Teacher Clay Dawson shoots for rare running treble

Ipswich school teacher and marathon man Clay Dawson goes for a rare trifecta this weekend.

The 35-year-old art teacher from Rosewood State High School is aiming to win the Sunshine Coast Marathon on Sunday.

Clay is fresh off outright victory in the Brisbane Marathon (August 6), and the Gold Coast Marathon (July 2), where he won his age group and the Australian Masters title in a personal best time (2hrs 26mins).

The father-of-one has tried the three long distance events in seven weeks previously, but was not in this sort of running shape or form.

“It did not work out that well … I am a bit better prepared this year,” he said.

Some might say he is in the form of his life.

The win at Brisbane, only just behind his Gold Coast PB, has capped off a remarkable season, including his first victory at the Ipswich Mile Gift at the Ipswich Turf Club in May.

Clay is not afraid to mix it up. He gives everything a go, including the 10km at the recent Ipswich Park2Park, 5km parkruns on a Saturday morning, and even hiked 96km with his school team at the Kokoda Challenge in July, raising thousands of dollars for charity.

He is an all-round good guy, as humble as they come, respected in the school ground and in all running circles.

He graduated from overweight couch potato to one of Australia’s best. Clay once weighed in at 120kg, but has lost more than 50kg since: “I ran around the block and just kept on running and now I am doing marathons,” he said of his transformation.

The chances of winning at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday are high, but he typically plays them down.

“I’m aiming for survival,” he joked this week.

“Coach (legendary Ipswich running institution Peter Reeves) and I are using it as a test to see how the body handles it over an extended period of training and racing.”

That training includes 180kms a week while peaking for his pet distance 42.195km event.

Clay attributes his success to his coach, his intraining running club and sponsor, Rosewood school teaching colleagues and the students, and of course his wife Michelle and two-year-old son Jasper.

“I am very fortunate to be surrounded by all these people. My wife has been amazing, taking stock of everything while I go off running … it can be a very selfish pursuit,” he said.

They plan to have another child one day, but until then he will keep chasing podium finishes.

“I will continue running for as long as my legs hang on,” he said.

Clay, like every elite runner, would love to wear the green and gold at a major championship. But he acknowledges that is a tough ask.

The Australians who competed in the men’s marathon at the World Championships in London last week ran between 2hrs 21mins and 2hrs 25mins – not much better than Clay’s best. However, they had to run under 2hrs 17mins simply to qualify for the team.

“I am a little way off that. But, having said that, at the start of the year I thought going under 2hrs 30mins was a pipe dream. So, who knows … I will just keep trying my hardest,” he said.

The Sunshine Coast Marathon starts at Alexandra Heads Surf Club at 6am on Sunday, August 20.

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