Meet the 2026 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors!

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile selected four runners to be the 2026 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 2027 Ambassadors after the 2026 race – applications will open in August 2026! 

Daniel Cao

Meet Daniel (or Dan), an active and energetic individual since childhood. Growing up, he was often anxious and distracted, but he always found fun in everything. It wasn’t until he discovered lacrosse and track in high school that he began building a foundation of discipline. Throughout college, he focused on developing resilience through years of training in Muay Thai boxing. Later in adulthood, he did not discover the superpower of running until his first race… A flame was lit when Dan ran his first marathon—there was no turning back. From that first race, he witnessed enduring strength, unwavering heart, spirit, and energy all around him. He found running to be a framework for life challenges and a movement toward longevity.

Dan later found run communities where he could connect and build lasting relationships. He describes the best feeling as the sense of camaraderie that comes from running and supporting your team, friends, or even strangers. Starting his running journey in 2020, Dan has completed more than 22 marathons, including five World Major Marathons. He is anticipating earning his sixth WWM star at the 2026 London Marathon. His proudest accomplishment was being given the opportunity to run for the Northeast Track Club at The Speed Project in 2024, where he and his team ran a 340-mile relay from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.

When Dan is not ripping miles with Northeast Track Club or Clarendon Run Club , you can find him cheering or volunteering at local DMV races, hiking in the wilderness, chasing fresh snow in the mountains, or exploring nature and new cities. He also enjoys weight lifting, wood chopping, and other physical challenges.

His motto is: “Run a marathon, it’ll change your life.” Dan strongly believes that the running community has space for everyone to belong, and strives to inspire and empower others to show up everyday and move.

Follow Dan on Instagram @caoboy.

Katie Dallimore

Katie discovered running in 2020 and was immediately hooked by the joy of exploring her city on foot. What started as a way to get outside quickly grew into a lifelong passion, one that has taken her from the streets of D.C. all the way to the start lines of world-famous races. She has now completed three marathons, including back-to-back World Majors: the 2024 NYC Marathon with the American Heart Association and the 2025 Berlin Marathon. Along the way, she has also run seven half marathons, each one reminding her of the power and joy of the running community.

For Katie, running isn’t just about miles and medals, it’s about connection. She believes anyone can be part of the running community, and she loves how running brings people together, whether it’s training with friends, waving to strangers on the trail, or lining up with thousands of runners from all walks of life.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile holds a special place in her heart. Katie loves how the race feels both exciting and welcoming, no matter if you’re running solo or alongside friends. She can’t wait to share her training, highlight her favorite parts of the course, and help get runners inspired for one of the most beautiful spring races in the country; complete with iconic views and some of the best crowds around.

Originally from Wales, Katie now lives in Washington, D.C., with her corgi, Sourdough. When she’s not running, you can usually find her with a good book in hand and a mug of loose leaf tea close by.

Follow Katie on Instagram @katie_dallimore.

Amy Gomes

Amy Gomes is a first-generation Latina from El Salvador whose running journey began in 2023. What started as a personal challenge to live an active lifestyle quickly grew into a passion for community, content creation, and empowerment. She is the founder of Baddie Run Club, a women’s running community in Northern Virginia that just celebrated its first anniversary. What began as casual meetups has evolved into an empowering space where women of all paces and goals come together to run, connect, and celebrate movement.

Since lacing up, Amy has completed multiple half marathons, including the Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Half and the DC Half, where she recently set a personal best. Along the way, she has fallen in love with the confidence and community running has given her. She is currently training for her first marathon at the 2025 Marine Corps Marathon, juggling the demands of training with everyday life while continuing to grow her impact in the running community.

Representation in the running world is deeply important to Amy, and she is committed to showing that anyone can be a runner. Through her social media and her work with Baddie Run Club, she shares both the challenges and joys of being a runner, creating inclusive spaces that encourage others to chase their goals — one mile at a time.

Follow Amy on Instagram @amyygomes.

Emily Waddell

Emily is a native Washingtonian and has a degree in marine biology. She grew up playing soccer and practicing tae kwon do, even imagining herself being recruited to play soccer in college. However, those plans changed after her freshman year of high school. The track coach convinced her to join the indoor track team “to stay in shape for soccer,” but after her first 400-meter race, she was hooked. She traded cleats and grass for spikes and the track. In high school, she ran sprints and competed in triple jump, eventually going on to run in college.

After college, Emily returned to soccer, feeling burnt out from running. However, when COVID-19 hit and most activities came to a halt, running was one of the few things she could still do. It quickly became both her hobby and her passion. She has since completed over a dozen half marathons, two marathons, several 5Ks and 10Ks, and has run the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile twice. The 10-mile distance is her favorite, and she can’t wait to run it for a third time in 2026. Emily is deeply involved in the D.C. running community. She serves as a city lead for Cooldown Running and a pace lead for Endorphins; both are national run clubs with meetups in cities across the country.

When she’s not running, Emily enjoys trying new restaurants around D.C. with her husband and friends, playing with her new puppy, and hiking along the many trails in the D.C. area.

Follow Emily on Instagram @mileswithem44.