2027 Race Entry Lottery Opens December 14

   

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run & 5K Walk/Run

5K

Credit Union Cherry Blossom 5K Presented by ASICS

Saturday, April 3, 2027
Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC
9:15 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.

How to Enter

NEW IN 2027: ENTRY INTO THE 5K WILL BE DONE BY LOTTERY, rather than by first-come first-served registration. The 5K filled very quickly in 2026, and we wanted to give all prospective participants a fair chance of gaining entry in 2027. The Lottery procedures for the 10 Mile, 5K and Double Blossom will be the same for all races; registrants will simply fill out a registration form and indicate which race they are applying for. The lottery will open on December 14, 2026 at 10 a.m. and close at midnight on January 5, 2027. Click Here for Lottery Details.

There are some other options for gaining entry into the 5K besides the Lottery:

    • 100 Mile Club: 100 Mile Club members have completed at least 100 miles in any combination of the 10 mile or the 5K results (i.e. 10 completions of the 10 mile equals 100 miles; 9 completions of the 10 mile and four completions of the 5K equals 102 miles, etc.), either in a row or non-consecutively. You can check your status in the 100 Mile Club by going to our All-Time Results Database, which has all results from 1973-2026, and will list all the times you have run the 10 Mile and/or 5K and how many miles you have accumulated. 100 Mile Club Members should NOT enter the lottery; there will be a separate registration process for 100 Mile Club members. Registration for 100 Mile Club members for entry into the 5K, 10 Mile or Double Blossom will open here on November 2, 2026 and run through midnight on January 5, 2027. No entries for 100 Mile Club members will be accepted after January 5, 2027.  If when you go to register your 100 Mile Club membership fails to be validated and you feel you qualify, please send an email to info@cherryblossom.org. Click Here for info on the 100 Mile Club.
    • Two-Time Loser Entries (TTLs): Anyone who entered the 10 Mile/Double Blossom lottery and was not selected in each of the previous two years (2025 and 2026), AND who did not enter the 10 Mile or Double Blossom in either of those years through another means, is eligible for guaranteed entry in 2027 into any of the three races (10 Mile, Double Blossom or 5K) at prevailing entry fees. Eligible TTLs should NOT enter the lottery. Registration for TTLs for entry into the 5K, 10 Mile or Double Blossom will open here on November 2, 2026 and run through midnight on January 5, 2027. No entries for TTLs will be accepted after January 5, 2027. If when you go to register your TTL status fails to be validated and you feel you qualify, please email info@cherryblossom.org for assistance.  Click Here for info on TTL Entries.
    • Charity Entries: If you miss lottery registration or do not get picked in the lottery, you can still gain entry into the 10 Mile, Double Blossom or 5K by signing up to become a Charity Race Entry Participant. To qualify as a Charity Race Entry Participant, you just have to raise $500 dollars for our official race charity, Children’s Miracle Network. Every dollar raised will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a network of 170 non-profit children’s hospitals located across North America. Information on becoming a Charity Entrant for 2027 will be posted here after the 2027 lottery has been held.
    • Seeded Runners: There is no special Seeded Runner corral in the 5K, but runners who meet the Qualifying Standards for the 10 Mile but who prefer to run the 5K will be allowed to enter the 5K through Seeded Runner status and do not have to enter the lottery. Top open and age-group runners are eligible for special seeded numbers. Seeded runners may be admitted after the lottery closes and will be allowed to start the race in the Yellow Corral immediately behind the elite athletes. Requests for seeded runner status will be accepted starting on November 2, 2026 and will run through February 15, 2027. No Seeded Runner requests will be accepted after February 15, 2027. For details on how to request seeded runner status on or after November 2, 2026 and the qualifying times in each age group, Click Here.
    • Volunteer: All volunteers receive a guaranteed entry into the race (at the prevailing entry fee) for the next year's race. So if you volunteer for the 2027 race, you will receive a guaranteed entry (at the prevailing entry fee) for the 2028 race. This entry is transferable. Guaranteed entries for 2026 volunteers for the 2027 race will be sent out via email on November 2. Once you receive your email, you will have until January 5, 2027 to redeem it. No entries for 2026 Volunteers will be accepted after January 5, 2027. Click Here for information on volunteering.

Entry Fees

The entry fees* for the 2027 races are as follows:

    • 10 Mile - $67
    • 5K - $47
    • Double Blossom - $114

*Fees listed here do not include processing fees.

Getting to the Race

Metrorail opens at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday. This makes taking Metro an option for getting to the 5K on Saturday. Make sure you get on an early train, particularly if travelling from the more outlying stations.

Course Map

Click Here for Race Maps

Medals

To keep registration fees low, medals are optional. You may purchase a standard medal for $15 or an enhanced medal for $27.

Enhanced medals include a standard medal, which you pick up after your race, plus a personalized iTab plate with your finish time and place, mailed to you in May. Pick up standard medals at your race finish line. Double Blossom medals are available in the infield near the 10 Mile finish line.

Stroller Policy and Athletes with Disabilities

As stated at the top of this page, no strollers are allowed in the 10 Mile or the 5K. Push-assist pairs (“duos” or “trios”) are categorized as wheelchairs and are permitted in the 10 Mile and the 5K. Passengers of duos and trios must be at least 12 years old. Athletes with disabilities do not need to enter the lottery. Click Here for more information on entries for Athletes with Disabilities.

Switching Events Is Not Allowed

Switching between events is NOT allowed, so be sure to sign up for the event that you want to participate in (10 Mile, 5K or Double Blossom). No one is permitted to sign up for one event and participate in another. 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. If you want to change the event you signed up for, you can use the Official Transfer Process in February 2027.

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, may be disqualified from both races and banned from all events 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 10:30 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 and Double Blossom entrants may pick up their packets at:

  • The Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, April 2 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:45 p.m.
  • The 5K race start on Saturday, April 3 from 7:45 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.
  • The Health & Fitness Expo on Saturday, April 3 from 12 noon until 4:45 p.m. (only for Double Blossom runners who opt not to run the 5K so don't need their race bib until after the 5K).

They may also select to have their packets mailed to them when they register for the race. There will be 5K/Double Blossom Packet Pick-up at the 5K staging area on 5K race morning (April 3).

Corrals at the Race Start

Both the 5K and 10 Mile will use corrals at the 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. Click Here for details on the corrals at each race starting line.

Bag Check

We will be using tents for bag check this year. 5K Bag check tents will open at 7:45 a.m.

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.