Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kids Run presented by Warner Bros. Discovery

BIG CHANGES THIS YEAR - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024
New Starting Time for 2024: 11:00 am
New Location for 2024: The Kids Run will stage on Freedom Plaza and start and finish at the 5K starting line on Pennsylvania Ave. between 12th and 13th Sts. The event will take place after the conclusion of the 5K.
New Location for Packet Pick-up: Packet pick-up will take place on Friday at the National Building Museum (401 F St., NW) and on Saturday at Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW).

Registration for the 2024 Kids Run is now open!  We will accept registrations for kids aged 4 - 10.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom 1/2 Mile Kids Run will start and finish at Freedom Plaza (the site of the Cherry Blossom 5K at 1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004).

The race is on an out-and-back course down Pennsylvania Ave. and is closely monitored by sentries. Parents are allowed to run with their children.

Limited to the first 500 to register.

Registration

Online registration will remain open until 11:59 pm on Monday, March 25, as long as the 500-runner maximum has not been reached. There will also be in-person registration (again as long as the 500-runner maximum has not been reached) at the Expo from 2 pm - 7:30 pm on Friday, April 5, and at Freedom Plaza (in the Kids Run Staging Area) on Saturday, April 6 from 9:30 am - 10:45 am.

Race Details

Ages: The Kids Run is for children ages 4-10.

Race Start Time: 11:00 am on Saturday, April 6, 2024

Fee: $10. Includes t-shirt.

Packet Pick-up: Packet pick-up for registered Kids Run participants will take place on Friday, April 5 inside the National Building Museum between 3:00 pm and 7:45 pm, and on Saturday,  April 6, between 9:30 am and 10:45 am in the check-in tent at Freedom Plaza (1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004).

Registration: Registration for the Kids Run has closed.

Awards: No times or places will be kept, but all finishers will receive a medal.

Course: CLICK HERE for the Kids Run Course Map and Staging Area Map

Kids Run Information:

• For security reasons as required by Metropolitan DC Police, every parent or guardian of a Kids Run entrant will need to locate and remove a detachable wrist band on the top of each child's bib number. The wrist band will be imprinted with the same number as each child's bib number. The responsible adult(s) will detach and wear the wrist band around their wrist. After the run, kids will be released from the secure Parent-Child Reunion Area only to adults with a wrist band matching the child's bib number.
• Every child on the race course must be registered and wear a bib number. Parents may choose to run with their child, but at least one parent must be wearing a wristband matching the bib number of their child.
• Accompanying adults may need to wear multiple wristbands as necessary for multiple child participants.
• Individual participants will run by age group, starting with 4-year olds and continuing by 1-year increments up to 10 years of age. It is likely there will be multiple heats in each age group, especially among the younger ages.
• Within each age group, heats will consist of approximately 25 participants.  Each heat will take about 8 to 10 minutes. The four-year-olds will run first, followed by the five-year-olds and on up in ascending order.
• Each age group will be called into the pre-race staging area by the announcer. From the pre-race staging area, children will be organized into heats and moved on to the Kids Run course.
• Participants will finish and be directed to a secure post-race reunion area. Children will only be released to the appropriate responsible adult wearing the wristband that matches the child's bib number. NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE. Any children not matched with an adult in the secure parent-child reunion area will be referred to on-site security personnel.

Kirt West Beginner 5K Training Program Presented by ASICS

February 20 – February 26, 2023

Overview: Week 5 continues to reduce the amount of walking while increasing running time. Don’t worry if you miss an occasional workout. Doing most of the workouts will result in success on race day.

Monday, February 20, 2023

• • Rest Day
  • Tip:   Think how far you have already come from your first day of training. You have just finished your first month of training. Six weeks to go before the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K Run-Walk. If you have followed the first four weeks of training, you are on target to be able to run the entire 5K on race day without walking.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

• • Time: 25 minutes
  • Goal: Walk 1 minute, run 4 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip:   As the runs get longer, try to find a route where there is a water fountain or carry a water bottle filled with a sports drink such as Gatorade Endurance Formula to stay properly hydrated. Gatorade Endurance Formula, the Official Sports Fuel Provider of the Cherry Blossom 5K, will be available on the course on race day.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

• • Time:  Rest Day or optional 35-minute walk
  • Goal:   Walk at a brisk pace
  • Tip:    Spend your time off stretching, doing light weights and/or Yoga/Pilates. Consider going for a leisurely walk.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

• • Time: 25 minutes
  • Goal: Walk 1 minute, run 4 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip:  Keep focused on your goal of running. You can skip or reduce the walking breaks if you are feeling good.

Friday, February 24, 2023

• • Rest Day
  • Tip:    Make sure you are getting a lot of sleep.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

• • Time:  18 minutes
  • Goal:   Walk 1 minute, run 5 minutes (3 times)
  • Tip:    Try to run as long as possible without a walking break. Instead of stopping to walk, try slowing down a bit and see if you can keep running.

Sunday, February 26, 2023

• • Time:  30 minutes
  • Goal:   Walk 1 minute, run 5 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip:       It should start feeling easier.