WASHINGTON -- To kick off the 2008 Capitol Hill Competition of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, representatives of the credit union movement's sponsors of the event present the Credit Union Cup to the captain of the winning team, "Crapo's Couch Potatoes," of Senator Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) office. Laura Thurston Goodroe accepted the trophy on behalf of the team.

The Credit Union Cup is presented annually to the Capitol Hill team that posts the best combined time in the "Capitol Hill Competition," the "race-within-the-race" at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run. The Couch Potatoes beat out 30 other teams, posting a combined time of 3:25:03. The competition was comprised of more than 200 Capitol Hill racers.

Registration opens Dec. 11 at 8 a.m. for the 2008 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, which is scheduled for April 6. The race regularly fills in a matter of days. A new course, starting and ending on 15th street next to the Washington Monument grounds, allowed organizers to expand the field of runners from 10,000 to 12,000. "The success of the wave started in 2007," Event Director Phil Stewart said, "made us confident that we can provide a quality event for more runners than ever before. It's a good feeling to know we can do more to meet the demand on the part of runners from the Washington Metropolitan area and around the country."

For those who are not so inclined to run 10 miles, last year's Cherry Blossom Race fielded more than 700 credit union volunteers plus others.

Not only did the move open the race up to more runners, but race organizers say it will feature even more of the historic cherry trees. And, the staging grounds at the Washington Monument are accessible by Metro, with the start-finish line less than a quarter mile from the Smithsonian stop. Metro will open two hours early, at 5 a.m., on race day to transport the race participants, volunteers and spectators.

Runners can sign up to receive an e-mail reminder about the opening of online registration or a mail-in entry form at the event's Web site at www.cherryblossom.org.

The sponsoring Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc., hopes to raise more than $1 million for the Children's Miracle Network in conjunction with the 2008 race. Last year's event raised more than $828,000, all of which went back to CMN. Contributions go to the network hospitals in the area where the funds came from.

In addition to title sponsorship from Credit Union Miracle Day, Inc. and its affiliated credit unions and partners, the event enjoys supporting sponsorship from Gatorade, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Metro Run & Walk.

The event, the only world-class road race in Washington, D.C., will offer $35,500 in prize money, including $6,000 each to the top male and female runners, and time incentives to elite athletes from around the world. The event is part of the Professional Road Running Organization Circuit.

--scooke@cutimes.com

Instant Insights /

Credit Union Cup Presented to 2007 Congressional Cherry Blossom Winners to Promote 2008 Competition

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