Philip Clark

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Philip Clark
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Philip Clark, Philadelphia, The Training Station & Run
Personal information
Birth name Philip Clifon Clark
Nationality American
Born (1972-09-05)September 5, 1972
Philadelphia, PA
Alma mater Yale University
Occupation Track and Field coach; Athletic Footwear Specialist
Spouse(s) Shakirra Clark, Married: Novemeber 8th 2003
Website [1]
Sport
Sport Running

Philip "Phil" Clark (September 5, 1972) is a prominent Philadelphian, most well known as a certified track and field coach, athletic footwear professional, and founder of The Training Station & Run[1]. His gym and sneaker fitting facility was named "Best of Philly" by Philadelphia Magazine for both its fitness facilities and its comprehensive gait analysis and in-house sneaker sales [2][3]. Clark attended Yale University, where he excelled in track [4]. After graduation, Clark was coached by Dan Pfaff to prepare for the Olympics. While training, Clark became involved in community and social activism, through publications, speaking engagements, and private non-profit work. [5]

Early life[edit]

Philip Clark was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised by his mother, Velma Clark.[5]

Clark attended St. James High School where he excelled in mathematics, competed on the Hi-Q Team, graduated top ten in his class, and ranked top ten in Pennsylvania in trackCite error: There are <ref> tags on this page without content in them (see the help page)..

Clark was admitted to Yale University where he became active in the community. Clark proposed and managed Yale's first digital recording studio, Karats Recording Studio.[6] As a star member of Yale's track team, Clark set collegiate records, that remain recognized as of 2013Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name (see the help page).. Clark graduated from Yale in 1994 with a degree in Economics.

Olympic Training and Professional Coaching[edit]

Upon graduation, Clark was invited by Dan Pfaff, a "super coach", and a team of athletes, including Donovan Bailey, to train for the 1996 Olympics.[7] Though Clark began his career as a cross-country runner, he soon became a sprinter, jumper, and ended as a middle-distance runner. Clark's training partner, Bailey, was the Men's 1996 Olympic Champion. [8][9]

Clark continued to train for the Olympic games, whilst amassing knowledge in the sport from the highest caliber coaches, trainers, doctors, scientists, and related professionals -- and became a USATF certified coach.[10] Clark coached track and field at Widener University, then moved into the private sector to provide personal coaching to aspiring Olympians, as well as personal training. [11]

Business Interests[edit]

Author[edit]

Clark's entrepreneurial ventures focused on fitness with his first self-published work-out manuals. Though Clark's manuals sold-out, Clark, focused his attention on training.[12]

The Training Station and Run Shoe Store[edit]

Clark's athletic prowess caught the eye of, Bart Blattstein, a prominent Philadelphia developer and CEO of Tower Investments Inc. In 2008, Blattstein, approached Clark to operate a gym in his new mixed development, The Piazza at Schmidt's, in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. Clark agreed. Clark began a plan to open a boutique gym, open to the public, with Olympic-caliber equipment.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). Clark examined the market and determined that a retail shoe store with state-of-the-art equipment for professional-caliber gait-analysis would allow him the opportunity to pre-sell memberships. Run Shoe Store opened to the public in February 2009.[13] The response was so overwhelming that initial plans to close Run Shoe Store were abandoned and Run Shoe Store continued. Years later, gyms around the country followed this trend. [14]

Run Shoe Store[edit]

Customers of Run Shoe Store range from professional athletes to the elderly and injured.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). [15] [16] Clark has his eyes eyes set on designing and manufacturing running sneakers to fit the specific needs of individual runners.[17]

Social Advocacy and Community Presence[edit]

Clark has become a prominent figure in the Philadelphia community with an emphasis on social equality, education, and health.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). While studying at Yale, Clark became increasingly interested in social equality. After an argument with a roommate, Clark told the Yale Daily News that he enjoys "[being challenged] to define my own beliefs against a whole bunch of criticisms and questions. That's a good thing"[18]. After being exposed to a leader of the Yale's Black Student Alliance.[19] Around 2000, Clark, a member of the AFSC, became particularly interested in the JROTC. In 2001 he authored an economic review of the JROTC to find that presents an analysis of hidden costs to school districts considering hosting JROTC while comparing the cost-effectiveness of JROTC to non-military educational programs.[20] Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).. Phil continues his work with youth in an effort against violence with the motto: "The concept of 'service' should not be defined only as someone who carries a weapon."[21]

As of Fall 2013, Clark plans to introduce a scholarship fund for underprivileged Philadelphia youth. He is also introducing a mentorship program based around running in an effort to keep youth healthy.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Philadelphia Magazine, February, 2011 by Jenna Bergen, p 28.
  2. ^ http://www.phillymag.com/best-of-philly/the-training-station/
  3. ^ http://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2012/08/28/fit-philly-gyms-kind-gym-goer/
  4. ^ http://yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-track/2012-13/files/All-Time_Indoor_Top_15.pdf
  5. ^ a b http://www.amazon.com/Trading-Books-Soldiers-True-JROTC/dp/B000JF0RX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384636726&sr=1-1
  6. ^ O'Rourke, Meghan (1994-04-06). "Morse College Constructs Studio in Basement". Yale News (New Haven, CT: Yale University). Retrieved 2013-11-115. 
  7. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/15/london-2012-athletes-dan-pfaff
  8. ^ http://clubsolutionsmagazine.com/2012/12/17690/
  9. ^ http://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2011/09/07/running-qa/
  10. ^ http://www.usatf.org/Resources-for---/Coaches/Coaches-Registry/Coaches-Registry.aspx
  11. ^ http://digitalwolfgram.widener.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15139coll3/id/632/rec/11
  12. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Workouts-Football-Clarks-Systems/dp/B000MLDACC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384934978&sr=1-1
  13. ^ http://clubsolutionsmagazine.com/2012/11/training-at-the-olympic-level/
  14. ^ http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-02-29/upscale-gyms-are-places-to-shop-not-just-sweat
  15. ^ http://articles.philly.com/2011-03-14/news/28688596_1_shoes-podiatrists-piazza
  16. ^ http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/05/06/expert-foot-pain-from-running-usually-comes-from-wearing-the-wrong-shoe-size/
  17. ^ http://www.phillytrainingstation.com
  18. ^ Karp, David (1992-11-05). "Liberal and Conservative Students Spar over Politics". Yale Daily News no. 44 (New Haven, CT.: Yale University). Retrieved 2013-11-115. 
  19. ^ Cooperman, Jackie (1992-09-02). "Sympathy for the Benno". Yale Daily News (New Haven, CT.: Yale University). Retrieved 2013-11-115. 
  20. ^ http://www.peaceworkmagazine.org/pwork/0410/041021.htm
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference Quakers_in_Civil_Rights was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ http://www.phillytrainingstation.com/#!community/c1bvt

External links[edit]

http://www.phillytrainingstation.com

Category:American track and field coaches Category:American long-distance runners Category:National Distance Running Hall of Fame inductees Category:1911 births Category:Yale University alumni Category:Yale Bulldogs track and field athletes Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Businesspeople from Pennsylvania