University Daily Kansan / Friday, May 1, 1992
9
Schedule enables triathlete to succeed
Continued from Page 8.
is a lifestyle. We knew at some point he would go back to school."
In the summer of 1985 Campbell entered his first triathlon as a professional in Dallas. He was racing against people he had read about and who had been his heroes in the sport.
"I was like a kid in a candy store," he says. "I would cream them in the swim and then get blown away. It was beyond anything I've ever comprehended."
Campbell managed to finish 13th and was on his way to the top.
5:30 p.m. The cold water in Robinson Natatorium makes Clark's eyes open wide. His evening swim is a nice way to freshen up after an early morning run and a full day of classes. Tonight he'll swim 10, 100-yard sprints to help prepare him for an incoming race.
In 1986 Campbell was at the height of his career in the sport. He won the National Long Course Championship and was able to compete for the United States team for the International Cup.
When Clark began racing the pro triathlon circuit in 1985, triathlons were just beginning to boom and prize money at races was plentiful. The sport was at its zenith.
But the success didn't come without training.
An average week of training, at that time, consisted of 30,000 yds. of swimming, 410 miles cycling and 75 miles running. His daily routine consisted of a morning run, breakfast, relax, bike, lunch, nap, swim, eat, sleep. Day in and day out.
"The lifestyle leads to selfishness more than anything, and the wear and tear on your mind is worse than the wear and tear on your body," he says.
As a result of his success, the International Training Center in San Diego
invited Clark to join a select group of athletes at the center. But the year in San Diego also meant a year of sacrificing his relationship with his wife, Ursula, and being away from his roots in the Midwest.
in the university. Ursula and Clark met in 1984. She knew him through mutual friends he dated during high school.
She remembers her friends that had dated Clark saying he loved his bike more than he loved them.
That hasn't been the case with Clark and Ursula.
She never knew Clark when he wasn't training and devoting the majority of his time to triathlons.
"If he had picked up triathlons in the middle of our marriage it would have ended in divorce," she says. "But I don't know him any different."
Clark made the decision to devote himself to triathlon and to a marriage at virtually the same time. He says marriage helped bring stability to a life that can get very hectic.
"Marriage has brought me a lot of stability because I am no longer being pressured from 4,000 different sources," he says.
Now, triathletes have learned better and more efficient methods of training and the long hours he once put into training are over.
"My training now is minimal, but smart," Clark says. "To compete at the elite level now, it's not a question of how much you do, but how smart you do it."
"I use my body as a laboratory," he said. "It's important to know your body and to find out what is good and bad for you."
Campbell now puts in 12,000 to 20,000 yds. of swimming, 5-8 hrs. of cycling and 3-5 hrs. of running per week.
The sport too has slowed down. Although participation in triathlons
is still strong, the prize money for the top professionals has been cut drastically. Races that used to pay $15,000 through the top seven finishes now pay $5,000. Only the top two finishers at a given race can break even on travel and lodging expenses for that race. This has caused top triathletes, including Campbell, to pursue other avenues for sources of income.
For Clark, the obvious answer was coaching.
7:30 p.m. Time for the change from athlete to coach. Twelve members of the KU triathlon and swim club are preparing for their workout. The club's athletes are just a few of the many people Clark has been coachi-
In 1898 Campbell began his own coaching business, Sci/Tri. He had been turned on to coaching during his year in San Diego and it was a nice way to supplement his income.
In 1989 he had eight clients. Now he have 47 clients in 11 states and spends 12-15 hours a week designing personalized training schedules for athletes.
"Clark has made training a lot more fun," says Sean Roland, president of the KU triathlon club. "Because he is a pro you would think he would only be interested in people that are good. But he is interested in everyone. Good or bad. He wants to make everyone better."
Clark says he enjoys working with athletes from a coaching standpoint
more warmth than acting, he says. Campbell says that his coaching also has been a good stabilizing force for him.
"I like to race, but coaching is much more rewarding than racing." he says.
"Coaching has taken away the selfishness of triathlon because I don't have to dwell on myself," he says. "I can see the success from my athletes. It means more to me than doing well myself because I know I had a hand in it."
Clark has also immersed himself in his studies. He is taking 18 hours of classes this semester and will graduate with a degree in exercise science in December.
But he still enjoys toeing the startline at triathlons around the country. Saturday he will attempt to give the University its first National Championship in the sport of triathlon. Asa full time student Clark is allowed to represent KU at the National Collegiate Championships at Lake San Antonio, California. The race will be the first national collegiate triathlon championship.
"This will be my first and biggest race of the spring," he says. "I'm really confident that I can win the championship."
Nine p. m. The day is winding down and Clark and Ursula have some time to spend together. Finally.
"We still hardly see each other," Ursula saves.
Clark usually hits the bed early, but only if he has finished his daily training and tasks. He's been a professional triathlete for eight years and the routine has stayed virtually the same.
"I've been doing this so long I don't really know any different," he says.
For all the sacrifice, Campbell has nothing but appreciation for the sport.
"I've seen things I've never seen, experienced things that I’ve never experienced," he says. "I'm thankful for what triathlon has given me."
He does have one small regret.
10 p.m. The head hits the pillow and it won't be long before a deep slumber will follow. It is a well-earned rest. After all, another day will begin at 5 a.m.
"I miss being able to eat a Johnny's burger or a Joe's doughnut," he says. "But after eating one, I'm glad I don't eat them every."
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