Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Don Clary akaberekerwa muAnchorage, Alaska, uye akapedza kudzidza kuEast Anchorage High School muna 1975. Clary akabudirira kekutanga semutambi wechidiki (asingasviki makore makumi maviri) pa1975 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
uko kupedza kwake panzvimbo yechishanu kwakatora vaduku vokuAmerica kunzvimbo yeboka, pamwe chete naBobby Thomas, Roy Kissin, naRalph Serna. Akaenderera mberi kuenda kuYunivhesiti yeOregon ndokumhanyira timu yeOregon Ducks yekoreji. Pa1978 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Championships akaisa yechinomwe uye aive wechipiri muchikwata chechikwata padivi pemumwe wake Alberto Salazar. Akamhanya 3000-metre steeplechase pa1978 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships uye akasvika panzvimbo yechinomwe. Zvisinei, akahwina mukombe wake wokutanga wenyika gore iroro, achidaro munhangemutange yeawa imwe chete.