http://www.ocrtube.com/blog/meet-spartan-pro-team-athlete-tyann-clark
I had the pleasure of interviewing Spartan Pro Team Athlete TyAnn Clark. With her recent 1st Place Female Podium Finish at the Sacramento Beast, I think some of you might want to know what she is all about =). Let's dive in the dirt shall we!
Arnel Banawa: What is your Full Name, where are you from, and where do your currently reside?
TyAnn Clark: TyAnn Clark, originally from Star Valley, WY, Currently reside in Toquerville, UT
Arnel Banawa: What is your occupation?
TyAnn Clark: Full time mom, Zumba instructor, Fitness trainer (I train groups to be ready for OCR's), Beachbody Coach
Arnel Banawa: How was life before Obstacle Course Racing, and who introduced you to the sport?
TyAnn Clark: I don't know how far back you want me to go haha. Life was still crazy and unpredictable as it is now, but I had reached a point in my training where I needed something else. I'd ran competively since I was a Freshman in highschool, and was heavily into the marathon/ half marathon training cycle. I did and always will have a love for road racing, but I had reached a point in my life where I was unmotivated and uninspired to race. I was 32 and had just had my 3rd child (which probably had a little to do with my exhaustion levels). Honestly I was thinking that my glory days were over. The timing was impeccable. My friend, Hobie Call, had been trying to get me to do a Spartan for a couple years. I was ready to try something new and rolled the dice on the Temecula Super. It was one of the scariest things I'd ever done. I remember sitting all alone in the festival area, looking at all the huge contraptions and thinking that I'd make a huge mistake. 9 miles later I crossed the finish line a completely different person - And the fact that I was the first woman across didn't hurt either.
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Arnel Banawa: How does Spartan Pro Athlete TyAnn train for a race? Zumba?
TyAnn Clark: Haha, Zumba is a great core workout (and I'm gonna bet that my class is the hardest Zumba you'll ever try), but no. I divide my time between Crossfit, running, and a little bit of swimming. My husband and father in law have built me an amazing playground to train on in my yard - spear throw, walls, tarzan swing, rope climb, tyrolean traverse, etc.
Arnel Banawa: Which Beachbody Fitness Program have you found to be the best program to train for an Obstacle Course Race?
TyAnn Clark: Oh definitely Insanity - Lots of push ups, core work, and explosive movements. P90x is an awesome way to build strength as well.
Arnel Banawa: With 3 children and a husband, how do you make time for yourself, and what kind of advice would you give women in your situation who would like to become a better athlete?
TyAnn Clark: I feel like life is such a balance of priorities and sacrifice, and once we decide to give up something that is not getting us closer to our goals, changes happen. I'm lucky in that I have to be super organized and consistent with my workout times in order to get them in. If I miss my morning run, I most likely will not have time later on in the day to do it. So knowing that gets my butt out of bed most of the time. I sacrifice things like t.v. at night, or that piece of cake at a party. My ultimate goals are more important to me, so that helps motivate me. My kids are also amazing and are very awesome about going into the daycare for a couple hours so that I can workout. Or they will run around the track with me while I get a training session in.
Arnel Banawa: What is your most feared obstacle at a Spartan Race?
TyAnn Clark: SPEAR THROW!!!! I practice it daily. I can walk into my backyard and chuck it 10 times in a row without missing. For some reason, it is my curse in races. I've made 1 in 7 races.
Arnel Banawa: What shoes do you currently run with? During a Road Race? During an OCR?
TyAnn Clark: I am a fan of the Solomon Fellraisers for longer races, and InOv8s for shorter ones. For marathons, the Saucony Kinveras are my go-to racer. I have trained for 5 years in Nike Frees and they are my babies.
Arnel Banawa: Where would you like to see Obstacle Course Racing in the future, say 5 years from now?
TyAnn Clark: I want to get it to the point where all my runner friends feel like they need to try it out (and fall in love with it). There's so much potential for growth and notoriety that I want to see happen. If it becomes an Olympic sport, that will definitely help.
Arnel Banawa: What does TyAnn eat? What is your view on the Paleo Diet?
TyAnn Clark: I wish I could say I was a strict something or other, but most of the time I'm scrambling to just pull something half decent together. Sometimes it's my child's other half of uneaten sandwich. I focus on natural foods, healthy fats, and lots of produce. We even get raw milk from a neighbor's cow. When I need to lean out, I will follow a low carb/ somewhat Paleo plan so that my body utilizes the fat for energy rather than carb stores. When I'm training for Beasts, or just running longer miles, there's just no way. I think that the Paleo diet has some fantastic elements to it - Eating natural foods, focusing on produce, using natural sugars, etc. I think it's a much easier plan to follow when someone is mainly crossfit training. I also think that there's a place in the runner's diet for things such as quinoa, oatmeal, and whole grain rices though.
Shakeology from Beachbody is a staple. I feel like this is my little training secret that not many have tried, but it is an amazing shake that has every healthy ingredient in it an athlete would ever want.
Arnel Banawa: What is your best advice for recovery after a Spartan Race?
TyAnn Clark: Allow yourself to take it easy, at least for the next 7-10 days. Even if you are not sore, racing taxes your immune system as well as your muscles. It will only do harm the next week if you decide to push your training. All training should be done in recovery mode, where there is no intention of raising the heart rate or gaining fitness.
Arnel Banawa: Are you currently training your kids to be future Spartan Pro Athletes? =)
TyAnn Clark: Oh my kids are completely loving the playground we now have in our yard. They are rope climbing, wall scaling, spear throwing fools now. It's amazing that all the things we see as exercise are their play toys. I love seeing their strength and mental toughness develop.
TyAnn has a very IMPRESSIVE racing record, I don't think I would mind being the tire that she drags, at least I know I'll start racking in some Elite Points =)
1st Sacramento Beast 2013
1st SoCal Super Spartan 2013
2nd Las Vegas Super Spartan 2013
3rd Arizona Sprint Spartan 2013
1st Butch Cassidy 10k 2012 - 39:20
1st Sand Hollow Marathon 2011- 3:02
5th Utah Valley Marathon 2011- 3:03
2nd Utah Summer Games Olympic Triathlon - 2009
2nd SHAC Tri - 2009
1st Hurricane Half Marathon - 1:27 - 2009
2nd Dam to Dam 2011 10 mi
6th St george half - 2011 1:26
1st Butch Cassidy 10k 40:28
1st Hurricane Half Marathon -2010
1st Butch Cassidy 10k 2009
1st Hurricane Half Marathon 1:27
2nd Butch Cassidy 10K 2008 - 39:40
4th Hobble Creek Half 2001 -1:21
4th Strawberry Days 5k 2001 - 18:40
For more information about this extraordinary athlete, connect with TyAnn Clark on facebook
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