Running can be a hobby or just a way to stay fit, but for one Brookhavenite it is a way of life.

Dedrick Clark recently competed in the World Masters Athletic Championship in Lyon, France as part of the USA Masters Track and Field team and won a second place medal in the 4×100 meter relay. He ranked 14th in the world in the 100-meter and 20th in the 200-meter. He also posted All-American in the 200-meter.

His first time competing outside the country, Clark said the opportunity was incredible.

“The French people were pretty nice contrary to what everyone says,” he said with a laugh.

He said because French food is low sodium and high quality, it wasn’t difficult to maintain his diet while traveling, but it was difficult to get on a good sleep schedule.

“They are seven hours ahead of us, and I had to deal with the altitude,” he said. “But that’s the growing pains of being a world competitor.”

To prepare for the competition, Clark did sprint training, strength training and plyometrics. He is a trainer at the King’s Daughters Medical Center Performance Center and said competing at this level is validation to his clients.

Clark has been competing in track and field for about 20 years, and he also served in the Marine Corps.

“The military was one way to represent the U.S., and this was another,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done it all in a nutshell.”

As for his motivation, Clark is determined to avoid a physical decline. He said many people sit down most of the day and start to have problems with the muscles and joints.

“I just don’t want to see myself going down that same road,” he said.

Clark said that he would certainly like to compete again and feels like he learned some new tricks from the experience to do even better next time.