2026 Expo Speakers

This year, we have a great line-up of speakers to inspire and inform attendees at the Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday, April 11!

All sessions are at the National Building Museum Auditorium
401 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20001

The appearance schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 11

New This Year: American Red Cross Hands Only CPR Class
Hourly starting at 9 a.m.
Learn How to Save a Life in just a few minutes!
Click Here for all the details

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Meet the Cherry Blossom ASICS Online Training Coaches

Meet the ASICS Online Training coaches behind the official Cherry Blossom 10 Miler and 5K training plans! RRCA Level 1–certified coaches Yasmin, Kimela, and Carlamae will be available to answer your race-eve questions, from fueling and gear to weather, the course, and race-day readiness. Come chat with them if you want to feel confident and ready to run your best race.

Coaches:

Yasmin Boakye
Kimela West
Carlamae Aguinaldo

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Break

12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.

How to Make the Most of Race Day for Your Comeback Story
Speaker: Keira D’Amato

Keira D’Amato, a long-time friend of the CUCB 10M/5K, has had an extraordinary journey. After earning All-American honors at American University, she took an eight-year hiatus from competitive running to raise her two children. Feeling she was not quite done with the sport, she made a triumphant return at age 35, breaking the 16-year American Record in the Marathon (2022) and the American Record in the Half Marathon (2023.) She placed 8th in the marathon at the 2022 World Championships and currently holds the American Record in the women’s-only 10 Mile Run. Driven by a passion for inspiring others, Keira is dedicated to sharing the lessons she’s learned along the way, encouraging people to embrace movement and pursue their own personal journeys.

12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Meet and Greet with Keira D’Amato

Meet running great Keira D’Amato! Purchase Keira’s book Don’t Call It a Comeback, or bring your own copy to be signed!

1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Break

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Finish Anyway: The Mindset That Gets You Across Every Finish Line
Speaker: Martinus Evans

The night before a race, your head is louder than your legs. In this high-energy keynote, 9-time marathoner and Slow AF Run Club founder Martinus Evans breaks down the one thing that separates finishers from quitters — and it has nothing to do with pace. Drawing from his own against-all-odds running journey, Martinus delivers practical mindset tools, a gut-check on who truly belongs in running spaces, and the kind of real talk that will have you lining up tomorrow with something more powerful than a race plan: a decision.

2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Meet and Greet with Martinus Evans

Meet running icon Martinus Evans! Purchase Martinus’ book Slow AF Running Club, or bring your own copy to be signed!

2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Break

3:00 – 4:00pm

The Evolution of Road Running Shoes – From Past to Present
Speaker: George Lane, DPM

Take a tour through the history of road running shoes, from their origins to the latest developments, highlighting the progression and advancements in shoe design and technology used by the running shoe industry, the progression of major advancements in road running shoe design, technology, & function, and the evolving story of super shoes. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn everything you need to know to become a bona fide running shoe geek!

Our presenter Dr. George Lane is a podiatrist and running injury specialist and has been an avid distance runner since the age of 12. He has lectured at national meetings for the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, the American Podiatric Medical Association, and The Running Event, in addition to numerous running groups.