Team Trellis is back at the 2023 Servus Calgary Marathon on Sunday, May 28. We are thrilled to continue our annual race tradition and want YOU to join us. You can help us reach our goal of $50,000 by joining our team and raising funds. Run alongside our CEO, board members, staff and long time supporters.

Meet our team captain and CEO Jeff Dyer

Jeff has been running marathons for decades. We spoke with Jeff about why he runs, his experiences as a runner and helpful insights for those who are thinking about participating for the first time.

Why did you start running?

I started running in my early 20’s, after summitting the shoulder of Mount Kidd with friends. I could barely keep up and felt like it was time to try to get myself back into shape so started out on the treadmill at the local gym, running as far as I could in 30 minutes. Sort of ballooned from there.

How many marathons have you completed?

Twenty-four marathons and four ultra marathons.

What was your best running experience?

I have had so many incredible experiences while running, from seeing wildlife on route (deer, beaver, coyotes, moose — no bears, thankfully) to running along the Bow River, through the foothills and in the mountains or along beaches and exploring new cities.

I’ve run races in New York, Boston, Hawaii, California, North Carolina, Germany and Italy and run in so many great places. My best experience ever was probably the first time I found out that I qualified for Boston with not a second to spare. I had completed the run and was lying on the ground, not sure if I’d made it and not having enough energy to care. As I laid in the grass, my wife told me that I had qualified, and it felt like all that effort was worth it.

What was your longest run and how did you do it?

The longest I’ve ever run was 55 kilometres in honour of my mom, who died suddenly of a stroke at the age of 55. I decided to run on my birthday, April 1, calling it the “Fools 55”, which I ran with a friend along with my brother and cousin who joined us for the last half. Running that year was a big part of my grieving process. In fact, running plays a big role in my mental health, allowing me time to breathe (literally), think, be quiet and work things out as I go.

What do you not like about running?

People calling it jogging. Kidding (sort of)! For me, it’s probably the late winter runs when the temperature turns for another cold snap, and I’ve just grown weary of the cold. Calgary is a beautiful city to run in, but winter can take a toll.

What is your favourite part of the Calgary Marathon?

Calgary organizes a great race, but my favourite part is probably the cheering section through East Village where the crowds grow. The noise shifts upward dramatically. When you run through this late in the race, it’s a warm welcome to tired legs.

I also love that this race offers people the opportunity to raise money for whatever cause is important to them. It’s a great way to pair one’s passion for running with their passion to make change in their community.

How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?

I set goals, I register in races, I meet up with friends for a run and my wife reminds me how much better I feel when I run. Seriously, I have never regretted choosing to go out for a run but I have often regretted the runs I choose not to do.

What advice would you give new runners?

Find a plan that matches your lifestyle and goal race, then stick with it at least 80 per cent. Then, try not to evaluate how you feel run by run. Rather, try week by week and even month by month. It takes time to see meaningful changes, and a change in a habit like running will not be linear.

So, have a plan, click off the runs each week and see how you feel along the way. And, be easy on yourself. Running is like almost anything worthwhile — an effort. Just put one foot in front of the other, and watch the world change around you as you go.

Run alongside Jeff at the Calgary Marathon, and join Team Trellis! There’s a distance for everyone!

• 1.2K Kids Race • 5KM Walk/Run • 10KM  • 21.1KM • 42.2KM • 50KM •