10 March 2014

Media Contact Information:
(not for publication)

Keith Peters, Media Coordinator
307-690-6803 or [email protected]

Website: www.cherryblossom.org

March 10, 2014, Washington, DC: The 42nd running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run—the “Runners Rite of Spring®”—will be held in Washington, DC on April 6, as part of the 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival, and will feature many of America’s top male and female distance runners. They will be competing in the USA Men’s and Women’s 10 Mile Championships Presented By America’s Credit Unions, with the women starting first in order to allow their efforts and any potential records to be recognized as coming from a women’s only race.

“Last year was our first to host a USA 10 Mile Championship event,” said Phil Stewart, Event Director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run, “and Janet Bawcom set the single-sex American Record of 53:28. Our hope in adding the men’s championship to the women’s this year is that the longstanding men’s American Record of 46:13, set at this event in April 1983 by Greg Meyer, will finally be broken.”

Greg Meyer, who will be on hand over race weekend, hopes so too: "The Cherry Blossom 10 Mile win and record is one of my most cherished memories in running. While it's an honor to hold an American Record, it's time someone else owned it! My gosh, it's older than most of the Americans competing! I can't wait to see someone break it!"

While the announcement of the competitive men’s and women’s fields is still a couple of weeks away, an early commitment has been received from last year’s American Champion and American Record holder, Janet Bawcom.

With the U.S. Championship purses being added to the traditional international purse, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run will offer over $80,000 in prize money and bonuses this year. If an American man were to win the race and break the American record with a sub-46:00 time, he would earn $16,500. The last American man to win the race was Chris Fox in 1990. If an American woman were to win the race, and break the American record with a sub 52:00 time, she would also take home $16,500. The last American woman to win the race was Joan Nesbit in 1996.

Over 26,000 runners submitted applications to participate in the 2014 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk, and the list of accepted runners represents all 50 states and 14 foreign countries. With a field limit of 15,000 established by the National Park Service and selected by lottery in December, not everyone who hoped to run will be able to participate in this year’s “Runners Rite of Spring ®”.

Since 2002, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K Run-Walk have raised over $6 million for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and a significant portion of that sum has been raised by Charity Race Entrants.

About the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile:

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom is known as “The Runner’s Rite of Spring®,” and is the only truly elite road race in our Nation’s capital. The staging area for the event is on the Washington Monument Grounds and the course passes in sight of all of the major Washington, DC Memorials. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a consortium of 170 premier children’s hospitals across the United States. About one-third of the funds raised support Washington, DC’s own Children’s National Medical Center (“Children’s Hospital”). The event also funds two $5,000 Road Runners Club of America “Roads Scholar” grants designed to support up-and-coming U.S. distance running talent.

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is a proud member of the Professional Road Running Organization (PRRO) Circuit. PRRO is an alliance of race directors who together organize the PRRO Circuit, a nationwide series of premier non-marathon road racing events. The PRRO Circuit races share a common commitment for a drug-free sport. All the circuit events pay for elite athlete drug testing in partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Circuit events include the World's Best 10K in San Juan, PR; the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA; the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, NY; and the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA. A trip to the PRRO Race of Champions at the 2014 AJC Peachtree Road Race on July 4, 2014 will be awarded to the first local man and woman.

Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit union suppliers, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk. PSCU is the lead financial partner of Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. Supporting sponsors include New Balance, Gatorade, Navy Federal Credit Union, Larabar, Potomac River Running and BAE Systems.

Complete information about the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk can be found at: http://www.cherryblossom.org. 

About America’s Credit Unions:

Credit unions provide consumers choices for financial services such as checking accounts, investments and loans of all kinds including mortgages. Funds are federally insured, but unlike banks, there are no stockholders at credit unions. Earnings are returned to member-owners in the form of lower loan rates, higher savings rates, low or no-fee products and services. The credit union philosophy of placing members’ needs first is why more than 98.9 million Americans do their banking at one of America’s 6,800 credit unions. Credit unions are for everyone—no matter where you live, there is a credit union to meet your needs.

To find a credit union near you visit: www.asmarterchoice.org or www.culookup.com

About the National Cherry Blossom Festival:

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is the nation's greatest springtime celebration. The 2014 Festival, March 20 – April 13, includes three spectacular weeks and four weekends of events featuring diverse and creative programming promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. The 2014 Festival commemorates the 102nd anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.

For more information visit: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.