Davila Credits Local Trails, Coaches With Marathon Success

The next time you jog on the or Clinton River trails, you might pass one of the fastest women in the world.

OK, so maybe you won't pass her. She might pass you, though.

Desiree Davila, who trains with the Rochester Hills-based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, recently finished second in the Boston Marathon, posting the fastest time ever (2:22:38) by an American runner. 

Davila trains around Rochester, running the trails or around with her teammates. The Hansons-Brooks Distance Project is an Olympic development program that aims to provide an environment for successful post-collegiate athletes to continue their career as professional runners. The project owns three houses in the Rochester area, allowing team members to focus on their training.

Davila is a natural fit for the team. Her college years were spent racing at Arizona State University, where she was an All-American in 2003 and made the All-Pac-10 Conference first team in 2004.

Davila, 27, has had many great successes during her running career, but her biography on the project’s site reveals a more personal, artistic side.

Her hidden talents? "Breaking hearts and breathing fire," she answers.

Her racing superstition? "Always wearing blue or black socks."

Her favorite race? "The upcoming one."

Davila credits much of her success to her team and their role as a support system. “Teammates help to get you out the door every day,” Davila said.

She said the whole team goes through ups and downs, and it’s comforting to have teammates who can say, “Hey, I’ve been there before.”

Brothers Keith and Kevin Hanson are co-owners of the four Hansons Running Shops in Metro Detroit and coaches for the team.

“I don’t think I would still be running if it weren’t for the team and the support of Kevin and Keith,” Davila said.

Kevin Hanson alluded to how well Davila responds to pressure situations, including her success in races wearing a USA uniform. “She has never put the USA uniform on without running a personal best,” Hanson said. “Sometimes pressure freezes people, but for her it tends to be the opposite. I wouldn’t say that’s always true in every athlete.”

Davila's recent success in the Boston Marathon was a great step forward in her career and a valuable learning experience. Although she’s “very aware” she didn’t win the race, Davila was able to joke about her second-place finish being easy and that winning was the tough part.

When asked how she feels about her recent celebrity status, she said: “I’ll take it for the time being, but I think it will be short-lived and it will go back to being normal.”