Training for the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in the winter isn’t easy, especially when the temperature dips low, low, low. Recently I ran a 10K race in some very cold weather!
I needed help to get to this race. I needed some serious motivation, because staying snuggled under the covers where it was nice and warm was very tempting. So I sent some texts and posted on Facebook and asked for help. Continue reading Advanced Degrees
If you entered the lottery for the 2017 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run but didn’t get in, I have a story for you.
When I was a kid, I wanted a sparkly Michael Jackson glove so much. I mean, I wanted it BAD.
It was on my birthday wish list, but when my birthday came, no sparkly Michael Jackson glove. I was so sad. I was even a little angry. Then, a late birthday card arrived in the mail from a family member, and inside the card was some cash. I was able to buy myself that Michael Jackson glove.
If you entered the lottery for the 2017 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run but didn’t get in, you can buy your own sparkly glove…I mean, race entry! Just raise $500 before February 15 and you can earn a place in the 2017 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run as a Charity Race Participant.
Continue reading The Win-Win Way To Run The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run
Tuesday, November 29, 2016, is #GivingTuesday, and Elizabeth is sharing one of the many reasons why she understands how important it is to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and Credit Unions for Kids. If you agree that all children should have access to the healthcare they need without regard to ability to pay, you can donate here too!
Running can HURT kids!
Yes, I’m trying to get your attention. But it’s also true.
Continue reading Giving Tuesday for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Money can’t buy happiness…or can it? Right now I’m working hard to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. But I’m not doing things like running a raffle (because I’m running miles). And I’m not doing jeans days (because I work from home and I usually wear comfy pjs so jeans are kind of a lot of work). I’ve had to get creative with my fundraising and here’s my plan.
Continue reading She Works Hard for the Money (For Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals)
How long will it take you to run the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run? This year, I’d love to run it in 90 minutes or less. Let’s say you finish in 90 minutes, too, and we cross the line together. That’s 5,400 seconds.
Did you know 62 children a minute enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for treatment? That’s 1 child a second.
That means 5,400 children may enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for treatment while we are participating in the Runners’ Rite of Spring and enjoying the view of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Hains Point.
Friday, February 19 is National Caregiver Day, and that got me thinking about the parents who bring their kids to children’s hospitals. Continue reading Wanted: Generous Runners Who Know Every Second Counts
Those cherry blossoms have a powerful effect on runners. One runner shared his special story with us!
My name is Pete Thomas, and I am happy to say that Victoria Davies agreed to my marriage proposal at the foot of the Washington Monument on the day of the Cherry Blossom race. We are both public charter school teachers in Northeast DC, and I live in Noma and Vic lives in Arlington. In terms of the proposal itself, I actually ran the 10 miler with the ring zipped into my runner’s belt/fanny pack that I typically use for energy gels- I hid it behind some GU packets to be extra inconspicuous.
Once I finished the race, I unzipped my pouch and made sure that the ring was secure (it was just a little bit sweaty) and then waited to cheer Victoria on near the finish line while I hid the ring in my hand. Once she finished the race, I walked up and gave her a big hug and made sure that she got a banana and some water (it’s important to be well-nourished and hydrated before making any big decisions) and then I asked her if she wanted to go up towards the monument so that we could get away from the port-a-potties and look at the cherry blossoms. She was at first a bit more intent on getting to the metro so that we could go get brunch, but I nervously managed to convince her that we should go check out the view of the Mall and the Tidal Basin before we left.
Once we got up close to the Monument on the Lincoln side from where we could get a pretty spectacular view of the city, I finally got down on one knee with the ring and asked her to marry me. She fortunately said yes, and after a few tears, selfies, and phone calls to our moms, we took a nice walk down the mall towards home. Since then, we’ve enjoyed our spring break from school by visiting Savannah and eating lots of delicious southern food that we’ll have to work off in future ten milers! We both had a great time running the race, and we are very happy to be able to look back at this awesome DC event as part of the beginning of our future together!
Happy Earth Day!
In honor of Earth Day we’d like to highlight some of the efforts that the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race is making to ensure that it is a sustainable road race.
Over the past few years the CUCB race committee has recognized the importance of being an environmentally friendly event and has formed a dedicated sub-committee to manage these efforts. This committee manages a certification process through the Council for Responsible Sport that recognizes athletic events that are going above and beyond to protect the environment in which they operate. For the CUCB 10 Mile Race, this means making sure that event venues are environmentally friendly and that the National Parks grounds that the race course is run on remains clean and preserved for the future.
We couldn’t do any of this without continued support from runners and volunteers. We had 22 amazing “Green Team” volunteers helping out on race day, to make sure that as much waste as possible was diverted from landfills and recycled or composted. These volunteers worked hard to make sure that water bottles were recycled, banana peels were composted and that heat sheets were collected for “upcycling.” We also collected 68 bags of clothing at the start line and donated them to Goodwill Industries.
The sustainability efforts of the CUCB 10 Mile race did not just happen on race day. At the 
Sustainability Booth at the Health and Fitness Expo, we collected 195 pairs of gently used athletic shoes to donate to MORE Foundation Group.
We also partnered with TapIt to make runners aware of local establishments who would refill a water bottle for free. This service makes it easier for runners and those out and about for the day to refill empty water bottles instead of throwing them away in purchasing water.
A free bike valet service was offered at both the Health and Fitness Expo and the race, and we arranged for Metro to open two hours early on race day.
While we’re happy with our progress, like any runner trying to beat a PR, we are continuing to plan to make the 2016 race an even greener and more sustainable race. We welcome ideas from our runners and appreciate your feedback.
About the Authors:
Kim Nemire is the lead team member of CUCB’s dedicated sustainability committee. She’s responsible for coordinating all the efforts of the sustainability of the race and affiliated events. Currently, Kim is working on a goat farm in rural Illinois helping make goat milk soaps and goat cheese.
Anna Dengler is a member of the sustainability team. She is responsible for coordinating outreach and communication efforts of the sustainability team’s mission. She currently works at a software company in Baltimore.
Does Jummy look familiar to you? If so, you probably recognize her from Good Morning Washington or ABC7 News at Noon. Jummy and I have been twitter friends for a while and have run many of the same races. We even passed each other on the course of the Army Ten Miler in 2014! We finally met in person at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile run kickoff party last November.
Kimberly, @KimberWestrich
Kim has been running off and on for 25 years, but only recently got serious about figuring out how to keep that switch turned on. The secret for her is a broad and supportive running community through Potomac River Running Training Programs, Moms Run This Town, Reston Runners, and followers of her blog, Kim Runs Miles With Smiles. Kim will be coaching the PR Cherry Blossom Training Program at Reston in 2015 and is excited to share her enthusiasm for all things Cherry Blossom, which was her first BIG race in 2014. When she isn’t running, she is tackling the nation’s health care issues in her job as a health care services researcher for a non-profit association.
Jen and I met during Potomac River Running 101 training in 2013. She ran her first race ever just days after I met her. She was nervous but determined. Then, in 2014 she set a goal to race 40k before she turned 40. She met and exceeded that goal, and in 2015 she has her mind set on conquering new distances – ten miles under the Cherry Blossoms (and I predict a half marathon won’t be far behind)!
Kimberly, @KimberWestrich
Kim has been running off and on for 25 years, but only recently got serious about figuring out how to keep that switch turned on. The secret for her is a broad and supportive running community through Potomac River Running Training Programs, Moms Run This Town, Reston Runners, and followers of her blog, Kim Runs Miles With Smiles. Kim will be coaching the PR Cherry Blossom Training Program at Reston in 2015 and is excited to share her enthusiasm for all things Cherry Blossom, which was her first BIG race in 2014. When she isn’t running, she is tackling the nation’s health care issues in her job as a health care services researcher for a non-profit association.