Intense Interest in Securing a Spot in the Runner’s Rite of Spring as Early Sign-ups Ahead of Last Year’s Pace; ASICS Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of the 5K
December 7, 2023, Washington, DC: Since the moment the 10 Mile and Double Blossom lottery opened on December 1, 2023, thousands of runners have submitted their entries for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile running on April 7, 2024. Prospective 10 Mile and Double Blossom participants have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 15 to enroll at www.cherryblossom.org. Ambitious runners who hope to enter the Double Blossom, consisting of the 5K on Saturday and the 10 Mile on Sunday, must enter the 10 Mile lottery and indicate that they wish to gain entry into both races.
All 10 Mile and Double Blossom lottery entrants will be notified either by email or on the website, www.cherryblossom.org, by December 19 if they have been accepted. On the following day, December 20, the 5K registration will open on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that ASICS will be the presenting sponsor of the 5K running on Saturday, April 6, which was voted as the Best 5K in the U.S. by readers in a USA Today poll last spring. Therefore, the organizers expect it to reach its 7,000-runner limit quickly. This occurred in early February 2023 for last spring’s race. The 5K stages on Freedom Plaza and traverses the Presidential Inauguration route down along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the U.S. Capitol Building.
The event made several changes for the 50th anniversary edition last spring, including moving the 5K to Saturday and creating the “Double Blossom.” Last year, over 2,300 individuals registered for the Double Blossom, and interest appears to be trending higher this year. The 10 Mile stages on the Washington Monument Grounds and passes by all of the prime cherry blossom locations and the National Memorials.
“I am sure runners would like to know before the Holidays that their position at the starting line of either – or both – of the events is secure. It’s a nice Holiday present,” Event Director Phil Stewart said, “We are honored to have such a high level of interest as we enter our second half century in what is the Washington area’s oldest major road race with deep roots in the local running community.”
Upcoming milestones for the 51st Annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom in the New Year include:
Registration for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kids Run will open on Friday, January 5, 2024.
Virtual Run registration for the 10 Mile and 5K, which will take place during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, March 20 — April 14, 2024, will also open on Friday, January 5, 2024.
The 10 Mile will serve as the USA Track & Field Men’s and Women’s National 10 Mile Championship for the second year in a row. Hillary Bor set a new American 10 Mile record of 46:11 last spring, breaking the 40-year-old record that was set at this event back in 1983.
Thanks to Credit Union Miracle Day’s title sponsorship since 2002, Credit Union Cherry Blossom has raised over $11 million for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including $450,000 in 2023.
About the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile & 5K:
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom, organized by Cherry Blossom, Inc., a 501c(3) chapter of the Road Runners Club of America, is known as “The Runner’s Rite of Spring®” in the Nation’s Capital. The staging area for the event is on the Washington Monument Grounds, and the course passes in sight of all of the major Washington, D.C. Memorials. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a consortium of 170 premier children’s hospitals across North America. About one-third of the funds raised support Washington, D.C.’s own Children’s National (“Children’s Hospital”). The event also funds the Road Runners Club of America’s “RunPro Camp,” a program to teach top recently graduated U.S. collegiate distance runners about life as a professional runner.
Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit union suppliers, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, 5K and Kids’ Run. Presenting sponsors include ASICS, BellSant, REI and Wegmans; supporting sponsors include CO-OP Solutions, PSCU, TruStage, Outside, Potomac River Running, Gatorade Endurance, and Suburban Solutions.
The 10 Mile is a proud member of the PRRO Circuit (PRRO.org), a series of this country’s classic road races at the non-marathon distance with circuit stops in Washington, D.C.; Spokane, WA; Utica, NY; and Davenport, IA.
In addition to being sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the Road Runners Club of America, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run has earned Gold Level Inspire Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport in recognition of its legacy of commitment to sustainability and thoughtful resource management.
To learn more, visit www.cherryblossom.org.
