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 6 – 12, 2023

Overview: Week 3 will have you continuing to increase your total running time while decreasing walking. Returning runners may want to end the walking breaks altogether. Don’t worry about your pace as it will increase over the next seven weeks. It is more important that you get used to longer total running times. It is okay if you find that you need to take a slightly longer walking break but try to limit it as much as possible. Your goal is to complete the race running the entire time. Join our 5K virtual training Facebook page.

Monday, February 6, 2023

• • Rest Day
  • Tip:  Days off are important to let your body assimilate the gains from your training and to let you recover from hard efforts. Use the rest day to do moderate upper body weights or attend a Yoga or Pilates class.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

• • Time:  25 minutes
  • Goal:   Walk 2 minutes, run 3 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip:   It can be very dangerous to run with headphones outdoors in isolated areas or on roads with traffic. Always be aware of your surroundings.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

• • Time:  Rest Day or optional 30-minute walk
  • Goal:   Walk at a brisk pace
  • Tip:     When walking or running on a road, always run facing traffic and be alert for oncoming vehicles.Wear reflective clothing and use a flashing red light when it is dark outside.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

• • Time: 25 minutes
  • Goal: Walk 2 minutes, run 3 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip: You should be able to hold a conversation during the running portion of the workout. If you are out of breath, try slowing down.

Friday, February 10, 2023

• • Rest Day
  • Tip: Don’t worry if you need more sleep as your body adapts to running. Athletes generally need more rest when engaged in a vigorous exercise program.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

• • Time: 20 minutes
  • Goal: Walk 2 minutes, run 3 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip: You are getting stronger and should start feeling like you do not need to walk as much. Make sure to continue to hydrate with a sports drink such as Gatorade Endurance Formula, the Official Sports Fuel Provider of the Cherry Blossom 5K.

Sunday, February 12, 2023

• • Time:  30 minutes
  • Goal: Walk 2 minutes, run 3 minutes (5 times)
  • Tip:  Stretch your calves, Achilles tendons, hamstrings, quadriceps and groin after your run.