WASHINGTON 鈥� Thousands of runners will flock to the D.C. area this weekend for the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run, known as the “runner’s rite of spring.” The聽race can be as picturesque as it is challenging, but two local running coaches have tips to help participants have their best race.
Julie Sapper and Lisa Reichmann, co-founders of run coaching company , say聽a key to a successful Cherry Blossom Ten Mile race begins long before runners reach the starting line on April 8.聽Mapping out a plan now for race day is聽one crucial aspect 鈥� especially since in time for runners to use it to get to the starting line ahead of the race.
鈥淭he Cherry Blossom race 鈥� is super crowded so it鈥檚 really important to get there early enough to get into your proper corral without feeling rushed,” Sapper said. “Give yourself plenty of time.鈥�
And those crowds can throw some runners off. The popular race聽includes some of the most scenic聽views of D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms (set to reach peak bloom on race day) and attracts more than 16,000 participants; that’s after a lottery system narrows the field down from 28,000 applicants, said Race Director Phil Stewart.
Corrals based on runners鈥� abilities and anticipated finish times are designed to 鈥渙pen up a little bit more running room,鈥� Stewart said.
Runners can use the crowds to their advantage, Reichmann said. The race’s slight-downhill start can trick some into starting too fast, but smart runners can use聽crowds聽to聽help them聽throttle their聽energy and keep them at a聽moderate pace. Also, the crowds can be beneficial along Hains Point, too, where winds can be a factor. Reichmann聽suggests聽drafting off other nearby runners.
While the聽extra聽athletes could irk some聽people,聽Sapper said it’s important that runners keep their cool.
鈥淚f you do find yourself in a situation where you are frustrated because you aren鈥檛 able to hit your pace because of the crowds, just simply, politely ask, 鈥楨xcuse me, on your left’ and just pass without making it a stressful experience,鈥� she said.
Extra sleep, good nutrition and hydration are all vital leading into race day, too, the co-founders said. Also, preparing for all types of weather is recommended,聽Reichmann said.
鈥淲eather is the one factor we can鈥檛 control and we really just have to make the best out of the situation and prepare in terms of gear,鈥� Reichmann said, adding that runners may want to bring extra layers they can throw away along the course.
What to know about the course
The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile course had to change this year to accommodate for a聽multimillion dollar reconstruction plan for Arlington Memorial Bridge. The National Park Service nixed foot races on the bridge, so Stewart said adjustments had to be made.
The new course moves the Kennedy Center turnaround farther up Rock Creek Parkway to Virginia Avenue in Northwest and extends the West Potomac Park turnaround farther down Ohio Drive toward the Inlet Bridge. All of the adjustments are in the first four miles of the course. View a map of the course on the .
鈥淲e鈥檒l miss it because it certainly is scenic crossing across the bridge,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have the understanding that the construction will take a couple of years and we will look forward to being back on a gleaming new bridge.鈥�
Also, the staging area聽for the race is聽different, Stewart adds. Because of聽turf reconstruction聽around the聽Washington Monument, runners will聽need to head to聽the 17th Street side of the monument instead of the 15th Street side.
Participants need to head to the starting area a little earlier because there are only two pathways to get to there, Stewart said. View a map of the new staging area .
On the聽opposite end聽of the race, Reichmann reminds runners the race’s slight-uphill finish “can be disconcerting,” but聽she encourages聽participants to聽“keep a steady, strong effort.”
For runners who may get discouraged along the course if they’re not doing as well as they’d hoped, Sapper has some advice: “Focus on putting one foot in front of other, recognizing that you鈥檙e trained to do this and you worked hard to accomplish the goal and you will finish.鈥�
Runners flanked by blooming blossoms may want to snap some photos along the course 鈥� and they should, the women said. The Tidal Basin is a don’t-miss for stunning photos, they added.
鈥淭ake some time to breathe, look up and look around 鈥� so many people around the country would love to be running this race,鈥澛燬apper said. 鈥淭ake in the beautiful cherry blossoms and the monuments and really feel gratitude for what you鈥檙e able to do.鈥�
