Join Us At The Fall Kickoff Reception November 18

Events,

Did you know that April 2, 2017 will be the 45th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run? We are so excited, we can’t wait to get the party started! And who says we have to? This year we have a great fall kickoff reception planned at a new location!

fall-kickoff-reception

Join us Friday, November 18th from 6-9 pm at

MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre
1120 20th St. N.W., Building 1
Washington DC 20036
(map)

Tickets are $15 and include:

 $10 Potomac River Running Gift Card
 one drink ticket
 appetizers
blossom one raffle ticket for a free race entry (25 entries will be given away!)

Festivities will include:

 meeting the artist behind the official 2017 race t-shirt design
 unveiling of the official 2017 race t-shirt design
 touring the new state-of-the-art MedStar Health facility
(I hear they have an AlterG treadmill!)
blossom previewing the new MedStar Health Training Education Series
 previewing the CUCB Good Luck Box
(one Good Luck Box will be raffled off)
blossom wine pull to benefit Children’s Miracle Network

And, best of all, you will meet the 2017 race ambassadors. 🙂

Registration is limited to 400 guests, which means you could have a 1 in 16 chance of winning a free entry!

Don’t miss out — REGISTER HERE!

 

Meet The 2017 Race Ambassadors!

Race Ambassadors

We want to thank everyone who applied to be a Race Ambassador for the April 2, 2017 running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. We received so many applications from enthusiastic blogging-Facebooking-Tweeting-Instagramming runners, it was truly difficult to select our four race ambassadors!

Sara, Holly, Adam, and Heather are looking forward to sharing their enthusiasm for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. Read more about them here, and come meet all of us at the fall kick-off party:

Friday, November 18, 2016
MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre
1120 20th Street NW, Building 1, Washington, DC 20036

Register here!

Apply To Be A 2017 CUCB Race Ambassador!

Race Ambassadors

Do you love running?
Do you look forward to participating in the Runner’s Rite of Spring?
Is the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run one of your favorite races?
Are you passionate about supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals?
Are you an active blogger, Facebook-er, Twitter-er, and/or Instagram-er?

If so, we would love for you to apply to be a 2017 CUCB Race Ambassador! 

>*> apply here <*<

cucblogoAs a 2017 CUCB Race Ambassador you will:

  • attend the CUCB kick-off party on Friday, November 18 at its exciting new location
  • write articles for the CUCB blog under your own byline
  • interact with CUCB and its followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
  • support CUCB fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
  • run your best race on April 2, 2017!

 

As a 2017 CUCB Race Ambassador you will: cucblogo

  • enjoy a free race entry with upgrade options (technical shirt and medal)
  • receive awesome swag from generous CUCB sponsors
  • have access to the Potomac River Running CUCB training program
  • be invited to the pre-race VIP dinner and post-race VIP brunch
  • have access to the VIP tent on race day*
    (*weather permitting!)

The CUCB webpage has more details here.

Applications will be accepted until 500 applications are received or until it’s midnight at the Washington Monument grounds on October 20, 2016, whichever comes first. 

2016 Cherry Blossom Race Recap Party

Race Recap

Congratulations! You just ran the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run or 5K–and you didn’t get blown into the river off Hains Point! We hope you had a great race and want to hear all about it. If you wrote about your race experience on your blog, we would love for you to link it up below.
Race Recap Link Up

You can see your official race results here and your RunPix race results here–and don’t forget to check your email for your virtual goody bag!  If you already are looking forward to 2017–which will be the 45th running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run–you can have a chance to win a free entry by taking this sustainability survey.

CUCB2016 Social Media Team

Your 2016 CUCB Social Media team hopes you had a great race!

How was your race?


RACE DAY HIGH WIND ALERT

Uncategorized

Alert*** WATER STOP UPDATE BELOW***

Based on high wind warnings of expected wind gusts in excess of 50 mph, and in the interest of the safety of our runners and volunteers, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run is implementing a range of race day adjustments.

At the present time, our plans are to move forward with both the 10-mile and 5K, but the Kids’ Run has been cancelled.

We are asking all of our participants to understand that these adjustments are being made for your safety while enabling us to conduct the race at all. These changes include:

  • Elimination of all race signage and overhead structures at the start and finish lines of both races
  • Elimination of all on-course signage including split time clocks
  • Elimination of all tents on the Washington Monument Grounds except for the bag check tent and the main medical tent
  • Elimination of pre-race warm-ups and post-race awards ceremony

After you finish the race, 10 milers will receive heat blankets, water, food and medals as you head north on 15th Street, and then will be encouraged to head home. 5K finishers will receive the same amenities at the finish line of the 5K.

Volunteers are needed now more than ever, please check your inboxes and spam folders  this evening for a note from the volunteer coordinator regarding any changes to your instructions for race day.

Sincerely,

The Organizing Committee

***WATER STOP UPDATE***

The 10 mile course will be supported by 3 water stops (appx. mile 2.5, mile 6, and appx. mile 9). The 5k will not have a water stop, but water bottles will be available at the finish line.

Making the Most of Your #CUCB2016 Expo Experience

Uncategorized
The National Building Museum is a beautiful location for our Expo!
The National Building Museum is a beautiful location for our Expo!

There is always a lot going on at the CUCB Expo, beyond packet pickup: expert clinics, packet pickup “happy hour,” and tons of great booths from the running community. We’ve got the rundown (haha) below to make sure you make sure you make the most of your packet pickup.

Clinic and Happy Hour Schedule

Friday, April 1 

3 – 5 PM: Meet Meb Keflezighi at his first Washington, DC major race appearance. After his clinic, you can stop by the Cabot Running Lounge for an autograph session.

5 PM: Packet Pickup Happy Hour, sponsored by The 201 Bar! Happy Hour will feature beer and Cabot cheese from 5:00 P.M. until the beer runs out. Tickets good for one beer will be distributed to registered participants 21-years-of-age or older starting at 4:30 P.M. on Friday while supplies last. Additional beer tickets available for purchase.

Saturday, April 2 

11 AM – 1 PM: Meet Meb Keflezighi at his first Washington, DC major race appearance. After his clinic, you can stop by the Cabot Running Lounge for an autograph session.
3 PM – 4 PM: Meet Joan Benoit Samuelson, gold medalist in the first-ever Olympic Women’s Marathon in Los Angeles in 1984, Boston Marathon winner in 1979 and 1983, and winner of the 1985 Chicago Marathon women’s title in 1985, where she set an American record for the distance with a time of 2:21:21. She’s running her 4th CUCB and will stick around for autographs at the Credit Union booth from 4 PM – 5 PM.

 

Sustainability

Last year we collected 200 pairs of used running shoes at the Expo, and are proud to host used shoe collection again this year. Give your old running shoes new life thanks to the MORE Foundation!

There isn’t a whole lot of car parking near the Building Museum, but there will be a whole lot of bike parking thanks to Two Wheel Valet! Ride your bike down to pick up your packet to help us uphold our reputation as a Gold Level Council for Responsible Sport event.

Vendor List

26.2 Publishing
Alexandria Double
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Bad to the Bone LLC
BANDI Wear
Battlefield Half Marathon
BaySix
BeeCause Charms
Bondi Band
Cabot Creamery Cooperative
Charm City Run
Corrigan Sports
Credit Union Cherry Blossom
Ten Mile Run Merchandise
Enovative Technologies
Falls Road Running Store
Feet First Sports
Fitletic Sports, LLC (Fitletic)
Fleet Feet Sports Annapolis
FlipBelt
Freedom Fest Marathon (Suffolk County Marathon)
Gold’s Gym
HB Tune
Lasik Vision Institute
Mana Threads
McAdam
MDA Team Momentum
National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Running Center
Nation’s Triathlon
Naute’ Sport llc dba USA-Sport Eyewear
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy-Air Force Half Marathon & Navy 5 Miler
New Balance
Paiges Promotions (for Wyndham)
Potomac River Running, Inc.
RaceDots
Ragnar Relay
Real Time Pain Relief
RooSport
RUseeN Reflective Apparel
Sparkly Soul
Sweatwear Plus
Sweaty Bands
TAPS, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Teens Run DC
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training Program
The Marketing Arm
The Stick
TIDAL ELITE PERFORMANCE CENTER
ZOOMA Women’s Race Series

 

Five Things You Need To Know Before Heading To The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

Race Info

Ok, folks, this is getting REAL! We are only a few days away from The Runner’s Rite of Spring! Today we are sharing five things you need to know BEFORE heading to the Washington Monument grounds on Sunday morning.

cucblogo

  1. The most important thing that runners need to know before the race is that there is NO RACE DAY PACKET PICK UP. That means you need to get yourself to the expo on Friday or Saturday. The good news is that this is a great expo with tons of vendors and a full slate of clinic speakers on both days of the expo. For more information on the schedule and how to pick up a friend’s bib, check out the expo page here.
  2. The next most important thing that runners need to know is that parking around the race venue is very limited, so you should plan to walk, bike, carpool, or Metro on Sunday morning. The Metro system will be opening at 5:00 am. The Smithsonian Station is about 1/4 mile from the start–not even far enough for a warm-up. Click here for more information on getting to the starting line.  The 10 mile run lines up in front on the Washington Monument on 15th Street, parallel to 14th Street. The 5k lines up along the side of the Washington Monument, parallel to Independence Avenue.
  3. Runners also will want to remember is that there is a wave start for the 10 mile run. The elite women’s start is at 7:20 am, with the first wave of the main race starting at 7:30 am, and the next waves going off every 3-5 minutes. Runners will be assigned to waves based on previous race times, and the color of your bib will match the color of your wave. (Expect six waves with about 2,500 runners each.) Read more about the wave start here.
  4. If you run for bling, you will want to check your registration to confirm that you ordered a medal. If you did, you will be able to pick up your medal in the post-race staging area. If you didn’t but wish you did, watch your post-race emails and check the Cherry Blossom website to see if extra medals are for sale after the race–they usually are!
  5. On race day, the most important thing to keep in mind is to RUN YOUR OWN RACE. Whether you trained for a PR or plan to take it easy and enjoy the scenery, YOU GOT THIS. 

If you have more questions, the Cherry Blossom website is chock-full of information! You also can download the app and watch for last-minute updates on the Facebook page.

Don’t forget that we will be hosting a race recap link up party again. Check out last year’s recaps here and plan to share your 2016 race story!

Countdown To Race Day

Race Info

Congratulations, everyone! You’ve made it to race week! In just a few days you will be running the flat, fast course of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run or 5K.

lincoln memorial runners

Last week you should have gotten an email from “info@cherryblossom.org” with TONS of information about race weekend–from packet pick-up, to expo events, to race day logistics, and more. If you didn’t get it, check your spam folder. If you still can’t find it, you can find all the information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run website here.  Continue reading Countdown To Race Day →

Runner Spotlight: Deborah Brooks

Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Goals, Running, Training, , , , , ,
Shh...don't tell anyone Supergirl's secret identity!
Shh…don’t tell anyone Supergirl’s secret identity!

I met Deborah Brooks when I was running past a water stop during my first half marathon. She is a Moms Run This Town (MRTT) Chapter leader in McLean, VA where she has successfully raised a husband and two teens.  She currently coaches Girls on The Run and hopes that she is helping to inspire the next generation of female runners. As a lifelong vegetarian, she is passionate about healthy living and exercise. She loves to showcase her vegetarian creations each week on her “Confessions of a Mother Runner” blog’s Meatless Monday link up. You will find her running with her crew or sweating it out at the gym training for the next crazy race someone talked her into. Continue reading Runner Spotlight: Deborah Brooks →

Ten Places To Eat After Running Cherry Blossom

Race Info

You’ve just run ten miles (or a 5k) and ROCKED the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Race – congrats! Now – you are hungry and a banana won’t cut it. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Whether you are down to walk to brunch or you’d rather take the metro, check out this list of ten places to eat and start planning!

cucblogo

Walking Distance

Old Ebbitt Grill – It’s a classic. Plus, you might luck out with a celebrity (and by celebrity, I mean DC celebrity – a politician) sighting.

Founding Farmers – This place has literally almost anything you might want post race. PLUS a great bar – for a well deserved mimosa!

Teaisim – Lots of great, lighter food items and an incredibly interesting tea selection.

Le Pain Quotidien – Awesome French take on brunch at really reasonable prices. It’s a personal favorite of mine (and my husband!).

Shake Shack – Excellent burgers, fries and shakes if you are willing to wait until 11am when they open.

Metro Distance

Take the Orange Line to the Eastern Market Metro Stop and you will have plenty of great options:

Ted’s Bulletin – Diner style food, lots of fun and boozy milkshakes. Plus homemade pop tarts!

Matchbox – Amazing cinnamon buns plus some of the best pizza in the city!

Lavagna – Delicious brunch with a bottomless Mimosa option.

Or, take the Orange Line in the other direction to Clarendon (in Virginia) and check out one of these options:

Lyon Hall – A classic French brasserie vibe with a fantastic brunch menu that runs from muesli to steak tartare, and everything in between.

Fuego Cocina –  Great Mexican food in a casual setting, offering a three-course brunch menu and margaritas. (Opens at 11:00)

You really can’t go wrong with this list — and, with the exception of Shake Shack and Fuego Cocina, they all open at 10am or earlier!

Have fun and enjoying refueling after your race!