A genuinely flat PR course
There is no significant hill anywhere on this route. Combined with cool early-April temperatures and a well-organized six-wave start, it is one of the more reliable 10-mile PR opportunities on the calendar.
⏵ Course guide · The runner's rite of spring
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler Guide
The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run loops around the Tidal Basin, Hains Point, and the National Mall, flat and fast under the cherry blossoms. I will walk you through how the January lottery works and the course first, then give you a pacing plan, plus free tools to dial in your own numbers.
⏵ At a glance
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler quick facts
- Next date
- Sunday, April 4, 2027, 7:18 a.m. (5K runs the day before, Saturday April 3, 2027, 8:00 a.m.)
- Location
- Loop-ish course starting on the Washington Monument grounds, Washington, D.C.
- Distance
- 10 miles (+ 5K the day before)
- Course
- Around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point, over Memorial Bridge, along Rock Creek Parkway and the National Mall
- Field size
- ~15,000-21,000 across events; "the runner's rite of spring," timed to the cherry blossom bloom
- Course character
- Flat and fast, past the cherry blossoms and monuments; a favorite 10-mile PR race
- Start logistics
- Six waves, roughly 3,500 runners each
- Weather (early April)
- Cool spring: highs ~55-60°F, lows ~45°F; wind off the water possible
- Entry
- 10 Mile Lottery opens January 2027; oversubscribed, some charity/guaranteed paths
- Organizer
- Credit Union Cherry Blossom, Inc.
These facts come directly from cherryblossom.org, including the confirmed 2027 date, start time, and lottery window. Confirm the current-year specifics on cherryblossom.org before you race.
The course: flat, fast, past the monuments and the blossoms
Starting on the Washington Monument grounds, the route loops around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point, crosses Memorial Bridge, and runs along Rock Creek Parkway and the National Mall.
Timed to the bloom, but the bloom is not guaranteed
The race is scheduled around the historical peak cherry blossom bloom, but actual bloom timing varies year to year with weather and is outside the organizer's control. Go in hoping for peak bloom, but do not be surprised if the blossoms are earlier or later than the race date in any given year.
How to get in: the January lottery
The 10 Mile Lottery opens in January for the April race, and it is genuinely oversubscribed.
Mark the January window
Apply as soon as the 10 Mile Lottery opens in January. Given the field cap and the race's popularity, waiting until closer to the deadline reduces your odds of nothing beyond the lottery mechanics themselves, but missing the window entirely means relying on a charity or other guaranteed-entry path instead.
Pacing strategy for a flat, wind-exposed course
With elevation out of the equation, wind off the Tidal Basin and Potomac is the main variable to plan around.
Set your number, watch the wind
Use the race-time calculator to build your mile-by-mile pace plan, and check the forecast for wind direction and speed in race week, since the Tidal Basin and Potomac-adjacent stretches can expose you to a headwind that a flat elevation profile does not account for.
⏵ Free tools to pace this course
- Race-time calculator for a mile-by-mile pace plan built off your recent training.
- Race-equivalent calculator to translate a recent race into a realistic goal time on this flat course.
- Training-pace calculator to set your easy and long-run paces leading into race week.
⏵ Train for it with Summit Line
Get a race-day plan built around YOUR fitness and this exact flat monuments course. Summit Line reads your real training, builds a plan for an honest effort, and helps you dial in race-day pacing so race day is something you execute, not guess at.
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler FAQ
How do I get into the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler?
Through the 10 Mile Lottery, which opens in January for the following April race. This race is genuinely oversubscribed given a field capped around 15,000 to 21,000 across events, so mark the January window on your calendar and apply as soon as it opens rather than waiting. A smaller number of charity and other guaranteed-entry paths exist outside the lottery if you want a more certain spot.
Is the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler flat?
Yes, genuinely. The course loops around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point, over Memorial Bridge, and along Rock Creek Parkway and the National Mall, staying flat and fast the whole way. It is a favorite 10-mile PR race for exactly that reason, on top of running past some of the most scenic monuments in the country during peak cherry blossom season.
What time does the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler start?
The 10 mile race starts at 7:18 a.m. on Sunday, running in six waves of roughly 3,500 runners each. The 5K runs the day before, Saturday, at 8:00 a.m. Both events are timed around the peak cherry blossom bloom, though the exact bloom timing varies year to year and is not something the race organizers can guarantee.
How should I pace the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler?
Set an honest goal pace and hold it, since the flat course gives you no terrain excuse to fall off pace. Use the race-time calculator to build your mile-by-mile plan, and factor in possible wind off the Tidal Basin and Potomac, which can be a bigger variable on this course than elevation.
What is the weather like at the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler?
Early April in Washington, D.C. is cool spring weather, typically highs around 55 to 60°F and lows near 45°F, with wind off the water a real possibility along the Tidal Basin and Potomac stretches. Dress in layers you can adjust and check the forecast in race week, since early April can still deliver a cold snap.
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<a href="https://runsummitline.com/guides/cherry-blossom-ten-miler">The Cherry Blossom Ten Miler course guide</a>Iframe embed
<iframe src="https://runsummitline.com/embed/race/cherry-blossom-ten-miler" style="width:100%;max-width:420px;height:180px;border:0;" loading="lazy" title="Cherry Blossom Ten Miler course guide by Summit Line"></iframe>This guide is independent and for planning only. The course details, dates, and entry rules come from public sources and can change year to year, so confirm the current specifics with the official race before you register or run. The pacing advice is general and not medical advice.