Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is one of the United States' most storied spring road races, held on the first Sunday in April to coincide with the peak of Washington, DC's cherry blossom season. First run in 1973 as a tune-up race for elite runners heading to the Boston Marathon, it has grown into a bucket-list event that draws roughly 21,000 runners across six color-coded starting waves. The 10-mile (16.1 km) course starts on 15th Street near the Washington Monument grounds and loops past the Tidal Basin, the Jefferson Memorial, Hains Point/East Potomac Park, and the Kennedy Center before finishing back near the Washington Monument, all framed by the city's blooming cherry trees. Entry is by lottery only: the primary application window runs December 14, 2026 through January 5, 2027, with guaranteed spots reserved for 100 Mile Club members, past 'Two-Time Losers,' seeded runners who meet qualifying times, and charity fundraisers who commit to a $500 minimum for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the race's benefiting charity. A companion 5K run-walk (also lottery-entry starting in 2027) and Kids Run take place the day before. The 10 Mile enforces a 14-minute-per-mile pace, a 2-hour-20-minute cutoff from each runner's individual start.