WASHINGTON-On Sunday, April 2-for the first time in credit unions' five years as title sponsors of the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, which benefits the Children's Miracle Network-runners had excellent weather to compete in. Gilbert Okari of Kenya won the men's race with a time of 47:25, while Lydia Grygoryeva of Russia won the women's race at 52:11. Grygoryeva was the first to set a world record for a women's 10-miler. Each took home $6,000 for their wins. The Children's Miracle Network took home the biggest purse with estimates going up to $530,000 raised by the credit unions during this and other related events. Credit union representatives laced up for the big event and put their feet where there mouths are. Air Academy Federal Credit Union President and CEO Glenn Strebe of Colorado Springs finished the race in a highly respectable 1:06:49. NCUA even put together a running team, Regulators, led by Region II Associate Regional Director for Programs Scott Hunt (1:15:55), attorney John Ianno (1:16:06), attorney Regina Metz (1:31:14), Employee Relations Specialist Kathleen Heagney (1:57:39), and Senior Advisor to the Chairman Holly Herman (1:57:40). They came in ninth among federal agency teams. NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker completed the 10 miles in 1:39:03, while Director of Planning, Programming, and Special Projects Joe Boyle finished in 1:24:51 and Associate Director of Legislative affairs Dillon Shea did it in 1:29:11. CUNA Political Program Specialist Allen Chew finished in 1:25:26 and CEO Dan Mica ran the 5K fun run rather than the full 10 miles due to a bum knee. Piggy banks, decorated by children from National Children's Medical Center in Washington, D.C., were bid on during a live auction March 31, emceed by former local ABC anchor Paul Barry, and went for several hundred up to $1,000. An autographed quilt by NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson went for $2,000. In total, the live and a silent auction raised over $30,000. The Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run is part of an annual rite of spring for Washington, D.C. that includes a week's worth of celebrations while the cherry blossoms are at their peak. This was the 34th running of the race. Over 10,000 runners participated. -

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