Meet the 2024 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors!

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run selected four runners to be the 2024 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors Team. These individuals will spend the next few months telling the world all about their race experiences on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and their blogs. Our Race Ambassadors get free entry into the race, apparel from our race sponsors, and invites to all of our VIP events. We will be selecting CUCB 2025 Ambassadors after the 2024 race – applications will open in October 2024! 

Yasmin Boakye

Born during peak cherry blossom season and raised in the Maryland suburbs of DC, Yasmin is a runner, triathlete and newly minted RRCA run coach excited to take on her third Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile race in 2024. After running the Marine Corps Marathon with her dad at age 17, she put down her running shoes for an entire decade until the closed gyms during the COVID-19 pandemic brought her back to the pavement — and she hasn’t stopped moving since. Since 2019, she’s completed dozens of races from 5Ks and sprint triathlons all the way up to the half-Ironman distance and her first 50K, and she believes deeply that anyone can take the first step toward becoming an athlete with the right support, encouragement and resources. 

A passionate advocate for inclusivity on the course for racers of all sizes, paces and backgrounds, she’s committed to spreading joy and enthusiasm for racing no matter what you look like or where you fall in the pack. You’ll catch her smiling on course (even on hills) and training on Maryland’s beautiful trails through the winters with her equally smiley Samoyed, Saiorse McFloofy. Beyond running, you’ll find her exploring new places on bikes, volunteering with DC Bike Academy and Writers in Baltimore Schools, and consuming unfathomable amounts of caffeine in the East Coast’s coziest coffee shops. Now a proud Baltimore resident after a decade living in the Midwest and the Arabian Gulf, you can follow her adventures on Instagram at @yasmin.thee.amazing.

James Poch

James is a native New Yorker. His running journey started in 2018 when he had the bright idea of doing a marathon as a bucket list item. As a total newbie, he went from the couch to 26.2 miles in one year, and he completed the New York City Marathon in 2019. Originally he had planned to be one-and-done, but he got bitten by the running bug and a new goal became running all six Abbott World Major Marathons. He has run New York City (2019, 2021), Berlin (2021), Chicago (2022) and London (2023). With two majors remaining, he’s still hoping to get a bib to the Tokyo Marathon and will be chasing a Boston Qualifier time in Houston in January 2024.

After the marathon(s) he’ll be looking to tackle the 2024 CUCB Double Blossom!

James has been fortunate enough to run all over the country/world and in 2023 he got lucky and got a bib to the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile via the lottery. It ended up being one of his favorite races of the year! James currently lives in Queens, NY. He trains with and is co-captain of the @queensdistance runners. He can’t wait to share his training and journey to the 2024 CUCB weekend with everyone.

You can follow James on Instagram @l3eatyesterday and YouTube @l3eatyesterday

Mahogany Blank

Mahogany is a California native who was first introduced to running by signing up for a 5K in high school and challenging herself to run instead of walk. She was encouraged to join the cross-country team and stuck with it for a year before it conflicted with competition cheerleading. Mahogany and running were separated for years until she moved to Washington, DC, in 2015 and began running around her neighborhood to stay fit.

Mahogany later joined a running group called DC Run Crew, where she made many of the friends she still associates with today. She ran her first 10 mile race in 2018 with members at the Broad Street Run 10-Miler in Philly. Since then, Mahogany has run three Broad Street Run 10-Milers, a marathon, three 66-mile relays with Chocolate City Relay, a sprint triathlon and two 19-milers as part of the District 19 race series. She was also one of six on an all women’s team to complete the Speed Project from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

Mahogany truly enjoys the outdoors, especially in community with others, and has found herself part of many run groups over the years, including District Running Collective and Every Person Run Club currently. Although Mahogany has been part of cheer zones and even volunteered, she has never participated in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom as a runner. She’s excited to run and be an ambassador for this race, as the 10-mile distance is her favorite (given it was her first long-distance race). She dedicates this race to her fellow DC Run Crew teammate and friend who paced her through her first 10-mile race in Philly, Marcus Hearn. Rest (or run) in Heaven, Hearn!

Follow Mahogany on Instagram at @mjournaeb.

Allison Tuttle

Originally from Northern Virginia, Allison moved to Columbus, OH, in 2015. She played basketball and lacrosse throughout childhood and used to dread running, as it oftentimes was “punishment” for a bad play, dropped pass, or missed shot. That is, until one day when a friend asked her to apply to the NYC Marathon lottery … and they got in. 

Allison trained all summer leading into her junior year of college and quickly developed a passion for the running community, but just weeks before race day, she was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases and was told to immediately stop all activity because her body was in crisis mode. 

Once her health stabilized and she found a healthy balance, Allison slowly began increasing her mileage and ran her first half marathon in 2013 and another in 2015. Nearly a year after her daughter was born, Allison completed her first full marathon. The moment she stepped across the finish line, she swore that she would never run another 26.2, but that wasn’t true. Since then, Allison has completed 10 full marathons, two 24-hour endurance events, dozens of half marathons, and countless shorter-distance races, and she has no plans to slow down. 

Aside from running, Allison enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, reading, cooking, taking HIIT classes, traveling back to the East Coast to visit her family and working as an event planner.

Follow along with Allison at @midwestmotherrunner on Instagram.