2024 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 6! The appearance schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 6

11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
The Game Changers Panel
Speakers:
Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell
Becky Croft
Nura Goodson
Mariebeth Marsh
Tiffany Copeland
Athena Farias

The Game Changers Panel aims to revolutionize the running landscape by addressing topics often overlooked in conventional coaching environments. Their objective is to create an inclusive space where every runner, regardless of background, can engage in conversations that offer new perspectives and insights. Join this panel of Women of Color Coaches as they share valuable knowledge that runners can apply immediately on race day but also in their lifelong journey.

12:00pm – 12:50 p.m.
Advancements in Road Running Shoes – From Past to Present
Speaker: George Lane, DPM

The presentation will take a tour through the history of road running shoes, from their origins to present, highlighting the progression and advancements in shoe design and technology used by the running shoe industry in an effort to optimize shoe effectiveness for race performance, training performance, comfort, and injury prevention.

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

1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Speaker: Deena Kastor
Deena Kastor may need no introduction, because we all know her name and her long list of running achievements, including a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and wins at the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 London Marathon, at which she set an American record of 2hr 19min 36sec that stood unbroken until 2022. She was also a four-times Southeastern Conference champion and an eight-times All-American. She is also a previous U.S. record-holder in the women’s half-marathon, 10,000 meter and 5,000 meter. Kastor is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Let Your Mind Run, in which she documents her journey to becoming a world-class Olympic runner. Join Deena as she shares wisdom gained along her storied career.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Runners 911 –Empowering Runners Everywhere: Suzanne Dougherty on Fighting Fatigue, Surprise Attacks & More!
Speaker: Suzanne Dougherty

Unfortunately, stories of runners being harmed while doing what they love continues to make headlines. In this lively session/demo, meet Haven Defense founder Suzanne Dougherty as she discusses how runners can live with less fear and more freedom by learning life-saving skills like fighting through fatigue, defending against surprise attacks, eluding a stalker when running alone, and more! Runners of all genders will come away feeling more confident enjoying outdoor running – even when solo.