The Lottery

The 2026 fields for the 10 Mile (Sunday, April 12) and the Double Blossom (5K on Saturday, April 11 and 10 Mile on Sunday, April 12) will be determined by lottery. (There is no lottery for the 5K if that is the only race you wish to run; registration for the 5K will open on January 5 and is first-come, first-served. Click Here for 5K Registration information.)

Here is how the lottery system will work. Prospective entrants will be able to register for the lottery starting on December 1, 2025 on the event website, www.cherryblossom.org. Lottery registration will close on December 15, 2025.  When registering, prospective entrants will complete and submit the entire entry form including the credit card information. However, credit cards will not be charged unless the applicant is selected.

Entry Fees

The entry fees for 2025 have not yet been determined, but will be posted here as soon as they become available.

(Please note that pre-registration is required for the 2025 Kids Run, but it will be held on a first-come, first-served basis and will open in early January 2026. The Kids Run is limited to 500 entrants.)

Lottery Groups

Lottery Groups: The lottery will be able to handle “Lottery Groups” of up to 10 people. This is designed to allow families and other groups either to get in or not get in as a “Group.” Each “Group” has exactly the same chance of getting in as each single individual. The first person in a “Group” will set up the group, give it a name and register himself or herself as the first member of the Group. When subsequent members go to register, they will be able to affiliate with that “Group” by using a drop down menu on the registration form. Please note that no additional members can be added to a “Lottery Group” after the lottery period closes.  The “Lottery Groups” exist only for purposes of entering the lottery. Once the lottery is held, the “Lottery Groups” are disbanded. Lottery Groups may consist of runners entered in both the 10 Mile and the Double Blossom. The event the runner who creates the Lottery Group registers for will determine if the Lottery Group is entered into the 10 Mile Run or Double Blossom lottery; both will have an equal chance of acceptance.

Once this registration period is closed, the accepted runners will be selected from those who registered for the lottery. All lottery registrants will also receive an email indicating their status (these emails may precede the posting of the list on the website). Individuals (and members of Lottery Groups) not selected will not have their credit cards charged for the entry fee or for any ancillary items purchased such as the “Upgrade” performance shirts, medals and carbon offsets.

Entry into the Double Blossom (5K on Saturday and 10 Mile on Sunday)

If you wish to enter BOTH races – the 5K on Saturday, April 11 and the 10 Mile on Sunday, April 12 – you must enter the lottery and select Double Blossom as your event. If your entry is successful, you will then be entered into BOTH races at the same time (and your credit card will be charged for both races). If you are not successful in gaining entry through the lottery, your credit card will not be charged for either race. 

Note: If you are accepted into the lottery for the 10 Mile, you are allowed to register for the 5K if 5K registration is still open and run both races, but you will NOT be entered into the Double Blossom. So if you want to do the Double Blossom, be sure to sign up for that event when lottery registration opens. There is no way to switch into the Double Blossom later – if you want to do the Double Blossom, entering the lottery is your only opportunity to gain entry.

Please consult the “FAQs” on the website for more detailed answers to questions regarding the lottery.

2026 Lottery Notification List

If you entered the 2025 event, we have your email address and will send you in late November an email notification of the opening of the lottery. If you did not enter the 2025 10 Mile, 5K or Double Blossom and you wish to receive notification of the 2026 entry process by e-mail, or if your email address changes, please click the link below and complete the Notification Request form.

NOTE: We cannot be responsible for your email host failing to deliver our emails. For instructions on how to maximize your chances of our emails being properly delivered, CLICK HERE.