Before the 2011 CrossFit Games Open season, the CrossFit world was unacquainted with Brendan Clarke. His performances in the Open certainly made an impression. How could a kid who had hardly set foot inside a box be among the region’s best CrossFitters? Find out here.
"I have a drive to push myself even if I am just training by myself and I think you get that from training by yourself."
Photos by: Krista MartinWhat was your introduction to CrossFit?
I played rugby league for seven or eight years and my coach never had a strong approach to fitness, so I went looking for something to do on my own and stumbled across CrossFit. My fitness went through the roof for footy.
When did you start?
Seriously about six months before the Regionals last year.
When did you think it was going to be your sport?
Initially it was just to supplement my rugby league, but the more I did it, the more I got into it. After I stopped playing footy I just got into it more and more. I haven’t looked back.
What was your first CrossFit competition?
The November before the Open, I competed in the CrossFit Arena Games Day. Then the Open and the Regionals.
What was your first exposure to professional coaching?
After my performance at the Open last year, a couple of people got onto me; one of them was Chris Saliba from Coastal CrossFit. Chris offered for me to come down, and he helped me with a few things. That was the first taste of coaching that I got which was awesome. From there I went to the Regionals and met a few people.
Now you’re working with Rob Downton, how did that come about?
I don’t even really remember. At the Regionals my parents and I got on really well with the crew from CrossFit Gold Coast and I trained a few times with Jeremy [Austin] and ran into Rob at CrossFit Gold Coast.
Through that, I came across Rob’s Raw Strength and Conditioning program and that’s what I have been following since.
You live a couple of hours from the Gold Coast. How frequently are you traveling there for training?
To start with, I would come down once a month for two or three days, but since the Open started it has been every weekend.
What are you getting from having a regular coach now?
The programing Rob is doing is awesome. After two or three weeks I was feeling stronger and more confident in workouts. And after doing it for a while, my strength has gone through the roof. I am also getting some help from Jeremy on some of the technical stuff.
Coming from a background of training yourself, what were your weaknesses?
My real weakness was my strength. Compared to everyone else, my strength was nothing. The other weakness was managing rest.
Do you find that having competition during your training helps with the intensity?
Very helpful. Whenever I come down to train at Rob’s, his missus Jess Coglan and I compete. [Competing] against Jess, who is a top-level athlete, helps so much to push a bit more compared to when I am training at home. And that’s why I have been heading to the Gold Coast for the Open workouts, to have that bit of an extra push of competing against people.
Are you happy with your scores from the Open Workouts?
They could have been better. I would like to have a chance at doing them again. But I am trying to have the Games mentality of only having one crack at them. I made the decision to give each workout one shot so that I put everything into it and see how it goes. If you give yourself another chance you always have it in the back of your mind while you are doing the workout that you could have another go.
Do you have any expectations for this years regionals?
My goal this year is to make the third day. If they have a cut like they did last year I just want to make the third day. If I can get top ten then I will be over the moon, but my first goal is to make the last day. Then next year I’ll aim higher. Instead of aiming for top three after last years 28th it’s a progressive goal.
Having found CrossFit yourself and trained by yourself for the first part of your CrossFit career, are there advantages/disadvantages ?
Finding by yourself and training by yourself you have that drive in yourself to keep excelling at it. Training by yourself you have to have a mentality of putting the effort in you can’t rely on a coach or training partner to motivate you. I have a drive to push myself even if I am just training by myself and I think you get that from training by yourself.
Now having Rob’s programing there, I know that it works and it’s just up to me to put effort in.
Outside of CrossFit, what do you do with yourself?
I’m studying physiotherapy this year.
Do you see your career in CrossFit?
Yeah definitely, I’m going to be the next K-Starr. (He laughs).
