SPEAKER BIOS
| 2023 Health and Fitness Expo Speaker Series Timeline | ||
| Time | Thursday, November 30 - 12PM-7PM | Friday, December 1 - 12PM-8PM |
| 12:30 PM | Suzanne Dougherty – Self Defense | Bill Rodgers – Race the Smart Way |
| 1:30 PM | Danny Dreyer – Confidence Builders | Danny Dreyer – Confidence Builders |
| 2:30 PM | Bill Rodgers – Race the Smart Way | Suzanne Dougherty – Self Defense |
| 3:30 PM | Joan Benoit – Olympic Marathon Winner | Joan Benoit – Olympic Marathon Winner |
| 4:00 PM | Denise Sauriol – Course Preview | Denise Sauriol – Course Preview |
| 5:00 PM | Patient Speaker – Jay Cobb | Patient Speaker – Craig Johnson |
Bill Rodgers
Speaker Bio: In the fall of 1966, Bill Rodgers enrolled at Wesleyan University where he ran cross country and track. After stepping away from competitive running for a time, in 1973, track coach Bill Squires first formed the Greater Boston Track Club at Boston College to train small group of local elite runners, with Rodgers becoming one of them. In April 1973, Rodgers entered his first Boston Marathon, dropping out at mile 20. After the race, Rodgers quit running for three months, only to return to training. Rodgers then won the Bay State Marathon in 2:28 in October 1973. In April 1974, Rodgers returned to run the Boston Marathon and ran his first New York City Marathon. One month after New York, Rodgers won the Philadelphia Marathon in 2:21. In 1975, Rodgers then burst into national prominence when he won the 1975 Boston Marathon in 2:09:55, setting a new American record. Rodgers won both the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon four times each between 1975 and 1980, twice breaking the American record at Boston with a time of 2:09:55 in 1975 and 2:09:27 in 1979. He made the 1976 U.S. Olympic team and raced the marathon at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Of the 59 marathons Bill Rodgers ran, 28 were run under 2:15. In all, he won 22 marathons in his career. He came to be referred to by sportswriters and others as "Boston Billy". Rodgers was inducted to the National Track and Field Hall of Fame on December 3, 1999. In 1998, Rodgers was inducted in the first round to the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in Utica, New York. He lives in the small town of Boxborough, Massachusetts, and still participates in running-themed events.
Speaker Seminar Title: Racing the Smart Way - Tips from the “Marathon Man”
Seminar Description: In this presentation, the “Marathon Man” will talk through how to run your best race – the right way. Bill will cover his best tips on topics such as such as pacing, hydration throughout the race, dressing your best for a successful run, racing through weather conditions, and more! He will also include time for a brief Q&A and book signing.
Suzanne Dougherty
Speaker Bio: Born and raised in northeastern Philadelphia, Suzanne always thought of herself as a tough city girl. Following an encounter with a New York City mugger, she became motivated to develop professionally in the realm of self-defense. This will be Suzanne’s 16th year participating in St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. Suzanne was invited to visit St. Jude years ago, and despite the realities of being at a hospital, it was one of the most inspiring places she has ever visited. “The miracles that take place have saved thousands of lives and allowed survivors to go on to be parents, change the world, and give back to the next generation of St. Jude patients. The marathon at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s largest single fundraising event, and it gives me all the feels being part of it.” Suzanne thoroughly enjoys sharing her expertise and inspiring confidence in others. Aside from teaching Israeli Krav-Maga, she is an accomplished businesswoman, mother, ultra marathoner, six-star Finisher.
Speaker Seminar Title: Runner Self Defense
Seminar Description: Haven Defense demo runs will run 15-30 minutes including Q&A. This session will be an interactive, hands-on demonstration for runners safety. This event focuses on learning life-saving skills to be able to protect yourself while out on a run. Runners will learn how to fight through fatigue as well as defending against surprise attacks.
Denise Sauriol
Speaker Bio: Meet Coach Denise! Coach Denise spends her summers in Chicago and the winter months in Phoenix. She has been running since 4th grade, marathoning since 1994, and coaching since 2011! In 2019, she began coaching the Chicago Marathon Heroes. That year, she also ran the St. Jude Memphis Marathon for the first time. Seeing all of the incredible St. Jude Heroes, parents of patients, and our St. Jude Kids on course has made the St. Jude Memphis Marathon a “must do!” for her every year! Two of Coach Denise’s favorite words of wisdom are: "Running is a gift that can be taken away in a second. So be grateful for every mile no matter the pace," and "You have the power to decide which station is playing in your head, so choose positively!" A fun fact about Coach Denise is “I love to combine races with traveling; RaceCationing. So far, some of the most beautiful places I have run are Antarctica, Everest Base Camp, Queenstown New Zealand, Big Sur California and Patagonia Chile. During my first marathon, I told myself, "Never Again" in upper case bold font! However, after the pain in my legs dissipated and the sense of accomplishment still shines brightly within, I become a many-time marathoner! In fact, this year's St Jude Memphis marathon will be my 148th Marathon/Ultramarathon!” Be sure to check out Coach Denise’s Seminar, When Your Best Is Enough, at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Expo!
Speaker Seminar Title: Course Preview with National St. Jude Heroes Coach Denise
Seminar Description: Course Preview. This is a talk for anyone who wants to learn more about how to prepare for their Memphis Marathon, including race day travel, race strategy, and more!
Danny Dreyer
Speaker Bio: Danny Dreyer is the founder of ChiRunning and ChiWalking which are based on the inner principles of T’ai Chi. Danny and his wife Katherine have been pioneers in teaching runners and walkers how to turn their fitness regimen into a mindful practice. Together they have co-authored three seminal books on mindful movement: ChiRunning, ChiWalking and ChiMarathon, all published by Simon & Schuster.
Danny is also a lecturer and a leader in promoting injury prevention and higher performance through improving one’s running or walking technique. His work is based on his 20-year study of T’ai Chi and his 45 years of running and racing every distance from a 5K to 100 miles, including 43 ultra marathons (with podium finishes in his age group in all but three). He has helped countless runners from beginners to elites set new PR’s in both time and distance… without getting injured in the process. He has also been a featured speaker at most of the major U.S. marathons. ChiRunning is now published in 12 languages and taught in 23 countries by over 200 certified instructors.
Speaker Seminar Title: Confidence Builders Every Runner Should Do Before Their Next Race
Seminar Description: During this session, Danny will talk through tips and tricks to incorporate into your training to make your next race your best one yet!
Joan Benoit Samuelson
Speaker Bio: Winner of the first Olympic Women’s Marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Joan Benoit Samuelson is a pioneer of women’s marathoning. In 1979, she entered the Boston Marathon as a relative unknown and won the race. In 1981, she captured the U.S. 10,000-meter championship, and in 1983 she repeated her Boston Marathon success with a world record time of 2:22:43. Benoit Samuelson won the Olympic Marathon Trials at age 26, just 17 days following arthroscopic knee surgery. Three months later, she won the first Olympic Women's Marathon in 2:24:52. She was world ranked five times in the marathon, twice at no. 1, and in 1985 was awarded the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award as the nation’s finest amateur athlete.
At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team trials, at the age of 50, she finished in 2:49:08, setting a new U.S. 50+ record. When she ran the New York City Marathon in 2009, she broke the Senior Masters record for runners older than 50 with a final time of 2:49:09. In 2019, Benoit Samuelson ran the Boston Marathon again, forty years after her first win, with a time of 3:04:00 — within thirty minutes of her 1979 time. She has been inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame, the Maine Women's Hall of Fame, the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, and the USA Track and Field Masters Hall of Fame. Her personal best — 2:21:21, set at the 1985 Chicago Marathon — still holds up. She ranks sixth in U.S. women’s history.
Speaker Seminar Title: From the Lense of the first Women’s Olympic Marathon Winner
Seminar Description: Joan Benoit Samuelson shared her story and learnings after winning the first Women’s Olympic Marathon, mental health in racing, and why she is running the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. Joan will be providing the opportunity for Q&A!
Craig Johnson – Former Patient (Louisiana, Leukemia, Former St. Jude Patient)
Speaker Bio: Without soccer, Craig might not have come to St. Jude. One day in high school, he got injured at practice. A trip to the doctor led to a diagnosis of a hernia and a torn spleen. And a blood test showed something more: leukemia. In between doctors’ visits and chemotherapy sessions, Craig hit the textbooks and worked closely with teachers at the St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s. The teachers helped him with calculus, chemistry and environmental science lessons. Craig finished chemotherapy in March 2011. He graduated college with a degree in elementary education and in 2018 earned his master’s degree in special education. He has been cancer-free for more than a decade. Craig was featured on St. Jude Stories Lives podcast and is one of the most listened to stories. Craig currently works at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization and is honoring a decade in remission by running the 10k this year at St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend!
Speaker Seminar Title: Mission Moment – Craig’s Story
Seminar Description: Mission Moment
Jay Cobb - (Oklahoma, Burkitt lymphoma, Former St. Jude Patient)
Speaker Bio: More than four decades have passed since Jay was a patient at Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, but his appreciation for the hospital’s mission has only grown since.
Besides telling his St. Jude story everywhere he can, Jay has also devoted countless hours to raise awareness and funds for his favorite cause.
He volunteers to answer phones and take donations at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® radiothons. He’s served as captain of the Tulsa vs. Cancer team for the St. Jude Walk/Run. He brought a community together to help build a treehouse in 24 hours for a young St. Jude patient. He hosted a fundraising golf tournament.
He has even kissed a cow and a pig for St. Jude. And dyed his beard purple.
“When somebody saves your life,” he said, “you do what you can.”
Jay was 9 years old when he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was treated at St. Jude, where he received radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
He said he remembers St. Jude as a happy and healing place.
“In my experience, it was comforting, knowing there were people there taking care of you and working to make you well, and to fight for you,’ he said.
Speaker Seminar Title: Mission Moment – Jay’s Story
Seminar Description: Mission Moment