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Indianapolis Star
This October, former
Colts tight end Dallas Clark will be running 26.2 miles, swimming 2.4 miles and
biking 112 miles, all in a single race.
It's an Ironman
Challenge, with a target goal in mind: He's looking to raise $2
million to split between
the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital and the University of Iowa Stead Family
Children's Hospital.
To get ready for such an undertaking, he'll run the 500 Festival
Mini Marathon on Saturday in Indianapolis. Back in the city where he played
nine NFL seasons, Clark will train for the ironman challenge and recruit as
many donors as he can.
"It's swim, run and bike. I feel like that's right up a
tight end's alley," Clark said. "I have to go block
the big, ugly defensive ends and then I have to go get open on the slow
linebackers and safeties."
Clark, 42, was the 24th
overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. The Colts took him out of Iowa to become the
chain-mover for an offense with Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison
and Reggie Wayne. Clark caught 427 passes and 46 touchdowns during his Colts
run, topping out with 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a
first-team All-Pro in 2009. He started two Super Bowls, including when the
Colts beat the Bears following the 2006 season.
Dallas
Clark played nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and started in two Super
Bowls. Matt Kryger
He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Colt in
2014, and he figured he'd have an easy retirement at that point. He went to
work on an organic farm in Iowa and raised three children.
But now, a new challenge is calling him. He wanted to chase an
aggressive athletic goal again, and now he's found a way to do so and to give
back to two causes that have always mattered to him with his alma mater and
with Manning's charity.
Clark will compete in
October at the Ironman world championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. His
goal is to finish the race in less than 12 hours.
"My goal is constantly changing because I'm doing stuff
right now that I've never done before," Clark said. "It's crazy
to me to go out and run for 45 minutes before I start getting tired. Even in my
best shape of football, never could I do that. It's just a complete switch of
training."
He's not holding such lofty goals for this weekend's
half-marathon in Indianapolis, as the bigger goal is to spread the word and
raise donations. As of Thursday afternoon, he was up to $269 raised of the $2
million goal, so he has work to do this weekend.
Those interested in
contributing can visit his page on the Ironman Foundation
website.
He's excited for the adrenaline rush of competition again, but
he's also invested in the outcome.
"Kids with illnesses and kids in this world have a huge
place in my heart," he said.
Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins
at natkins@indystar.com. Follow
him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
