The Cherry Blossom 10 miler has long been considered a bucket list race and a rite of spring for local runners. It was my first ever 10 miler 10 years ago and this year was my 7th time running it. How excited was I when I was chosen to be one of the race ambassadors for this year’s race?
Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Weekend
Ambassador duties and perks
Since the Cherry Blossom 10 miler is a lottery only race of 16,000 runners, my ambassador duties revolved around generating excitement around race day and training. I set out to follow one of the official race training programs and roped in a bunch of my MRTT friends to get on board. It’s always more fun when you have a group to train with. This winter sure threw some weather challenges at us but Mother Nature did not get the best of us.
I was not expecting all the great ambassador swag we received. From Under Armor shoes and gear to a Garmin watch and a good luck race day box, we were definitely well rewarded for our efforts.
The Expo
The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler expo is held at the beautiful Building Museum in DC. Packet pick up was a breeze and very well organized even with 16,000 runners. How cool is this artwork each and every runners name on it?
A trip downtown also meant an opportunity to pop into one fo the city’s yummiest bakeries, Buttercream. The best way to top off those glucose stores is with a S’mores bar.
We definitely got into the Cherry Blossom spirit with fun MRTT inspired shirt decals and a prerace carb up dinner.
Race Day
Our crazy DC weather threatened to bring us snow (in April!) but fortunately that blew over. Race morning did bring us much chillier temps and wind chills than usual. The feels like temp was about 26 degrees. We snuggled up and did not let that stop us from enjoying the fabulous views.
My goals for this race were to A) Run the 10 miles comfortably without having to walk B) Not get hurt C) Have fun with no time goals. Goals achieved!
I have gotten injured in the past trying to train for this race and well, that’s just no fun. I decided to train pretty conservatively and not worry about time. I just wanted to run it and have fun with my friends without any pressure. Much easier to take on the spectacular views! The Cherry Blossoms were the more beautiful than I have ever seen them.
So who wants to come run it with me next year?
Linking up with
I love the medals you got! Sounds like you had a fun race weekend Deborah 🙂
The medal is gorgeous and yes a fun weekend for sure
Me! Me!
I think you did a great job generating excitement about the race because I sure wanted to run it! I love the 10 mile distance and those cherry blossoms make for such a beautiful setting. Congrats!
Thanks! I hope you enter the lottery next year. I will remind you and I have a guest room 🙂
How pretty! All the cherry blossoms are just so gorgeous. Looks like some pretty great swag
too!
They were just gorgeous this year! Chilly but beautiful
I am pretty sure you have ZEROOOOO PROBLEM with generating excitement around this race 🙂 And I mean, added incentive would be to tell everyone they get one of those smore’s bars post race LOL!
It was a good one!
How great that you ran with friends! I was actually back in NOVA this past weekend visiting family and the weather definitely was not ideal! You girls are hardcore! 🙂
We have had an unusually chilly few weeks!
How much fun! I’d love to do this race one year- it seems so pretty and running through DC is fabulous.
I hope you have the chance to do it one year
SO sad that I wasn’t able to stay down in DC and run it! Glad you had fun!!! The cherry blossoms really were quite beautiful!
Hope you had fun down here and hope we can meet up next time you come to DC
LOVE cherry blossoms! They are so beautiful that time of year in VA! I would join you if it wasn’t such a long drive from Charleston. xoxo
Maybe sometime you will have the chance to run it
ahhh this looks like so much fun & so pretty! I haven’t been to DC in the spring, but if the cherry blossoms are as beautiful as on University of Washington campus, I can only imagine! congrats on 7+ years & looks like ambassador-ing was well worth it! that’s some legit swag 😛
They are gorgeous and yes the ambassador gig was a great perk
What a fun time! The cherry blossoms looks beautiful! And that s’mores bar looks heavenly
Indeed!
Looks like you had an awesome time! Good for you for completing the run and congrats on the medal!
Thanks so much one of my favorite races in DC
Me! ME! Me!!!!! Have I ever mentioned how much I want to do this race??? You hauled tush on all that ambassador swag 😉
Maybe you will enter the lottery next year! I do have a guest room 🙂
The cherry blossoms remind me of the Texas bluebonnets. It makes spring special.
they sure do!
What a fun race! And those medals are beautiful…your capris are perfect for the occasion!
the trees were in peak bloom this year for sure
What a fun race! And those medals are beautiful…your capris are perfect for the occasion! The cherry blossoms are so pretty.
Aw. Seeing this brings back memories of when we used to live in MD. The Cherry Blossoms are always so beautiful! So glad you finally got the chance to do this.. and that the snowed stayed away!
Your pictures are great and it looks like your whole MRTT crew enjoyed the weekend. Thank you for being such a great race ambassador this year!
thank you so much for a fantastic race experience!
So glad you had a good race! Ive always wanted to do this race. Hopefully I will make it there one year!
yes you should definitely enter the lottery next year!
I love that medal! Such a cool Good Luck Box, too. I should get one of those sometime. Congrats again!
Thanks so much it was a fun one
I’m so glad everything worked out this year, but bummed we didn’t see each other.
It was such a fun experience thanks again for urging me to apply. I’m available next year- just saying 🙂
me me me!!!! I am desperate to run this race! I love DC and would love to be there when the cherry blossoms are hopefully blooming. To be able to run a race like this while there would be the proverbial cherry on top!
Yes indeed! Hope you enter the lottery next year
Congratulations on hitting your goals — it was a beautiful day for a run, and I’ve never seen the Cherry Blossoms quite so beautiful. Enjoyed sharing the entire experience with you, look forward to running together again.
That would be fun!
I would love to do this race with you! I love 10 mile races, plus Washington DC, cherry blossoms, and most of all, YOU!!!
the two Debs need to run a race together for sure!!
Congratulations on being selected as an ambassador for this year’s race! Sounds like it was a great race weekend!
It was a terrific experience!
Those blossoms are stunning! So glad the snow held off for you. Sounds like you were successful in meeting your goals!
it was a really great experience all around
I really want to run that race – it’s on my bucket list! I love DC in the spring with the cherry blossoms (or pink tress as I like to call them hah) Sounds like you had a great time.
I hope you have the chance to run it sometime. Enter the lottery next year!
This is a great recap, and looks like you had such a fun time! I love that medal and would love to do this run sometime. Such beautiful scenery 🙂
I hope you have the chance to run it sometime!
The trees were such a treat this year! I love your attitude of just enjoying the race. I’m just learning to deal with injuries and other setbacks and yeah, it’s no fun 🙁
Nope injuries are no fun at all and I going right into tri seaon. NO time for injuries! Take care of yourself friend
This sounds so fun! I am not into big races usually…but you make this one sound pretty amazing.
It was a pretty amazing race! I like small races sometimes as well like to mix it up
Ooh, that’s chilly but sounds like so much fun! I want to run this one- maybe next year?!
Oh yes you should enter the lottery next year!
It really sounds like a beautiful race and it looks like you did a great job as an ambassador !! They picked well when they choose you.
It was a fun time for sure! And thanks 🙂
That is such an awesome swag box!! Great job on the run and I’m glad you had fun (and that it didn’t snow)! It looks so pretty out there!
thanks it sure was gorgeous out there!
Congratulations! I love all the bright colors – the cherry blossoms and your outfit! Congratulations, I’m glad you had a good race! I just hate that it’s usually so cold on race day.
Thanks it was loads of fun. It can be chilly on race day you just never know
I think you did a great job generating excitement about the race because I sure wanted to run it! I love the 10 mile distance and those cherry blossoms make for such a beautiful setting. Congrats!
Ah thanks so much! I love that distance as well and it sure was a beautiful race this year