I have run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler the last 3 years in a
row. The first time I ran it in 2013 I got in through the regular lottery
process where you fill out an online registration within a certain window of
time and once registration is closed over 15,000 or so individuals are randomly
selected to run the race (The official race site results stated that this year
there were 17,887 finishers for the 10 Miler) many people also get in as part
of the race’s official charity group the Children’s Miracle Network, with guaranteed
entries as volunteers from the previous year, or as part of their company’s
team (usually companies that provide sponsorship to the race)
In 2014 my entry was not chosen but when it came time for
the “transfer/deferral period” I kept a constant eye on the official transfer
blog where those who got in but can no longer run and those who did not get in
but want to run can post what they are willing to “sell” or “buy” and I got my
entry from a young lady who had unfortunately broken her ankle and could no
longer participate. Per the official race page the person transferring their
entry cannot charge more than what they paid for their entry but in reality
these transactions are done independently from the official race site so some
greedy people could definitely over charge a very eager runner looking to get
in. The recipient of the transferred entry is only required to pay a transfer
fee on the official race site. Basically the whole process could have the
potential for some scammers so I suggest if you are looking for a race entry
first have the person offering you their bib set up the transfer and then once
it goes through send them the money. Hopefully you as recipients are a good
moral person and will pay the seller what was agreed upon… if not I’m sure they
could dispute it.
After not having been selected by the lottery process in
2014 I decided I wanted to ensure an entry for 2015 and signed up to volunteer
as a race number lookup assistant at the race expo. It was a 4 hour shift and
time flew by. Make sure you sign in when you get there that way you ensure that
you get the guaranteed entry code for the next year…it’s usually sent out a few
weeks before the lottery opens.
So this year I got in with the volunteer code I earned in
2014 but was still able to find my boyfriend an entry using the same method as
my 2014 entry….granted that method is very stressful and time consuming.
For this year’s race I also volunteered at the expo in
order to ensure my 2016 entry...also as a runner one should give back to the running
community. If it wasn’t for volunteers none of us would be able to run.
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| Saturday morning Packet Pickup...not too crowded this year |
The Expo:
The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Expo is typically held the
Friday and Saturday prior to race day at the National Building Museum located
right by the Judiciary Square metro station. This expo isn’t as big as those I
have seen in the past but it still has a good assortment of running goodies for
purchase.
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| A view from the second floor balcony of the expo |
If you get to the expo right when it opens both days or if
you go right during lunch time/after work on Friday chances are you will be
waiting in line a bit longer than if you waited for some random time like maybe
2PM on Friday. Nevertheless things move along at a steady pace so if those
times are most convenient for you then go for it. Make sure you have your photo
ID and your bib number ready as these are required to get your packet. Also
make sure to read the requirements for picking up by proxy if you are having
someone else pick up your bib or you are getting someone else’s. I volunteered
at this year’s expo on Saturday morning for packet pickup and the lines were
not as long as in the past as this year’s Friday packet pickup also included a
free happy hour that enticed people to stop by early and it worked as we were
told that Friday was pretty hectic.
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| My long sleeve volunteer shirt...the official race shirt had the same image on the front and was also cotton but had short sleeves and was heather grey |
The Race:
The race begins and ends on 15th street next to
the Washington Monument. The weather for race day the last two years and this
year has been great not too cold and not too hot with no rain. This year was definitely
much warmer than last year which made this a very pleasant run.
The race takes you from 15th Street right onto Independence
Avenue towards Memorial Bridge where you cross the bridge round the traffic circle
before Arlington Cemetery and make your way back across the bridge towards the
Kennedy Center where you turn back around right before the intersection with F
St and make your way back on Rock Creek Parkway onto Ohio Drive around the
Tidal Basin and then around Hains Point making your way around the Tidal Basin
to the Washington Monument and the finish. This year unfortunately there was an
accident involving a pedestrian being struck by a motorcycle on part of the
course prior to the race that caused the race to be rerouted around mile 4 to
allow the Parks Police to investigate the incident. As of this time the actual
course distance has not been officially determined but many believe it is about
9.52 miles…I forgot my GPS watch so I was unable to formulate my own opinion.
The new course instead of continuing for miles 4-6 on Ohio Drive along the
Potomac had a turnaround at mile 4 at the intersection of Ohio Dr and West
Basin Drive then back along Independence Avenue and onto East Basin Drive where
the course got back on track on Ohio Drive.
This race has a field of about 30,000 participants which
means it can get very crowded. In the past I have swerved past people as I made
my way through the course and while annoying I didn’t really care too much…this
year I decided to pace my boyfriend who really isn’t a runner but decided he
would run with me after I asked him to. He has a slower pace than I do by about
30-45 seconds per mile so throughout the race I had to make sure I was still
with him…this was made more difficult by the numerous people all around that we
either passed or were passed by. The weather on race day was very pleasant not
too chilly in the morning and it did not get too warm as the race progressed.
Shorts and a tank top or t-shirt would be ideal during the race…at the start a
sweatshirt or other top would be useful as it was colder then and many people
waited in their corals for the race to start…having my office only a few blocks
away is very convenient…we stayed there indoors and used the building restrooms
until about 15 minutes before the race start. If you do not have this luxury
you should make sure to get to the race with enough time to do bag check and
use the bathroom if needed…the race provides a good number of porto potties but
there will always be lines. The race organization donates any discarded clothes
to charity which is awesome so if you do need to stand in your corral a bit
longer make sure to bring clothes you may no longer need or would like to
donate…that way you can stay warm and not have to worry about checking those
items.
The finish festival looked pretty awesome especially since
it was nice a sunny out. The festival took place on the lawn between the
Washington Monument and Constitution Avenue. This was setup with several tents
housing bag check, food and water, and where one could pick up their finisher
medal…the medals are not included in the race price they are an add on so you
do not get them as soon as you cross the finish you have to go to the medal
tent where they check your bib to make sure did indeed select the medal option.
The finish festival also had live music which was awesome….my boyfriend and I
sat in the grass while we waited for my friend to finish the race.
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| The 2015 Cherry Blossom Finisher Medal |
At this time as I previously mentioned the official course
length has not been determined and therefore my official race time is unavailable.
Overall I would recommend this race if you are not dead set
on achieving a PR and don’t mind the crowded races. The scenery is beautiful
and the weather this time of year is usually quite pleasant. The cost for this
race is reasonable with or without the medal and/or tshirt upgrade…the tshirts
are standard cotton in unisex sizes but can be upgraded to gender specific tech
if you so desire and do not mind paying a premium. So if you can be sure to
sign up for the lottery email notification for next year’s race.
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