The participant lottery for the 53rd Annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom (CUCB) 10 Mile and Double Blossom officially opens today for a 15-day period, closing on January 19 at 11:59 P.M. Interested runners can enter the lottery on the event website, www.cherryblossom.org. Lottery results will be announced by January 22.
The CUCB is once again offering the Double Blossom, which challenges runners to run the 5K on Saturday, April 11 and the 10 Mile on Sunday, April 12. Those who desire to run the Double Blossom must enter the lottery. Runners will be able to select “Double Blossom” as their event choice during the registration process. Individuals who do not gain entry into the 10 Mile or the Double Blossom are invited to register for the 5K on a first-come, first-served basis beginning January 26.
“We decided to hold this year’s lottery after New Year’s Day in order to provide runners with an opportunity to set completing 10 miles as a New Year’s Resolution,” said Event Director Phil Stewart. “With 15 weeks to go until race day and, with three different training programs available, we hope everyone will be primed to do their best by race weekend.”
The 2026 entry fees are $64 for the 10 Mile; $47 for the 5K; $111 for the Double Blossom; and $15 for the Kids Run (plus processing fees). Individuals not selected in the lottery will have an opportunity to secure a spot in the race by raising $500 for Children’s Miracle Network.
Named the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) 2023 Road Race of the Year, the CUCB 10 Mile course starts and finishes at the Washington Monument Grounds and passes by all of the prime cherry blossom locations and the National Memorials. The 10 Mile will take place on Sunday, April 12, 2026, a week later than usual due to Easter falling on the traditional race date of the first Sunday in April. For the third consecutive year, the 10 mile will host the USATF National 10 Mile Championship.
Registration for the 5K, presented by ASICS, will open on January 26, 2026, and will be on a first-come, first-served basis until the entry limit is reached. Named the 2025 USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice Award Best 5K Race, the popular 5K is expected to fill up quickly. In 2025, the 5K took about three weeks to sell out. The CUCB 5K will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026, and will be held on a dramatic new course in Arlington, VA, conveniently located near the race headquarters hotel at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. The new course will feature vistas of the United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the National 9-11 Pentagon Memorial.
Registration for the Kids Run will also open on January 26, 2026. The Kids Run will be held in Arlington, VA on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
For the past 24 years, Credit Union Miracle Day has been the title sponsor of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile and 5K, and the partnership with CUCB organizers and charitable runners has raised $12 million for the Children’s Miracle Network. The 2025 fundraising effort totaled $460,000, which included $192,000 from race participants.
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