17 October 2012

Media Contact Information:
(not for publication)

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

WASHINGTON, DC – October 17, 2012, Washington, DC: The 41st running of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and the 5K Run-Walk, known as “the Runner’s Rite of Spring®” in the Nation’s Capital, will take place on Sunday, April 7, 2013. Today, Event Director Phil Stewart made a number of announcements in anticipation of next year’s race.

Primary among those announcements was the call for applications from “social runners” who will be encouraged to tell the world all about their experiences training for and participating in the race on Facebook, Twitter and other social media. The application deadline for social runners is October 31, 2012, or when 500 applications have been received, whichever comes first. Ultimately two social runners will be selected, gaining free entry into the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run, free enrollment in Potomac River Running’s In-person Training Program or the New Balance Virtual Training Program as well as lots of free running gear from New Balance. Interested runners can find complete information and an application form at http://www.cherryblossom.org/generalinfo/socialrunner.php.

According to Event Director Phil Stewart: “We implemented the social runner program last year, and found it to be a tremendously fun and effective way to keep our participants up to date on all the news, Twitter’s 140 character limitation notwithstanding. The social runners brought a fresh perspective to the event, and saw and talked about a lot of things via social media that the race committee might have overlooked or taken for granted.”

One of the first events the social runners will be asked to talk about will be the Third Annual Fall Kick-off Party, where race organizers will unveil the 2013 t-shirt design. The Kick-off is scheduled for Friday, November 16 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel. Complete details and registration information can be found at http://www.cherryblossom.org/generalinfo/kickoff_open.php

Other notable announcements made today include:

• An increase in total prize money to $50,000, including time bonuses. Prize money is paid equally to the top 10 men and women, with additional categories including top American runners and top local teams. The first place male and female will each earn $8,000.

• The pursuit of Gold ReSport Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport in 2013. In recognition of their efforts to produce a socially and environmentally responsible event, organizers first achieved Silver ReSport Certification in 2011.

• Applications for the lottery to enter the 2013 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run will be accepted between 10 am Monday, December 3 and 11:59 pm Friday, December 14, 2012. All individuals who entered the 2012 lottery - whether accepted or not - will automatically receive an email reminder directly from event organizers about the opening of the lottery in late November; others are encouraged to sign up to receive such notification at: http://www.cherryblossom.org/generalinfo/emailsignup.php

• Runners can bypass the entry lottery by registering to become a Charity Race Entry Participant; Charity Race Entry Participants raise a minimum of $500 for the official race charity, Credit Unions for Kids. More information about the opportunity to become a Charity Race Entry Participant is available at http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/cucherryblossom/