Member Spotlight: Ben Clerkin
Ben Clerkin joined PPTC in 2019 after moving to Brooklyn from the UK in order to meet new people and get involved in club training groups and activities. Ben is currently enjoys training for and running the marathon and has reflected on how the pandemic has changed his running habits.
How did you get into running?
Ben before running his 3:12 marathon in Manhattan this February.
Running for me had always been an antidote to sitting at a desk all day. Physically and mentally necessary. Essentially, it’s stopped me turning into a rather dour hunchback. When I can’t run I do a few more weights and we’ve just got the obligatory Park Slope Peloton which I can see becoming a new addiction.
Why did you join PPTC?
I joined the club in September 2019, after we moved here from the UK, to meet new people and get involved in some of the cool activities like the ultra group and the speed sessions.
What is your favorite club event/activity?
Both my favourite and most disliked activity is coach Tony’s speed sessions. Vomit-inducingly brutal, super competitive and great at boosting fitness fast. Harry’s Handicap - a fast loop of Prospect Park - is good fun too.
What distance do you most enjoy about running/racing? Why?
The distance I’m focussed on at the moment is the marathon. I trained for Rock the Ridge 50 miler twice last year - thanks for the training plans coach Matt! It was cancelled both times. So I decided to run my own marathon. I trained since last October and ran it in Manhattan in February in 3:12. Which is really fast for me. And I’ve just heard I’ve got a place in the London marathon in October - so that’s the date we need to have Covid beaten by please.
Has the pandemic changed how you run/race at all? Why?
The pandemic has changed the way I train because it’s increased the opportunities to do so and also incentivised it - which is another way of saying I can’t do interesting things with friends anymore and I desperately need to leave the apartment to escape the kids.
What is your favorite [running] memory with the club?
My favourite memory of the club was the first group run I went on. We went over the Brooklyn Bridge, which was spectacular, and I met some really great PPTCers!
PPTC is a diverse and supportive team. We want to celebrate the diversity of our club and membership. We welcome and encourage everyone to share their stories with us.
Questions & intro by: Alison Kotch (she/her)
Text & photos by: Ben Clerkin (he/him)
Edited by: Alison Kotch (she/her)
Produced by: Rachael DePalma (she/her)