Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run & 5K Walk/Run

ASICS Beginner Training

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 Ten Mile Beginner Training Program Presented by ASICS

 

February 13 – February 19, 2023

 

Overview: In week 4, your longest walk-run is 48 minutes, with longer distances between walking breaks or none at all. Don’t worry about the walk-run approach, as soon you will be running non-stop. You may feel like you are working harder, and you are!!  Want to share your training experience? Join our 10 Mile Virtual Training Facebook page.

Monday, February 13, 2023

    • Rest Day
    • Tip: Think about visiting a running specialty store in person or online to pick up a new pair of running shoes and some hi-tech running clothes for training. For friendly, expert advice visit REI or Potomac River Running, our official retail partners. They have the latest shoes and high-tech apparel including from ASICS, our official shoe and apparel sponsor. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

    • Time:  40 minutes
    • Goal:   Walk 1 minute, run 9 minutes (4 times)
    • Tip:   Keep your arms and shoulders relaxed while running.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

    • Time: 27 minutes
    • Goal: Walk 1 minute, run 8 minutes (3 times)
    • Tip:  If you are looking for a training partner or a running group to help with motivation, Our 10 Mile Virtual Training Facebook page may help you find one.  You can also contact your local running club. Visit the RRCA to find a running club near you.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

    • Time:  40 minutes
    • Goal:   Walk 1 minute, run 9 minutes (4 times)
    • Tip:   Try to maintain a conversational effort at all times. You should not be completely out of breath.

Friday, February 17, 2023

    • Rest Day
    • Tip:   If you want to stretch on your rest day, before you do, go for a brisk walk or an easy ride on an exercise bicycle to warm up your muscles. Never stretch cold muscles.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

    • Time: 48 minutes
    • Goal: Walk 1 minute, run 11 minutes (4 times)
    • Tip:   You should start getting used to only having very short walking breaks. You can skip the walking break if you feel you do not need it.  It is really important to stay hydrated on these longer runs.  Consider training with the same drink that will be served on race day by drinking Gatorade Endurance Formula, the Official Sports Fuel Provider of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile race.

Sunday, February 19, 2023

    • Time:  30 minutes
    • Goal:  Walk 1 minute, run 14 minutes (2 times)
    • Tip:    Try to keep your shoulders relaxed while running. Arms should swing like a pendulum.