Remembering SupermanRemembering Superman
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Blu Robinson shares his first recorded conversation with the late coach David Clark, covering Clark’s journey from alcohol addiction to ultrarunning and sobriety. Their chat touches on identity, parenting, sport, food, and the all‑in commitment needed to change a life.
1:04:07•8 Feb 2021
Remembering Superman: David Clark on Sobriety, Ultras and Starting Over
Episode Overview
- Real change in recovery starts when a decision is immediately followed by concrete action, not just words or intentions.
- Viewing sobriety as a 100% commitment matters; as Clark puts it, 99% commitment is effectively zero.
- Running and endurance sport can mirror sobriety by teaching you to focus on the present moment rather than distant finish lines.
- Shifting from a victim mindset to asking "How can I?" helps people move from scarcity and self‑pity into creating a new life.
- Questioning old identities around money, food, and ego can open the door to unexpected growth, from plant‑based eating to writing and service.
“"If there's no action, there's no choice. You haven't committed to shit."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol and then chase 100‑mile races and cage fights on top of it? This Addict II Athlete bonus episode brings back the very first recorded conversation between host and therapist Blu Robinson and the late ultra runner and coach David Clark, shared as a tribute to a friend who left a huge mark on the recovery community.
You’ll hear Clark trace his shift from a 320‑pound, hard‑drinking businessman with “a bottle of scotch in my hand” on Christmas Eve to a sober ultramarathoner whose young son said he’d “turned into Superman.” That moment sparked his We Are Superman message: anyone can have one day that changes their whole life.
Clark talks candidly about wrapping his kids’ presents with electrical tape because he was too drunk to use normal wrapping paper, and how that still wasn’t his turning point.
He explains why real change only starts when “you’ll know because when you say it, it will be immediately followed by action.” The chat moves from his first 100‑mile race at Leadville and the brutal spirituality of Badwater, to becoming vegan, writing his book *Out There*, and questioning every identity he once hid behind. Throughout, he and Blu swap stories about rock bottom, ego, parenting, and why 99% commitment is really zero.
The humour is dry, the language is raw, and the honesty about relapse risk, self‑deception and starting again will ring true if you or someone you love is struggling with addiction. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “too far gone,” this conversation asks a simple, sharp question: what if you’re wrong about who you think you are, and today is your one Superman day?
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