Monthly Archives: November 2014

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!

Celebrate Giving Tuesday With Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

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Did you know that Tuesday, December 2, 2014 has been designated as Giving Tuesday? Now that we’ve taken time to give thanks for all we have on Thanksgiving, shopped for holiday gift deals on Black Friday, and rounded out our holiday shopping on Cyber Monday, it’s a good time to tap into our generosity and give to those who are less fortunate. Over here at the CUCB blog, we are supporting the charities associated with the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run–won’t you join us by donating to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals? (Click Here To Donate!)

GivingTuesdayCUCB

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is the signature event of Credit Union Miracle Day, which is a nonprofit collaboration of credit union organizations engaged in fundraising activities to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). If you live in the D.C. area, you probably are familiar with Children’s National Medical Center, which is the local CMN Hospital affiliate. There are 136 children’s hospitals affiliated with the CMNH in the United States, and they treat over 10 million children annually across the U.S., providing state-of-the-art care‚ cutting edge research and preventative health education. Several members of the CUCB Social Runners team have had friends and family members cared for at CMN Hospitals, and know first hand the quaility of care they provide.

CUForKids

Credit Unions For Kids is the umbrella brand through which credit unions and affiliated organizations support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

When you donate to support CMN Hospitals, you help local CMN Hospitals provide
 $6,500 in charity care every minute to help save kids’ lives. Does that sound impossible?

Every hour, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treat 675 kids in the ER; 39 kids for diabetes; 92 kids for cancer;39 babies in the newborn ICU; and 97 kids for surgeries.

Every day, Every day, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals treat 16,000 kids in the ER, 935 kids for diabetes, 2,218 kids for cancer, 925 babies in the newborn ICU, and 2,329 kids for surgeries.

This year is the thirteenth year that credit unions have sponsored the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in support of Credit Unions for Kids and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, with over $6 million donated for children’s hospitals during this time!

Please join us in celebrating Giving Tuesday by donating to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals here. Please also consider supporting other Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run charities: Teens Run DC and the RRCA Rhoads Scholars program.

Have you entered the lottery for the 2014 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run?

Do you know anyone who was cared for at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital?

2015 Kickoff Party

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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!