Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K Presented by ASICS

Saturday, April 11, 2026
Army-Navy Dr. at S. Fern St., Arlington, VA
Time: 8 a.m.

For everyone’s safety, RUNNING WITH A STROLLER IS NOT PERMITTED.
Running with a dog is NOT permitted.
Running with headphones is strongly discouraged.

All 5K entrants receive the official 10Mile/5K cotton race t-shirt (5K-specific technical performance upgrade shirts and finisher medals may be purchased at registration), their overall times and places in the event, and post-race food and drink. All runners will be scored on net times.

Race Registration

Registration for the 5K on April 11 will open on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Entry Fees

The entry fees* for the 2026 races are as follows:

• • 10 Mile – $64
  • 5K – $47
  • Double Blossom – $111

*Fees listed here do not include processing fees.

Course

We have a new 5K course for 2026! This year the 5K will start on Army-Navy Dr. at S. Fern St. in Arlington, VA, just a couple blocks from our race headquarters hotel at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

Click Here for a Google Earth map of the course. A more detailed map will be posted here when it becomes available.

Medals

In order to keep our race registration fees low, we do not give medals to all finishers. If you would like to receive a medal when you finish the race, you may purchase a standard medal when you register for $15. We also offer an iTab enhanced medal plate for an additional $10 (so a total of $25). The enhanced medal consists of the standard medal that you pick up after your race plus a strip that we will mail to you in May with your finish time and place on it, which you can attach to the back of your standard medal. NOTE: If you order a medal (whether standard or enhanced), you should pick it up at the finish line of whichever race you run. If you order the enhanced medal, your strip with your finish time and place will be mailed to you after the race. If you order a Double Blossom medal, you will pick that up in the infield near the 10 Mile finish line.

T-Shirts

Participant short-sleeved cotton 10 Mile/5K t-shirts are given to all 5K entrants. At registration, participants are given the option of purchasing an event-specific ASICS 5K technical short-sleeved t-shirt for $20 in place of the standard cotton short sleeved shirt. The upgrade shirts come in crew neck for men and V-neck for women.

Switching Races

In 2026 no switching between races is allowed, so be sure to sign up for the race that you actually want to run (10 Mile, 5K or Double Blossom). If you decide not to run the race you signed up for, if you use the Official Transfer Process between Feb. 2, 2026 and Feb. 28, 2026, you will be allowed to transfer your bib to someone else, but you cannot sign up for one race and then decide you want to do a different one. No one is permitted to sign up for the 10 Mile and then switch to the 5K, sign up for the 5K and switch to the 10 Mile, or sign up for the 10 Mile and the 5K separately and switch to the Double Blossom. You can of course sign up for the Double Blossom and then choose not to run one (or both) of the races, but there are no refunds for races you decide not to participate in.

You must wear the correct bib for whatever race you run. Anyone who runs the 5K race with a 10 Mile bib, or the 10 Mile race with a 5K bib, will be disqualified from both races and banned from the races for up to 5 years.

Time Limit

The time limit for the 5K is 75 minutes (about 24-minutes per mile pace). All 5K runners and walkers must be off the course by 9:15 a.m.

Amenities

Post-race refreshments following the race will be available in the 5K staging area.

Awards

Awards will be given to the top 5 overall men and women, as well as 3 deep in age groups 14-and-under through 80-84; 1 deep in 85-89 and in 90+. There are also awards for the top 3 non-binary runners. Click Here and scroll to the bottom to see the full listing of all 5K awards. All 5K runners must finish and be off the course no later than 10:30 a.m. No Age Group Awards Given Out on Race Day: Due to problems created by unauthorized number switching, we will not give out age-group awards at the race day awards ceremony. Age group awards will be mailed by approximately the end of May after the results are declared final.

Packet Pick-up

All 5K entrants must pick up their packets at the Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, April 10 or at the 5K race start on Saturday, April 11 (or select to have their packets mailed to them when they register for the race). There will be 5K Packet Pick-up at the 5K staging area on 5K race morning (April 11). 

Double Blossom Runners: if you pick up your packet at the National Building Museum on Friday, April 10, you will be able to pick up your Double Blossom bib (you will wear the same bib for both races) and whatever t-shirt(s) you ordered at the same time. If you wait and pick up your packet at the 5K staging area on Saturday, April 11,  you will only be able to pick up your Double Blossom bib and either your cotton standard 10 Mile/5K cotton t-shirt or your 5K upgrade shirt (if you upgraded your shirt choice to the 5K upgrade). If you ordered a Double Blossom or a 10 Mile upgrade shirt (or both), you will need to go to the Health & Fitness Expo after the 5K on Saturday to pick up the upgrade shirt(s) you ordered – there will be no 10 Mile or Double Blossom upgrade shirts at Freedom Plaza. Click Here for full details on the packet pickup at the Expo and at the 5K staging area.

Wave Start

The 5K will use a wave start this year. Runners will be asked to go to the corral color that matches their bib number to ensure a safe and orderly start.

Bag Check

We will be using tents for bag check this year. Details on the bag check process for the 2026 race will be posted here when they become available.

Please understand that any items left at bag check are left at your own risk. The race assumes no liability for lost bags or the contents of lost bags. Unclaimed bags will be returned to the race office, held for 10 days and then disposed of. Under no circumstances should any items of value be left in bag check bags.