the athlete working with me, but the system they are using won’t get that athlete to their goals… so I help that athlete do work outside of their HS team training that is safe, smart, and additive. They do not lie or skip their HS practices. I REPEAT – They do not lie or skip their HS practices in a dishonest or unapproved way. What we do instead is I help them manage their volume and make smart decisions on when and how to do extra training outside of their HS practices. The #1 goal is keep the athlete healthy, so what they are doing at their HS practices is the first thing I take into consideration before prescribing more work. These kids only get 4 (really 3.5 years) to get the attention of the colleges they want. We have to get the work done and waste no time.
Chasing the Standard: What is a different dynamic you add for an athlete versus the training she or he is getting from their team?
Clark Performance Coaching: The big 3 are usually
- More volume of both mileage and specific workouts.
- Intentional strength, speed, and drilling work.
- More individualized attention in regard to race planning, problem solving, and goal setting.
Chasing the Standard: How do your group sessions work? Your athletes seem to work well together with those.
Clark Performance Coaching: Our group training is so much fun. They are open to any athlete, but if that athlete is being coached remotely by me as well, they get a discount. Essentially, we get anywhere from 4-20 athletes from all over MD, VA, WV, PA, and we are all hitting the same energy systems in that practice. However, each athlete has an individualized workout and paces based on where they are at in their training. A few weeks ago, I had a threshold session with some speed endurance tacked on the end. I had 1 athlete brand new to running all the way up to a D1 college guy. Obviously, they had different workouts, but it was done on the same course and in the same energy systems. It is so much fun because kids from all over get to help each other achieve their goals. The common thread is they are all serious about becoming the best runner they can be. The younger athletes love getting to spend time around college athletes. They often pick their brains during the warmup and cool down to try and learn everything they can. It’s cool. It’s also the only time some of these athletes have someone to train with. Sometimes, they are the fastest person on their HS team by a good bit.
Chasing the Standard: How can athletes interested in working with you get in contact?
Clark Performance Coaching: The best ways to contact me are through my website by filling out the contact form here: https://www.clark-performance.com/contact
Or sending me a direct message on social media via Instagram here: @clark_performance_coaching
If you are a Coach or Athlete who thinks I can help in any way… please reach out.
COACHES – I will come speak to your team absolutely free. I spoke to 5 HS teams and at 3 different XC Camps this past summer. I’d love to be involved in helping your program reach it’s potential however it makes sense for you.
ATHLETES – If you are interested in seeing what having a private coach could look like, HIT ME UP! I would love to discuss your training and see if there are ways I can help you take it to the next level. Having a private coach in distance running is becoming more common every year. Most of the highest level athletes in every sport are doing extra things outside of their team’s practice.