DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake Road Races Health and Fitness Expo is back for its second year April 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  in the Knapp Center (2601 Forest Ave) on the campus of Drake University. Expo events will kick off with free lunchtime yoga and continue through the afternoon with an impressive speaker lineup.
 
This event serves as the packet pickup for the 51^st Annual Drake Road Races with distances covering 5k, 10k and the half marathon. Limited spots remain so sign up now. In partnership with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the expo will also serve as the packet pickup for the 10^th anniversary of the Grand Blue Mile set for April 23.  
 
Two all-inclusive sessions yoga will occur in the Courtside Club of the Knapp Center. In the first, Jenny Reitano, will guide from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. The 1 to 2 p.m. session will be led by local expert, Ben Spellman of Good Vibes Yoga. To experience the power of yoga, participants will need to arrive early and bring their own mat.
 
The Health and Fitness Expo Speaker series includes:
 
3:30 - 4:15 p.m. - Ellen Davis, RD, LD of Davis Sports Nutrition 
Ellen will be speaking on the importance of an individualized approach towards your wellness, nutrition and performance goals. Geared towards fitness enthusiasts of all abilities who want to learn how to best fuel for performance.
 
4:30 - 5:15 p.m. - Dr. Andy Strachan DC, MS, ICCSP of VERTI-GO Performance Lab
"How to Become a More Resilient Runner: Practical Ways to Improve Performance & Decrease Injuries". Whether you're a runner or walker, Dr. Strachan can help you out!
 
5:30 - 6:15 p.m. - Keynote Speaker, Steve Cannon, Adventure Athlete and Author
Steve will be presenting "1,000 Miles to Nome" which is a recap of his recent 2019 Iditarod Trail Invitational. Be one of the very first to hear of this harrowing adventure from Des Moines' own adventure and athlete author. As an added perk, Steve is also offering up a free e-book that details his historic 40-day run around Lake Michigan. 
 
Registration information for the Drake Road Races is available at drakeroadraces.org and the Grand Blue Miles at http://www.grandbluemile.com/.
 
 
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About the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee:
For one week a year, the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee brings together Iowa's top high school athletes with the best collegiate and professional performers from across the nation and around the world. The Drake Road Races, an iconic event in Des Moines for more than 50 years, serves as the starting line for the week-long celebration of athletics in Iowa's Capital City.  It is followed by one of the nation's largest 1-mile road races, the Grand Blue Mile, which has hosted the USATF 1-Mile Championship four times since its inception nine years ago. The week concludes inside historic Drake Stadium, where the competition is fierce, the athletes spectacular and the performances legendary. Fans have packed the stands for 109 years, witnessing the fall of 14 world records, 51 American records and 56 national collegiate records and countless feats of athletic excellence. It is this combination of unmatched atmosphere and the spirit of competition that truly makes the Drake Relays "America's Athletic Classic". For more information, visit DrakeRelays.org.
 
 
About the Grand Blue Mile
The Grand Blue Mile is an annual one-mile fitness run/walk sponsored by Wellmark^® Blue Cross^® and Blue Shield^®, in partnership with the Drake Relays, to engage individuals at all stages of fitness, encourage healthy habits and empower positive change. The annual wellness event includes recreational, competitive and invitational events featuring a field of elite male and female track and field athletes from around the world. Proceeds from the event benefit Iowa Kidstrong, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting healthy, active lifestyles among youth. For more information about the Grand Blue Mile, visit www.grandbluemile.com.