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 Advanced 10 Mile Training Program Presented by ASICS

Week of March 27- Apr. 2, 2023

Overview: Week 10 is a taper week with lots of rest in which weekly mileage is reduced by 50%. Your goal is to be fresh and fully recovered on race day. Easy days should be low mileage accompanied by rest days. If you are planning to run both the 5K and 10 mile races, consider taking more rest days.

Monday, March 27, 2023

• • Goal:    Rest day or easy recovery run of 3-5 miles.    
  • Tip:      Taper continues with less than one week to go. Your main goal now is to be fully rested on Sunday.

Tuesday March 28, 2023

• • Distance:     4-6 miles
  • Goal:    Easy run.
  • Tip:      Make sure you are stretching and staying hydrated. If you feel strong, you can run a mile at race pace followed by an easy mile and run a second mile at race pace.

Wednesday March 29, 2023

• • Goal:    Rest day.
  • Tip:      REST, REST, REST. It is important to stay hydrated during this taper.

Thursday March 30, 2023

• • Distance:     3-5 miles
  • Goal:    Very slow jog.
  • Tip:        This is one of your last easy runs before the Credit Union Cherry Blossom race. You should go out very leisurely. Start mentally preparing for the race.

Friday March 31, 2023    

• • Goal:    Rest day or optional easy recovery run of 3-4 miles.
  • Tip:      Consider picking up your packet if possible at the Health & Fitness Expo presented by Wegmans at the National Building Museum after it opens at 3:00 P.M.. This will mean less time on your feet on Saturday. Remember there is no packet pick-up at the race site on Sunday.

Saturday April 1, 2023

• • Goal:    Rest day or optional easy jog of 15-20 minutes.
  • Tip:      Today is the last day to pick up your number at the Health and Fitness Expo presented by Wegmans at the National Building Museum between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. You can speed up the process by bringing your confirmation email or having it on your mobile device. Take advantage of the merchants and pick up some great running gear. Eat a nice pasta dinner. Lay out your running gear the night before the race and pin your number on the race singlet or shirt. Check the race website to review transportation options. Although Metro will not be open for getting to the race, it will be available for your return from the race. The race starts at 7:30 A.M. With your training done, you can plan how to help the race be an environmentally friendly event by reviewing our sustainability page at https://www.cherryblossom.org/about/sustainability/.

Sunday April 2, 2023

• • RACE DAY
  • Tip:    Try to get to the race by 6:30 A.M., an hour before the 7:30 A.M. start. With Metro unavailable for getting to the race, check the race website for recommended transportation alternatives. Metro will be open for your trip home after the race. After you arrive, place your gear in the clear plastic bag-check bag you received at packet-pick-up and check it at the UPS Bag Check trucks; get in line early for the porta-potties. Closely follow the announcements regarding the appropriate time to assemble at the starting line. Line up with your pre-assigned wave at the start. Run easy for the first 10 to 15 minutes. AVOID GOING OUT TOO FAST. Run for the first few minutes comfortably. Zigzagging around other runners during the first mile when the course is the most crowded is counter-productive. The few seconds you save at the beginning may cost you minutes at the end of the race because of expending needless energy. Slowly pick up your pace until you are at your goal pace by the end of the first mile. Try to run steady and comfortably. You can always pick up the pace the last few miles. GOOD LUCK!