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Event Background

or runners in Washington since 1973, the true beginning of spring is marked not by a date on the calendar but by the
Frunning of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run, also known as The Runner’s Rite of Spring.® See The Run-
ner’s Rite of Spring®
Elite competitors have used the race as a final competitive tune-up for the Boston Marathon two weeks later. Bill Rodgers,
Greg Meyer, and Lisa Larsen Weidenbach all went on to win Boston after their victories here.
For lesser mortals, Cherry Blossom means a chance to doff the warm-up suits, turtlenecks, caps and gloves of winter and
join other runners in a celebration of the season. Here in Washington, the race has become as fixed a rite of spring as the
Easter Egg Roll at the White House or the lighting of the Japanese lanterns on the Tidal Basin.
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. While there have been numerous iterations of the 10-mile course over the years, one element
has been constant—The Runner’s Rite of Spring has always been the only truly elite running race to be held in the Nation’s
Capital.
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. To date, nearly $9 million has been raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the United
States. 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.
Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., a consortium of credit unions and credit union suppliers in partnership with CUNA
Mutual Group and PSCU, is the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, 5K Run-Walk and Kids’
Run. Other sponsors include Garmin, the presenting technology sponsor; and supporting sponsors E-Trade, Gatorade,
Gold’s Gym, Honey Stinger, Mamma Lucia, MedStar Sports Medicine, ParkMobile, Peet’s Coffee, Potomac River Running,
Surburban Solutions, Under Armour and UPS.

The 46 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile was the 2017-18 championship event for the Professional Road Running
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Organization (PRRO) Circuit, a non-marathon prize money circuit The circuit is committed to a drug-free sport and funds
Clearidium to conduct drug testing at all circuit events in compliance with the standards of international and U.S. drug
testing authorities.
Last year’s event was the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) National Ten Mile Championship, part of the 60 RRCA
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Anniversary being celebrated at their Annual Convention in Arlington, Virginia.
With sanctions from USA Track & Field and the Road Runners Club of America, the Runner’s Rite of Spring is also an
official activity of the nation’s greatest springtime celebration—The National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2019 Festival
commemorates the 107 anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the
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United States and Japan.
Finally, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is committed to environmental and social sustainability, and has
been awarded Gold Level Inspire Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport for the past three years in recog-
nition of its legacy of certified responsible performance as well as its commitment to mentor other events interested in
becoming more sustainable (www.councilforresponsiblesport.org).

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2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Media Guide 7