8 March 2007

CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers. THE NUMBER FOR PUBLICATION IS THE RACE HOTLINE AT 301-320-3350 AND THE WEBSITE IS WWW.CHERRYBLOSSOM.ORG):

Frank McNally
Media Coordinator
703-801-2566 (cell); 703 572-4040 (d); 540-338-5648 (e)

Phil Stewart
Event Director
301-320-6865

Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run Celebrates 35th Running with International Field and $35,000 in Prize and Bonus Money

WASHINGTON – Back in 1973, a small band of less than 200 runners toed the line at the first running of the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile. On April 1, 2007, 10,000 runners will line up at 7:55 a.m. in West Potomac Park to continue the tradition as the event marks its 35th running. The weekend will be full of history with appearances by four-time champion Bill Rodgers and other past winners of the event.

The eyes of the world-class runners, who make this race an annual stop on their tour of the world’s elite road races, will be on Kenyan road racing ace John Korir, who seeks to extend his streak of odd-year-only victories to four. If he is successful and adds to his wins in 2001, 2003 and 2005, he will match Rodgers as the only runner to win the prestigious event four times. Rodgers’ wins came in consecutive years from 1978 through 1981. 

Event Director Phil Stewart expects to announce in the next two weeks the names of other talented additions to the elite athlete field, who will be chasing after a record $35,000 in prize money and bonuses in the Metropolitan area’s only world class running event. The men’s and women’s winners will earn $6,000 each.
The organizers expect the total of charity donations made by the sponsoring Credit Unions and race participants since 2002 to surpass $2 million dollars. The primary recipient of these funds is the Children’s Miracle Network, a national consortium of 170 children’s hospitals across the U.S. Funds raised by Credit Unions in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area go to the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. Funds raised from outside the Metropolitan area go to CMN affiliates in the home states of the participating Credit Unions.

Entries to the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® closed out in December. With 10,000 participants expected, the organizers, with the support of the Credit Unions, have arranged to have Metro begin its operations an hour early — at 6 a.m. — on Sunday morning, April 1st. Shuttle buses will provide round-trip service between the Metro Center and L’Enfant Plaza Metro stops to the race site.

The course starts and finishes in West Potomac Park and includes stretches of Independence Ave., Memorial Bridge and an out-and-back segment on Rock Creek Parkway. In addition to the Ten Mile Run, there will be a 5K Run-Walk (also closed) and a 1K Kids' Run. Spectators are invited to see all the action starting with the elite women’s start at 7:45 a.m. and the mass start at 7:55 a.m.

The event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Professional Road Running Organization Circuit.