10 November, 2006

CONTACTS: (Please do not publish these numbers.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

On-Line Entry for 2007 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Runâ Opens at 10 a.m. on December 11

WASHINGTON – Runners from the Washington Metropolitan area and around the country will get their first glimpse of spring when the on-line entry process for the 2007 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Runâ opens at 10 a.m. sharp on Monday, Dec. 11. The race, known as the “Runner’s Rite of Spring,” will be held April 1, 2007 on the traditional flat, fast, and scenic course starting and finishing in West Potomac Park. Entries will be taken online at www.cherryblossom.org. Mail-in entries will be mailed in early December and may be returned as soon as they are received. Runners should enter using only one of the two methods. Everyone who entered the race last year – even those who were rejected – will receive a mail-in entry form and an email reminder about the opening of the on-line process. Prospective registrants who did not run last spring may request the email reminder or the mail-in form on-line at www.cherryblossom.org, by calling the race hotline at 301-320-3350, or by mailing a request to Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, PO Box 5366, Rockville, MD 20848. The race is limited to 10,000 finishers and is expected to fill up quickly once again.

The 2007 event marks the 35th running of the race and the organizers plan a number of special activities, including appearances by past winners, special mugs for runners who better the 1973 winning times of 51:22 for men and 71:19 for women, special participation awards to all finishers, and a record amount of prize money and time bonuses totaling $35,000.

The event is the Washington Metropolitan area’s only World Class running event and it has attracted Olympic Gold Medallists, World Champions and world-record holders. ``This is the only opportunity to run in the same event with, or to come out and watch, world-class athletes running on the streets of Washington, D.C.,” said Event Director Phil Stewart.

This year the sponsoring Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. has set a goal of raising over $500,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, bringing the total dollars raised to nearly $2 million since 2002. Last year, $275,000 of the funds raised went to Washington, DC’s own Children’s Hospital. The event also supports American distance running by underwriting two $5,000 grants for up-and-coming U.S. stars through the RRCA Roads Scholar program.

The event is part of the Professional Road Running Organization Circuit and will serve as the Road Runner’s Club of America’s National 10 Mile Championship. In addition to title sponsorship from Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. and its affiliated Credit Unions and Partners, the event enjoys supporting sponsorship from Gatorade, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Metro Run & Walk.

The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run takes place on the opening weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festivalâ, a two-week celebration of sporting and cultural events that celebrates the blossoming of the fabled trees donated to this country by Japan in the early 20th century.