Donavon has been involved in the sport of triathlon as an athlete and community organizer for over a decade. His track record as both athlete and race director provide him with comprehensive racing experience from the beginner 5K athlete to Ironman. Donavon has completed 14 Ironmans and has both crewed and competed in Ultraman races. His racing repertoire also includes 10 half Ironman distance races; several ultra marathons, marathons and half marathons; and countless sprint triathlons. Donavon is currently a LifeSport coach and is working towards earning an Ironman legacy spot at the World Championships in Kona. Donavon is an Epic software analyst and Citrix Engineer at a local hospital and enjoys helping others through his technical trade in the medical field.

"After many years of running in races and participating in triathlons, I found myself wanting to help others who were striving to reach their own goals as runners or triathletes. I had learned so much from my own coaches, and I have a natural inclination to research anything I want to understand better. I started as a volunteer coach for the Arthritis Foundation, helping people train for and complete their first marathons in fun locations such as Anchorage, Alaska, and Dublin, Ireland. I then joined my coach’s team and helped coach runners and beginner triathletes under her supervision and tutelage. I soon struck out on my own and started working with a small group of athletes who had specific goals: a marathon, their first triathlon, a half or full ironman. My journey then led me to Fleet Feet Jackson where I had the honor and privilege of managing and coaching all of the store’s training programs. I also had the opportunity to coach ‘Girls on the Run’. I am not a hard data-driven coach. While I monitor the data, I focus on each athlete individually, try to meet them where they are, and develop coaching plans and strategies around their goals, lifestyle, and limitations. For me, it’s a collaborative approach. My joy comes from standing on the pool deck and watching an inexperienced swimmer find balance in the water; getting a late morning text from a first-time marathoner who can’t believe they just did 26.2 miles; and having last minute pre-race conversations about what to eat, what to wear, and how to just have fun."