Ku qor sii wadida cutubkan - Don Clary wuxuu ku dhashay Anchorage, Alaska, wuxuuna ka qalin jabiyay East Anchorage High School 1975. Clary wuxuu guushiisii ugu horreysay ku guuleystay ciyaartoy yar yar (ka yar 20 sano) 1975 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Halkaasoo kaalintiisii shanaad uu ku qaaday da'yarta Mareykanka horyaalka kooxaha, oo ay weheliyaan Bobby Thomas, Roy Kissin, iyo Ralph Serna. Wuxuu aaday Jaamacadda Oregon wuxuuna u tartamay kooxda Oregon Ducks ee jaamacadda. Sanadkii 1978kii NCAA Qaybta I ee Ragga ee Tartanka Tartanka Dalka wuxuu galay kaalinta toddobaad wuxuuna ahaa kaalinta labaad ee darajooyinka kooxda oo ay weheliyaan saaxiibkii fasalka Alberto Salazar. Wuxuu ku orday orodka 3000-mitir ee Steeplechase ee 1978 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships wuxuuna gaadhay kaalinta toddobaad. Wuxuu ku guuleystay horyaalkiisii ugu horreeyay ee qaran sannadkaas, si kastaba ha noqotee, isagoo ku guuleystay hal saac oo orod ah.