Tag Archives: fall kick-off

Jen’s Sweeping Finish

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Jen's "sweep bus selfie"
Jen’s “Sweep Bus Selfie” on the Arlington Memorial Bridge

We are privileged to be able to use the Washington Monument Grounds during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, its busiest time of the year. Our permit agreement specifies all runners will be off the course by 10:30 am. To meet this agreement, runners not maintaining a 14-minute-per mile pace (calculated from the start of the final wave) will be required to leave the course and board our sweep vehicle (if you are unsure that you can maintain this pace, you can switch to the 5k by completing this form). One brave runner shares her 2015 sweep bus experience.  Continue reading Jen’s Sweeping Finish →

Exclusive Interview with 2015 Winning Design Artist

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Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run t-shirt winning design
Matousek and her winning design

This year’s t-shirt design was a huge hit when it was revealed at the kick-off party for the 2015 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run.  The artist, 24 year-old Abby Matousek, grew up in Southern California before moving to Colorado.  She now lives in D.C. with two cats, Franny and Zooey, and a great group of D.C. friends.  We were very lucky to land an exclusive interview with Abby.

What’s your running background?
One of my good friends got me into running about a year and a half ago when he picked up the sport (nothing like peer pressure). Since then, I have run the MCM 10K twice, the Navy 5 miler, CUCB, and the Army 10 Miler. I grew up as a swimmer so running was a big transition for me…but now I have thrown biking into the mix and did my first triathlon in September.

What’s your favorite part of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run?
Ha. Finishing? The 2014 CUCB was the first time I ran 10 miles and I definitely teared up with relief and happiness after crossing the finish. Also, the unofficial beer and Oreo table at mile 8 wasn’t awful. But seriously,  it is a great race, both from a course and fellow runner perspective. Hope to be a repeater for many years to come!

What was your inspiration for the t-shirt design?
Honestly, I just wanted to do something different than in previous years and try to stand out a little. I am still somewhat limited in my skill set in graphic design and just started playing around with different concepts/processes until I found something I thought I could work with. The first couple of designs were…not so great. I am not a professional artist, but I aspire to be. I have said that the CUCB artwork is my “proof of concept” to return to school for Graphic Design.

What’s your best/worst/funniest/weirdest running moment? I don’t know how appropriate this is…but in my first race (the Navy 5 miler), I was being passed by the leaders of the Air Force Half, which goes off the same day and shares the 5 miler route in places. As one of the elite men was passing…nature called. I am not even sure this is physically possible but he was able to relieve himself into the grass without breaking pace. It was one of the most talented/gross/absurd things I have ever seen.

What are your running goals?
I definitely want to do a marathon. I am hoping to get into the MCM 17.75K for entry into the 2015 Marine Corps Marathon. I think after I check the marathon box, I will be content with running a bit more recreationally to stay in shape and keep active (although, I do have the idea of an Iron Man kicking around in the back of my head).

Want to run the race and get a t-shirt featuring Abby’s winning design? Make sure you enter the lottery when it opens December 1, 2014!

2015 Kickoff Party

Events, Social Runner, , , , , , ,

It’s fall. Right now trees are turning red and brown and green and gold and warm summer weather is fading into autumn cold.

Shirt color voting at our 2014 race’s Kickoff Reception

But we’re thinking spring. We’re thinking about warm breezes and bright pink cherry blossoms. We’re can’t wait for Race Day on April 12, 2015!

This Friday, November 14, 2014 is the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk Fall Kickoff and T-Shirt Debut Reception! It’s the party that celebrates the 43rd installment of this annual running tradition.

This event, sponsored by The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Organizing Committee, Credit Union Miracle Day, New Balance, MilestonePod, and Potomac River Running is a sell-out event every year, just like the race.

201bar_smThe kickoff reception runs from 6:00-9:00 PM at The 201 Bar located at 201 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., Washington DC 20002. Advance registration is $15  and includes 1 drink ticket, appetizers, raffle entry, $10 Potomac River Running gift card, and a MilestonePod.

If space is available the day of, admission is $25 at the door, but this event usually sells out.

Why come to the kickoff?

✿ 25 lottery exemptions to the 2015 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run will be raffled off between 6:30 and 8:30 PM

✿ Unveiling of the official 2015 Race T-shirt Design and meet the artist – See it here before it goes public!

✿ Vote for the 2015 race T-shirt color – potential runners the opportunity to choose the t-shirt color on which the design will be featured. The t-shirt color chosen at this event will be the same shirt that the runners of the 2015 race receive.

✿ Bid on silent auction packages and wine pull (all proceeds go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals)

✿ Announcement of the winners of the Social Runner Contest

✿ Enjoy music and food

✿ Meet fellow runners and coaches and connect with past, and future Cherry Blossom 10 Miler runners to share their stories and get excited about the opening of the 2015 race lottery on December 1st.

You already know the race sells out, but so does this reception. So RSVP early – see you there!