FW: Online Registration for the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Opens at8 A.M. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008

[Vegan Cyclist]

Hi guys,

 

Thought I would pass along the below info on the Cherry Blossom 10 miler. 

 

If you're not familiar, this is a REALLY popular DC race and really fun to do.  Granted, it's a sketchy time of the year weather-wise, but it's pretty flat and it's a nice way to take in all the beautiful cherry blossom trees.  Good way to motivate yourself to train through the winter too!

 

Beware, though....getting in is like trying to get tickets to a U2 show....spots go FAST (like within hours)!

 

Scott and I hope to get in; if anyone else does, let me know.

 

Cynthia

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From: rrm-b...@lists.rrm.com [mailto:rrm-b...@lists.rrm.com] On Behalf Of r...@lists.rrm.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 9:04 AM
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Subject: Online Registration for the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Opens at8 A.M. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008

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From: Phil Stewart, Event Director We are just a week away from the opening of online and mail-in registration for the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Runâ and 5K Run-Walk. Race day is April 5, 2009. The race events will stage on and around the Washington Monument Grounds again in 2009. Please note that the 2009 race falls on Palm Sunday. Online registration opens at 8 A.M. on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at the event website, www.cherryblossom.org.  No printed entry forms are being mailed out this year. This is designed to reduce our environmental impact. Individuals wishing to use a paper entry form, including those who do not wish to pay by credit card, will be able to download a .pdf copy of the paper entry form from the race website, www.cherryblossom.org starting at 10 A.M. on Friday, December 12, 2008. These entries may be submitted as soon as they are downloaded. Pre-registration is required for both the Ten Mile Run and the 5K Run-Walk. The entry fee for the Ten Mile Run is $33 and $22 for the 5K Run-Walk. Online 10-mile entries will be assessed a $3.00 service charge and online 5K Run-Walk entries will be assessed a $2.00 service charge. About 85% of the entries will be accepted online and 15% by mail-in. Runners attempting to enter using both methods will have both entries rejected. Please note that runners and walkers who expect to take longer than 2 hours and 20 minutes (net time) to complete the 10 mile must enter the 5K Run-Walk instead. We will close the 10-mile course at 5 miles to runners who are running or walking at over a 14-minute-per-mile pace. You will be required to leave the course at this time. In addition, sweep vehicles will pick up runners on the second half of the course who fall behind a 14-minute-per-mile pace. The large number of tourists in town to see the cherry blossoms limits the length of time we can keep the streets closed. 5K Run-Walk participants will receive the same amenities as the 10 milers, including having your results posted on the website and included in the results publication. The 5K Run-Walk is limited to 500 entrants and has a time limit of 65-minutes (about a 20-minute-per-mile pace). Preference will be given to participants who cannot maintain a sub-14-minute-per- mile pace in the 10 mile. If the 5K Run-Walk registration is closed and you expect to take longer than 2 hours and 20 minutes to finish 10 miles, please send an email to 5...@cherryblossom.org and we will try to make accommodations for you in the 5K Run-Walk. The 5K Run-Walk will start at approximately 8:40 a.m. on Independence Ave. adjacent to the Sylvan Theater. The out-and-back course will allow 5K participants to cross Memorial Bridge for the first time. Other details: Online Quota: Last year we reached our online entry quota in four hours. When the online quota is reached, runners will not be able to access the online sign-up on the webpage. There will be information regarding 250 charity fundraising entries available through the Children?s Miracle Network, our official race charity. Online registrants will receive immediate confirmation of their entry. Refresh: Please note that if you have visited the race website beforehand, you may need to refresh your browser after online registration opens in order to see the correct version of the web page with access to online registration. This seems to be a particular problem for AOL users. Government Firewalls: Some individuals using Department of Defense, Pentagon, and other Military and some Government agency email addresses may not be able to access the site or conduct electronic commerce on our site due to Government firewalls. We suggest that these individuals enter from a computer using a personal email address. Problems: If you encounter difficulties with the online registration process, please contact our online registration provider at Registra...@MarathonGuide.com Mail-in Entries: Last year mail-in entries closed two days after the close of online registration. Confirmed mail-in entrants will begin to be posted on the website about a week after the close of online registration. Due to the data entry process (and the Christmas Holidays), it may take 2-3 weeks for all of accepted mail-in entrants to be posted. If you received your cancelled check, you are in the race even if your name does not appear yet on the website. Rejected mail-in entrants will be notified and their checks returned no later than mid-February. They will be automatically included on the 2010 notification list. Volunteer Entries: Volunteers in the 2008 race should have received their 2009 Guaranteed Volunteer Online Entry Instructions and codes by email. If you did not receive this email please send an email to mich...@cherryblossom.org. If you, or someone you know, would like to volunteer for the 2009 race, click on this link: http://www.cherryblossom.org/volunteer/volunteer.htm Race Instructions and Confirmation: All accepted entrants will receive - by email ? the race instructions and a confirmation of your entry by early March. Please read and save this email, and bring it with you on race weekend to packet pick-up. RUN FOR A REASON - Registered Runners Can Sign-Up To Be Online Fundraisers for Children?s Miracle Network: The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 5K Run-Walk is about more than friendly competition and fitness for participants. The event raises funds for Children?s Miracle Network and local affiliated children?s hospitals, which treat kids with every imaginable illness and injury regardless of the family?s ability to pay. Help us reach our goal of raising $1 million dollars again in 2009 by becoming an online fundraiser today.  Through your commitment and support, many of these children will have a second chance to live happy and productive lives.  Someday, they may even be running alongside you in the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run.  To learn how you can become an online fundraiser, please click here. Official Race Merchandise Online Store is Open: Be the first on your block to grace the roadway in official 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom race apparel. Click Here to browse our online store. New Official Race Headquarters Hotel: The Grand Hyatt Washington is our 2009 race headquarters hotel and is offering special race rates. The Grand Hyatt is within walking distance of the race course. You can book your rooms through the race website. Don?t delay. Hotel space in Washington during cherry blossom season is limited. New Expo Site at the Spectacular and Historic National Building Museum: Help stimulate the world economy ? purchase items from our vendors and pick up your numbers at the same venue where the G-20 leaders met to address the global financial crisis in downtown Washington, DC. For Additional Information: Visit the race website, www.cherryblossom.org.