‘Bachelorette’ Star Zac Clark on How Running Marathons Supports His Sobriety
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‘Bachelorette’ Star Zac Clark on How Running Marathons Supports His Sobriety
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‘Bachelorette’ Star Zac Clark on How Running Marathons Supports His Sobriety

Zac Clark Connects the Dots Between Exercising and Being Sober

In 2021, Zac Clark crossed a slew of milestones: he celebrated 10 years of sobriety, opened the third location of his addiction treatment center Release Recovery, forged a pivotal partnership with Reebok, and ran his eighth marathon. One might wonder how he juggles it all without slipping back into old habits, but for Clark, these efforts seem to be interconnected. Staying active helps him stay sober, which in turn allows him to be a more supportive role model for those still struggling with addiction.

Clark is nothing if not an open book. During his time on a little reality dating show The Bachelorette, fans applauded him for candidly sharing his experience with both addiction and recovery. And while the stigma around addiction still remains, Clark shows no signs of ceasing his efforts to smash it. In a world where addiction is unfortunately still often associated with shame, Clark wears his sobriety proudly like a war medal or badge of honor.

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Below, Clark shares with AskMen why running has played such a pivotal role in his sobriety, what his Reebok partnership means, and how he’s taking care of himself physically, mentally, and emotionally during a worldwide pandemic.

On Why He Runs

Clark participates in a wide variety of different kinds of physical activities, but running has become his go-to for good reason.

“Running kind of found me,” he tells AskMen. “10 plus years ago, I was in rehab and I had put on a bunch of weight. So I started walking, just like 15 minutes out and back. Then I slowly started jogging. And I just found it to be an unbelievably helpful tool. It’s meditative — it gives me the ability to reflect on my day, my week, my year, and some of my best business ideas come to me when I'm running.”

According to Clark, the so-called “runner’s high” is very real. He claims it makes him feel “invincible,” like anything is possible. He also notes that running has become a convenient skill he’s able to use anywhere, which is helpful when traveling a lot.

On Training Before and After Marathons

When he’s not training for a marathon, Clark sticks to powerlifting four days a week. But even when he is gearing up for a big race, Clark still makes it a point to prioritize strength training. He says he mixes 30–45 minute cardio sessions with resistance training with a focus on lower-body moves like squats and deadlifts throughout the week. On Sundays, he’ll do a long run to help him build endurance.

And when he’s on the road, Clark finds ways to stay in shape.

“If I'm landing in a new city — like for example, this past weekend I was, I was down in Tampa watching the Eagles play — the first thing I do after I get to the hotel is go for a run because I  get to explore the surrounding area.”

But above all, he’s learned not to beat himself up and focus on the things he can control while traveling, like maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough sleep. 

“Working out is just as much of a mental health tool for me as it is a physical health tool,” he adds. “So even if I get 20 minutes on the treadmill, that's better than nothing.”

On Why He Chose to Partner With Reebok

“I've been pretty particular in identifying the brands and organizations that I want to work with,” says Clark. “ I grew up right outside of Philadelphia. And so, as a kid, I wore Reebok shoes on the basketball court. Allen Iverson’s one of my favorite players of all time, and he wore Reebok.”

Clark says he was introduced to their running shoes about a year ago, and given his personal ties to the iconic brand, he couldn’t say no to the opportunity.

zac clark running in floatride reebok shoes
Reebok

“Reebok very much speaks to the everyday runner just as much as the professional runner," he notes. "I was already on board when I got into marathon training last year. The Floatride Energy 3 — the shoe that I was able to run both London and New York in — has been just an unbelievable asset to my training. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look back.”

RELATED: Best Running Shoes

Clark says he noticed his recovery times are shorter since he began wearing the Floatrides, and moreover, his feet aren’t getting covered in blistered after long runs.

“I feel supported, and they don't look bad either,” he adds with a laugh.

On Expanding Release Recovery

Clark co-founded Release Recovery with social worker Justin Gurland in 2017. The program is aimed at sober people post-rehab who are searching for a little extra support as they transition back into real life. Clark quickly realized, however, that he wanted to expand their reach.

“It was around 2019, and we had just taken another phone call about a family that couldn't afford our services,” he says. “We were really at this crossroads of not being able to get their loved one help. And I said, ‘we need to do something about this.’”

That led he and Gurland to launch their nonprofit, Release Recovery Foundation, which provides scholarships for people to participate in treatment programs. And in an unexpected turn of events, being brought into this bright reality spotlight with his casting to be on the 16th season of The Bachelorette, he suddenly had a new platform for his mission.

“This past year, we raised over a million dollars,” he tells AskMen. “In the New York City marathon road alone, we raised $420,000. It was unbelievable.”

On Protecting His Mental Health During the Pandemic

Clark says Release Recovery received a lot of calls from people struggling with loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, especially during unprecedented lockdowns. For him, staying active has been essential, as has meditation and getting adequate sleep.

“If I'm having a bad, bad day, which I have plenty of those, I’ll get outside and run and, and clear the mind,” he tells AskMen. 

There’s a growing body of scientific evidence for the benefits Clark has experienced. In fact, a small 2010 study found that many people who recovered from addiction were able to use exercise as a means to distract them from cravings for various substances. Other research has found that people who regularly exercise are less likely to use and abuse drugs.

Beyond staying active, Clark says staying connected to people in his inner circle has been key, which is why he highly recommends that people call a friend or loved one and share when they’re feeling down.

Clark is also a strong proponent of therapy for self-care — in fact, he sees a therapist himself.

As for what drives him forward, he admits that he’s been moved by the impact of Release Recovery, and the unexpected joy of watching former addicts have their own families, reach success professionally, and ultimately go on to lead healthy and happy lives.

“I feel very blessed and grateful to have gotten sober,” adds Clark. “It's not something that I really agonize over anymore or think about. It's just a part of who I am. But I know that everything in my life has been a result of having that opportunity to change. So, being able to present that same opportunity to people on a daily basis is special. But the real gift is when those people come back years later and they’ve built this new life for themselves. That is really powerful.”

If you or someone you know is seeking help for an addiction, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

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