Member Spotlight: Clark Honeycutt
Clark made his way to Texas by way of Louisiana in 2017 and joined Trail Roots in 2022 after reaching out to Erik looking to get connected with a running group on the coaching front. As a long time personal trainer, he took interest in coaching strength for runners and took advantage of the unfortunate closing of his main training facility to pursue exactly that. He has now become our resident strength coach. As a husband and father to a toddler, he finds time to train at the early morning workouts with us and often leads post run strength for the group. Clark keeps us strong, which is essential for every runner. We wanted to ask him a bit about his journey with fitness and Trail Roots.
Tell us a bit about your personal athletic background and how you got into personal training.
I grew up playing team sports on the playground and into my first year of college with baseball. My first job out of college was in behavior analysis for children with autism. When my wife and I moved here, I needed a fresh start and already knew it was going to be in fitness. It was always the thing I looked forward to the most during my free time. So I got my training license and can honestly say I’ll never work a desk job again. It’s cliché, but I look forward to every day that I get to call this my career. Growing up, I don’t think I actually believed adults enjoyed working their jobs. But my five-thirty-to-nine-to-noon-to-three-and-sometimes-to-six-thirty beats the hell outta my old nine-to-five, and I effin’ love it.
What inspired you to start running and wanting to coach strength for runners?
When baseball fizzled out, running gave me the freedom and headspace I needed when team athletics could no longer be a staple. Years later running trails gave me a new-found drive for being in nature. Then the Born to Run craze happened, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t light a fire. It all goes back to what our bodies are meant to do. Trail Roots gives me the opportunity to share that love of fluid movement through nature.
How did you find Trail Roots and why did you join?
From day one of working at a gym here in Austin, I’ve known that the running population is who I’d like to work with, but the clientele just wasn’t there. I was a bit shocked last year when my primary Castle Hill facility closed, but I knew it was an opportunity to reach out to Erik Stanley. I’ve known Erik since moving here, and his overall outlook on the importance of peoples’ connection with nature and with each other has always resonated with me. So, my philosophy was simple. I said, “I will work for you for free if you give me a shot to be a strength/running coach.” It was easily one of the best risks I’ve ever taken, and so grateful to the Trail Roots community for accepting me.
Has your training philosophy changed since joining?
In a sense, my training philosophy is constantly being honed, and therefore being tweaked here and there. I love the educational aspect of what I do. I love learning about the science behind the mechanics, stress-load, fueling, and endurance. I take pride in being one of those people that has all their CEs done over a year in advance. If your coach’s training philosophy isn’t evolving with the science, then they don’t deserve to be a coach.
If anything’s drastically changed, it’s been the knowledge that people oozing with positivity are out there. I think it’s really tough to bust out of a toxic culture if it’s all you know, and for me, that was my life years ago. Training with Trail Roots has given me a more hopeful outlook in general. So, in that sense, my training outlook has changed now that I have a bunch of badasses supporting me and my goals. Y’all make me better!🤘😝
What do you love about trail running?
Uhh, everything.. Do you ever run on a trail when it’s pouring down rain? That’s my JAM! Talk about feeling alive. Nature provides. 🧘♂️
What is your favorite trail to run with Trail Roots? Turkey Creek, I love the overlook at sunrise.
Why is strength work so critical for runners?
It really all comes down to running economy. Strength work is proven to help runners maintain their good running form for longer (less injury), run faster, and be able to continue running for years to come.
If you had to recommend three things a runner should do to keep injury free, what would they be?
Strength training, resting, increasing mileage intelligently… also stay away from drugs and the guys who film the Jackass movies.
“It really all comes down to running economy. Strength work is proven to help runners maintain their good running form for longer (less injury), run faster, and be able to continue running for years to come. ”
How much strength training does a runner need to do to maintain strength?
Typically twice a week is average, but that doesn’t mean going whole-hog those two days. A lot of times, runners have the wrong idea about what strength training is. Some days are focused on things like core and single-leg weight training, others will focus more on mobility. We’re not hitting the weights like Arnold. But I would recommend longer shorts for the occasional deadlift.
What advice would you give people who are looking to add strength work into their running routine, but can’t seem to fit it in?
I always start with manageable chunks of easy work. This works for priming the body without shocking it, and it helps to set up a routine. Start with core and mobility after your easy runs. Strength work is an investment you pay to your body in order to run further into the miles and into the years.
Trail Roots offers custom run coaching with Clark as well as a virtual custom strength plan option. Reach out for questions at info@trailrotos.com.