Getting Back Into It

By Chris Fischer
Posted 1/15/25

How are your new year’s resolutions coming along? Redfield resident Jacob Clark has set a big goal for himself. He – along with his stepdad – will compete in the Honolulu, HI …

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Getting Back Into It

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How are your new year’s resolutions coming along? Redfield resident Jacob Clark has set a big goal for himself. He – along with his stepdad – will compete in the Honolulu, HI Marathon next December. Clark has already begun training, mostly at the gym for now.
Clark explained that he used to be more active, but with work and personal life events such a, being active got put on the back burner. Clark had been thinking about doing a marathon, but only recently went ahead and signed up for the Honolulu one. He said “I am kind of using the as a getting-back-to-it thing. I used to really like to do it.” He hadn’t done a marathon, but had been active in track.
The Honolulu Marathon will provide unique scenery. Clark said “It starts in the city of Honolulu, then goes up and around Diamond Head, which is an old inactive volcano crater. You kind of loop around that.” The marathon’s website states that the 26.1 mile race also goes through Kahala, Waikiki, and Hawaii Kai, ending in Kapiolani Park. The marathon allows everyone to finish “No time limit – Aloha spirit” is on the site.

The race on Dec. 14th will be part of Clark’s 3rd visit to Hawaii. He explained that it will be winter then, and potentially a little wet. The race will take place on different terrain. Clark said that he has some good running shoes, but that it will still be important for him to train on different surfaces. For now, running is done on a treadmill. Another part of preparing is strength training. “That’s where you’re going to build your endurance and stamina.” he said. Nutrition is another concern. Clark said that when he’d been more into fitness in the past he’d have more leaner meats, and fruits and vegetables. For the race itself, carbohydrates would be needed.
Clark said “The things I’ve been reading say that you should spend at least 20 weeks training.” Starting now gives him extra time. He said that one thing he’s looking forward to is “To be able to push myself toward a goal.” He said that he used to enjoy setting and meeting goals in fitness. He hopes to be able to do this with completion time goals in his running. He wants to “take all of that training that I’ve done and see how well it ends there at the marathon.”
He’s hoping to place in the 2-4 hour window. He thought that the 4-6 hour window was about the average time. Clark said that not a lot of people know about his plan to run the marathon. One reason he’s put it out there is accountability. Now people will have heard about it, and may ask him how things are coming along. “This is the first time I’ve ever done this, so it’s all going to be a new experience. But I really do think that, doing this, it would have to be where I’m more accountable to what I do. Because people are going to know.” he said.
Clark has been doing researching, including reading about other people’s experiences. Another thing to consider is rest. Clark stated that it may be difficult to stop, but that he’s gotten better at resting, just from working 2 jobs. But rest will be part of the plan.
He will go to Hawaii with family. He stated that he has had a good job with the state for 5 years. Clark said that he likes helping people. He may eventually pursue other things, but also feels that his current work is something that he could stick with.
Clark sees running a marathon as a “go big or go home” situation. He said that he is looking forward to “seeing if I’m able to accomplish that.”