John Clark Coaching

Your body is a tool not an ornament.

Twelve month ‘transformation’ but really the thing that transformed was what my body was actually being trained for.

The guy on the left was just finishing 48 consecutive marathons.

The guy on the right is just prepping for Englands Most Powerful Man.

Neither is right or wrong, both will likely draw criticism, both just fit for the purpose of the performance outcome I want to achieve.

I guess my point of sharing this 12 month picture comparison is - if we stop choosing exercise as a way to lose weight/change our body but choose exercise for a performance outcome (not all performance means competing btw) then we might actually be a lot happier with what we see, the reason for what we see it and enjoy the process along the way.

Instead of just judging what you see in the mirror you get to see all the things the body you have is capable of and can do.

It also highlights the point that you really can do anything with your body as long as you want to do the work.

From strongman to endurance athlete back to strongman… the choice starts with you.

The outcome dictated by your output.

Never too late to start,

Never too late to change.

It starts with you.

Always - keep moving forwards.

Tell ya what, I reckon the Sahara was more comfortable to sit down in than middle England right now 😂😂

Although tbf todays hardship was running out of ice vs the inconvenience of having to run a marathon in it for a stage of Marathon des Sables.

This weather always makes me smile as I remember that trip, the memories made, the bonds forged and the lessons learned.

Been interesting looking back at many of the things I swore I’d never take for granted being yep, you guessed it, taken for granted 😂 especially considering tonight’s bbq feast compared to crunchy half cooked mac n cheese over there 🙈

Hope those running MdS next year got plenty of miles in over these last few days 😂

Remember kids, stay hydrated and if you ever wondered whether MdS was for you at least you got a bit of a chance this weekend to question it in more detail 😂😂

Keep moving forwards.

I took my hearing aid out of my pocket and put it in, she looked incredibly sheepish and she nodded in an almost silent apology… and just maybe a realisation, that sometimes people are fighting something you can’t see.

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About a month ago one of my hearing aids stopped working and I’ve just been too busy to get it sorted.

If I only wear one I struggle with balance and direction any noise comes from so I’ve been making do without it, with lip reading and concentrating.

I keep the working one close by through so if I am faced with needing it I can quickly pop it in for a few mins.

One of the things I’ve noticed without them though is how much people treat you like your dumb if you ask them to repeat themselves.

We still have many perspex glass walls, some still wear masks etc which makes hearing and lip reading harder.

Today, I asked a cashier to repeat herself as she spoke very quietly.

She then practically shouted it at in that really looooong draaaawn ooooout annunciation you see people do when talking to a different language or someone they just think is stupid.

I still couldn’t make her out so I put my hearing aid in and suddenly she rather sheepishly realised why I’d asked her to repeat herself.

I guess my point of the post is simple - people fight things you don’t know.

Whether it be hearing or mental health or even illnesses and loss.

It took me a long time to admit my disability out loud.

An even longer time to call it a disability.

An even longer time to not take comments (or experiences like today) personally or put me back in a negative headspace.

It’s been quite interesting to see how far I’ve come with managing my profound hearing loss without my side but I guess my point of this post is simple -

You just don’t know what battle people are facing silently, behind closed doors or in their own minds so quite simply, try not to be a bellend the next time someone asks you to speak up, asks for help or looks a little lost.

Kindness goes a long way!

Keep moving forwards.

Jumpin’ into the fresh set of 7 like…. 👉

Chapter 8 begins in the book of 2022.

It’s gonna be a good one.

Reppy Circus DB’s for 75s
Log grunt work for 110’s x 5’s

And accessory bitzzzzz

Feeling like ma old self week after week as more and more muscle memory and strength returns.

Keep moving forwards.

The Queens Baton - the Commonwealth Relay.

An honour and privilege to carry the baton through the cathedral today, selected in recognition of the charitable work in recent times.

As I said originally, it was as much a celebration and nod to everyone of you that’s supported it, donated, ran with, encouraged me and helped us to make a difference with rather than just something I did.

Last week another £4,000 went out the door to children in food poverty in more projects funded by the stupidity of mine that you’ve donated to and for that we should all be proud.

Together we can do more, together we can make a difference and hopefully the baton relay and the interviews around it continued to highlight the issues of food poverty and how much more needs to be done.

Thank you to all of you for supporting this social athlete trying to make a difference.

It was nice to take a step back for once and reflect on the journey so far and special to share with my family around me.

We keep moving forwards.

Swole is the goal, size is the prize 🤣

First trip in three years that doesn’t involve any physical fitness, charity challenges or putting myself in harms way…

Although that being said I’m 99% sure Vegas will chew me up and spit me out.

Final session of this block rounded out nicely with 280 kgs for doubles and many many bicep curls.

This last 8 weeks training has been tough, haven’t missed a single session and bought pretty much 100% effort to every rep and set so definitely going to enjoy some time off as we go again next week, this time with Englands Most Powerful Man now in the diary.

Tomorrows flight can’t come soon enough 💪🏼

Keep moving forwards.

Throwback - this day, 2015.

I’m not sure how I had a healthy blood pressure with no sleep apnea or diabetes 🤣 good lord I was a big boi 🤣🤣🤣

It’s a madness that this was 7 damn years ago. My second appearance at Englands Strongest Man.

Good to see so many of those faces still going strong in the world of strongman and transitioned to other sports since.

I do miss that big brute that was Aaron. Everytime I see my log at the gym it reminds me of him and his infectious positivity (and how much I envied his log press too) remember being so happy for him getting a podium that day as we both started our strongman journey together.

Good times with good men.

Top tip - loading a 145kg atlas stone with your face is highly not recommended. 🤣

Let’s see if we can get back to that stage again next year.

Keep moving forwards…. Always.

Ya can’t call yourself a hybrid athlete if all ya do is lift 👀🤣

Since coming back from the Sahara I literally haven’t even wanted to look at my running trainers.

After years of pushing the sharp end of the spear of silly ultra challenges the body was a mess and the mind melted.

I’ve since focussed on pure strength and rebuilding this battered rig after 3 years of physical and mental abuse.

After becoming somewhat pain free I finally put the trainers on and went for a run with the wife and whilst it felt like starting again it felt good to be running once more.

Now we have our foundation it’s time to start rebuilding the conditioning component and taking the hybrid concept up a notch.

With that said - I’m excited to get stuck into the new 8 week block of the programme tomorrow as we build for a pre season of rugby, a return to strongman and generally being a more useful human.

Keep moving forwards.

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Fancy joining me? Get your programme, accountability, like minded support crew and finally take steps to being stronger, fitter and pushing your own boundaries?

Head to the link in the IA bio!

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Fuelled by

Bulgarian Split Squats… all fun n games until you can’t walk for three days 🤣

Loving training at the minute which has been a longtime coming in being able to say. Finally feel like the fatigue from ultra endurance is leaving the body.

10 months is a looooong off season till the strongman comeback but bloody loving the process so far.

Weights feeling lighter whilst loads going up week on week.

Just need to not get three day DOMS 🤣

Keep moving forwards.

Stop being overwhelmed by how far is left to travel…

Those that quit are those that look at all the troubles ahead of them in their entirety, ones that place sole purpose on the outcome and forget to enjoy the journey. ⁣
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Don’t imagine the whole challenges, all the obstacles and infinite hurdles.⁣
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Much the same as running and not focussing on how much longer you have left.

Focus on the next step, the next 10 mins, 1 hour or day. ⁣
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What’s on the other side of all those small blocks of time added together?⁣
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Your results.⁣
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Your goals aren’t six months away, they’re one day away, then another, then another. ⁣
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When Spielberg was asked how he knows where to put the camera, he replied,⁣
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‘I watch a lot of movies’⁣
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Immerse yourself in your goal. Enjoy your subject matter, embrace the journey. ⁣
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You’ll then know where to put your own camera into focus to get the best results. ⁣
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The end of the week is a chance to recalibrate and a chance to rewatch your own movie...⁣
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What’s gone well?⁣
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What could be better? ⁣
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Realign if needed and finish the week like you mean it. ⁣
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Remember, it’s never standing on the podium, hitting the goal weight or fitting in the dress you remember - it’s the journey that took you there. ⁣
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Keep moving forwards

Stop chasing other peoples definition of fitness.

2016: I chased the biggest deadlift, the most I could carry, the biggest I could be. Titles meant everything, numbers were my guide.

2022: I chase progress, fitness, health, longevity and focus on the relationship my businesses and training has on succeeding in other areas of my life.

Both have an underlying foundation - they were my own definition. No one else’s.

Neither definitions are wrong and it’s ok to evolve and to change your focus. Just as we are entitled to change our beliefs on other things we can reinvent our values in fitness too.

We think we have to look a certain way, uphold a certain standard of fitness, often - someone’s else’s standards.

I’m calling bu****it on that idea.

Something I’ve learnt over the years, we too often chase what we think is progress but it’s not our own, it’s someone else’s.

Define YOUR own version of greatness.

Set YOUR own standards and personal expectations.

Commit to what YOU believe in.

Be the best version of YOU.

Keep moving forwards.

The Candy Apple Smash… pork smash burgers, sage an onion patty, candied apple and melted cheese topped with the left over sugar syrup.

Yesterday, cote de boeuf tacos, miso honey chicken and beef smash burgers with and …

Friday, .deli world beating Detroit pizzas with and …

WHAT A WEEKEND OF FOOD AND BLOODY GOOD PEOPLE.

How good is food hey? How bloody good 🤣

Say no to s**t BBQ’s! What did you enjoy this weekend??

Keep moving forwards. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼