A Michigan woman will be celebrating her defeat of breast cancer in a way runners can truly appreciate — with a world-class long run. And, she’ll be running through our stomping grounds.
Davina McNaney has been training for the journey of a lifetime. On June 19, 2015 she will depart from her home in Pinckney, Michigan on a 470 mile solo run to her childhood hometown of Sodus Point, New York. She will pound the pavement 33 miles each day, for a total of 14 days, in order to accomplish this feat.
In 2012, Davina (age 40, married and mother of two girls) was diagnosed with breast cancer following her first mammogram. She took immediate action to fight the ailment, resulting in a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. She has been cancer free ever since, and credits her survival to early detection and the developments in cancer research. Her run was designed to raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and her hope is to make the path of other breast cancer sufferers as successful as hers was. She has already raised over $4,500 for the cause.
Davina is dedicated to her training. She rises at 5:30 AM daily to run, logging 30-80 miles per week. She’s always been athletic, but has increasingly become an avid runner over the past 12 years. She has learned to use her running as a pathway towards helping and motivating others. Her 1st marathon in Buffalo, NY was run to support The American Stroke Association in honor of her grandmother. On her 40th birthday, she ran 40 miles and raised over $4,000 for Gleaners Food Bank. For the last 3 years, she was the Race Director for The Run for the GOLD 5K & Kids Run held in downtown Pinckney, bringing in thousands of dollars each year to support children within the community. She never claims to be the fastest runner out there but strives to be one of the most dedicated and driven. She inspires people with her running, her determination and her story.
A friend forwarded me that press release (above) and, normally, I’d just post it and leave it at that, but after reading it, I thought…I have to know more. So, I emailed Davina who graciously answered all my questions. I found her to be a very inspiring athlete and I think you will, too.
How old are you now? 42
How old are your daughters? Sasha-7, Nadja-4
Are you married/significant other? Married for 10 years to Steve who is also from Sodus Point where my run will end.
Do you work outside the home? I’ve been a stay at home mom for 7 years since Sasha was born. I have a Master’s in School Psychology & worked in children’s mental heath for 15 years before my girls arrived.
You were diagnosed after your first mammogram at 40? That must’ve been shocking…and terrifying. Did they know right away that something was wrong? I was shocked and went for a 2nd opinion at University of Michigan, where they confirmed DCIS Breast Cancer.
What was your first thought when you found out you had breast cancer? Disbelief because I have always been a health conscious person. 3 months prior, I ran a 40 mile trail race to raise money for the local food bank so I was in great shape. This diagnosis did not fit the “definition” I had for myself.
What was the suggested treatment? My doctors were amazing and because of my young age they gave me many options. They wanted me to make the decision that was right for my age, lifestyle & desired long-term outcome. I had the choice of 35 radiation treatments with a lumpectomy, a lumpectomy alone, a single mastectomy or a double. I had no desire to be conservative with my treatment choice because I never wanted to revisit a cancer diagnosis again. Having nursed both my children, my breast were no longer any use to me. They served their purpose and now they had betrayed me so I was more than happy to get rid of them. Undergoing a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery allowed me to avoid radiation. I am so thankful and lucky they found the cancer so early that chemotherapy was not necessary. Many women are not as fortunate as me.
How long have you been cancer free? 2 years
What do you want people to know about breast cancer? That if it’s caught early, the impact can be minimized. The more research there is, the less people have to die from breast cancer.
What do you hope to accomplish with this 470-mile run? 1.) Lots of donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 2.) Inspire people to set goals they believe in, dream big & help others while they’re at it. 3.) Display a positive example for my daughters that you never need to set limits on yourself & moms are super strong. 4.) Celebrate my health by supporting those more severely impacted by breast cancer.
What made you think of this, i.e. want to do it? I love running and have previously used it as a mode of raising funds for charitable causes. I wanted to celebrate big so why not do a multi-day journey run & really go big?! The idea popped into my head when I woke up one May morning in 2014. I tried to ignore it but the desire never left me.
What solidified your decision to do it? I’d been thinking about it for about a month, reading information and weighing the feasibility of such a huge undertaking so the idea was at the forefront of my consciousness. I was talking to a neighbor and the words “I’m going to run to New York” just rolled off my tongue. I promptly slapped my hand over my mouth but the cat was out of the bag. I knew I was doing it. It still took me another month to convince my husband though.
Thirty-three miles a day is more than a marathon a day. How have you been training for this? Lots of miles logged, strength training & flexibility. In the last 9 days, I ran 3 marathons & a 50K (31 miles), where 2 of the runs were on very rugged/challenging trails. I run at 5:30 in the morning and do gym sessions when both daughters are in school so I take less time away from my family. I log between 30 & 80 miles per week.
Did you, too, have a harsh winter? How did that impact your training? My treadmill & I are really good friends.
Can your body handle 33 miles a day for two weeks? We shall see. I’ve talked to other ultra runners who have completed journey runs. Gary Allan (ran from Maine to the Super Bowl during the Polar Vortex last year, 23 time Boston Marathon competitor) had to go to the hospital for IV fluids midway through his run. Lisa Smith-Batchen (completed Badwater x4) unknowingly suffered a broken foot & walked the last 4 days of her run. I am not naive in thinking that I’m invincible and nothing could possibly happen to me. Many of the people that I’ve spoken with are amazing runners with a long list of accomplishments and journey runs are challenging for them. I am a regular person (homemaker, average runner) who is on a personal journey to help others. I am not in a race, speed is of no concern. Finishing safely in 14 days is.
What problems do you anticipate? Recovering for the next days run, staying hydrated, sufficient foot care, taking a wrong turn on the route, stomach issues, getting behind schedule, etc. Any number of things could go wrong but I often review such scenarios in my head in an attempt to better prepare myself. My back to back (B2B) long runs help me work some of these issues out, which is helpful.
Will you have a support crew…will people follow you? Steve, my husband, is my support crew. He’ll have the crew van and a bike to offer me support while running. I also have a sponsor, Vincent Antunez (owner of Trail Toes Anti-Friction and Body Products), who is an former Army Paramedic and ultra runner in my corner. He is always available for tips & suggestions.
Will others run with you at all? I have some people who are interested in starting out with me, a few along the way & many who are interested in running the last few miles with me. My 25th Sodus Central High School Class Reunion is on July 4th, the day after I arrive in town. Many of my classmates plan to meet me at the HS and run the last 6 miles with me. We also plan to notify running clubs along the route in hopes that they’ll run a few miles with me too. Our exact route with hotel stops will go on my website in a few weeks. We are still trying to secure a hotel sponsor.
What do your daughters/family think of this idea? They think I’m crazy but they are all supportive. My daughters love asking me questions about running. They continually tell strangers in public, “My mom’s running to NY!” so they like to brag about me, which is very cute.
What are you most looking forward to on this journey? Not worrying about anything but putting one foot in front of the other. I can be very focused, rather than multitasking & taking
care of all my usual responsibilities.
How are you preparing for it in other ways than running…are you, like, stockpiling granola bars & GU, etc.? Definitely gathering supplies, making t-shirts with logos/sponsors, making lists of supplies, reading books & web info, marketing the run, thinking of how to organize supplies, looking at roads & routes on Google maps.
What do you hope to accomplish through this feat? Showing others that anything is possible & you can determine how to make a positive impact based on your own skill set.
Do you know the route you’re running? In general, yes. Definitely looking for a hotel sponsor, hoping for Best Western because their coverage is really good on the route.
When will you be in the Erie area? Where can people cheer you on? It looks like it should be June 26th & June 27th. Plan to start runs at 7am. The exact roads are still TBD but W. Lake Rd., W 6th St, Rt 5 are on the list right now. Also, an interesting twist, June 26th is my older daughter’s 8th birthday & June 27th is my nephew’s high school graduation from Sodus, neither of which I would even consider missing. Therefore, I will run my miles on the 26th then drive to Sodus Point to celebrate with my daughter. The next morning, I will go to graduation then drive back to Erie to run my miles for that day. It won’t be easy but my family definitely comes first.
Exactly what kind of sponsorship are you looking for? (hotel rooms, food, etc.?) Definitely a hotel sponsor! We’ve contacted several & have not yet had luck. I’m also looking for a dealership that might be interested in sponsoring/providing the crew van with their name on it. That’s really good exposure! I have 10 sponsors right now that have provided services, products & monetary support towards the run.
Favorite running shoe? Brooks, Mizuno, Newton
Average pace? Like I said, I’m an average runner. 5k-7:55 min, ½ marathon-9:05, marathon-10:40, 50K-13:00
What pace do you plan to do this 470-mile journey in? I’ll be making pit stops for food, hydration & footwear changes. I have no intention to worry about pace. I think that would be pressure that is unnecessary. I didn’t wear my Garmin during Sunday’s 5oK Trail Race because I just wanted to run by feel and effort. It was a smart move.
What’s are your PRs? 5K-24:42, ½-1:59, full-4:40. Sometimes I feel like I should focus on just getting faster times because that’s what makes a great runner. But I always circle back to why I run. I run long distances for a purpose and the purpose is never bragging rights that I run fast. I respect those that are driven by crushing their PR but that doesn’t cut it for me. Plus, the world is made up of many different types of runners and only 1 of those runners is actually the fastest, everyone else is just slower. I never run at a pace that makes me want to vomit or just die, which some would say is wrong. I generally feel good when I run & enjoy my time.
Favorite marathon you’ve ever done? The Running Fit Pinckney Trail Marathon this past weekend. It is beautiful to run through the woods and along the lakes. You have to pay close attention to the technical, hilly, rocky and root filled trails.
Who inspires you? My children and my husband. They are my biggest cheerleaders.
Favorite post-run treat? A bacon cheeseburger & a beer
Want to support Davina
Various sponsors have come on board to support RunMI2NY by offering services, product donations and monetary support. Davina’s sponsors include: Running Fit, Killer Fitness, Krave Jerky, Trail Toes, Jennine’s Cake Balls, Atlas Home Improvement, Running Lab, Pinckney American Legion Post #419 and Hamburg Fitness. Davina looks forward to bringing in more sponsors; especially sponsors along her route through Ann Arbor, Toledo, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo and Rochester.
If you are interested in sponsoring Davina’s leg through Erie, visit www.RunMI2NY.com or email davinamcnaney@hotmail.com.
If you’re interested in running with Davina when she comes into town, contact me (zipdang22 at aol). I’m hoping we can get an Erie contingency to run with her on Saturday, June 27.
RunMI2NY website – www.runmi2ny.com
Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/runmi2ny