Name: Dan Clemo

Sex: Male

Age (at the time of first BQ): 35

Height (at the time of first BQ):  6,3

Weight (at the time of first BQ): 185

At which marathon did you get your first BQ? Edmonton Marathon

Tell us a little about the race. Tagged as the friendly marathon, Edmonton lives up to its hype (or lack there of). While it is a summer marathon in August, the early start and flat course makes for an ideal race. The spectators are a little thin, but they are more prevalent on the back end of the race were you need them. The expo and post race events have significantly improved over the years making it a great overall time.

How long had you been running when you ran your first BQ? 4

Did you run in college or high school? No

What was your approximate lifetime mileage at the time of your first BQ? 7500km

How many miles did you run in the year before your first BQ? 3000km

Approximately how many races did you run in that year? Just the two A-Goal races. A half in february and the full in Aug. There were also a few B-Races throughout the year to keep things fun.

Did you follow a canned program? If so, which one? If not, can you give us an idea of what your training philosophy was? No, Focused on quality sessions while making my easy runs actually easy.

Did you run with a running club or utilize a coach? Yes

Did cross training play a role in your training? If so, how? Yes, I found my greatest gains were built with a simple weight training program that was focused exclusively on running related movements. I not only felt stronger overall, but I was able to stay relatively injury free. As a bigger runner and a previous football & basketball player, i have had bad knees for the better part of my life. The right weight training pretty much eliminated those pains allowing me to be more consistent and to push harder.

Did speed work play a role in your training? If so, how? Yes, I spent far more time doing longer intervals at higher speeds which made my race pace feel more relaxed. It also gave me the opportunity to develop getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Any other thoughts you would like to share with those of working towards a BQ? I am not a natural runner. Unlike the comments of those that simply picked up a pair of shoes and qualified in their first year, I had to work my but off. My marathon times year after year actually got worse. I was getting a bit frustrated but I took a step back and started to enjoy the process. I looked forward to the hard days as it was something new and challenging, and loved using the easy days to explore my city to enjoy the sights. Ultimately, I was able to shave off 35 minutes from my previous marathon giving me almost a 10 minute cushion for Boston. I cant wait for April!!!