Lottery system instated for 2010 Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10mile/5k race entry.
Technically this is old news broken to me recently by a fellow at the gym who most likely volunteered the information because I was wearing one of the CB race shirts. So, how do you feel about it? he asks with a smirk. When queried by a sweaty old man while in a compromising position on a medicine ball, the it could mean many things. But before I could give him a dirty look he added, you know about the new lottery system for next year’s race entry . I felt good for not embarrassing myself, but instantly felt bad about the news I had just heard.
I seldom win things no matter how big or small. For the past two races, I had taken my lack of luck into consideration and planned ahead by volunteering at one of their pre-race events. Volunteering one year ensures a guaranteed entry for the following year. Last year however, I chose sleep over setting up race packets at 5:00am at the pre-race expo.
Was this a good decision or a bad one?
Stay tuned.
From the official Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile/5K event website:
Stats: The following is a history of the amount of time it has taken the race to fill up in recent years:
2009: 2 hours and 45 minutes
2008: 4 hours
2007: 21-1/2 hours
2006: 29 hours
WASHINGTON – After the 2009 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile run filled its on-line quota of 12,000 runners last year in just 2 hours and 45 minutes, the organizers have decided to institute a lottery system for entry into the 2010 event. Under the new system, entrants will be able to register for the lottery over a 10-day period between 10:00 AM on Monday, December 1, 2009 and 11:59 PM on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Entrants will be electronically selected for the 10 mile and 5K Run-Walk after the lottery registration period closes and the results of the selection process for both events will be posted on the event website, http://www.cherryblossom.org, by 10:00AM on Tuesday, December 15.
The lottery system will allow families, friends, or any group of up to 10 people to register as a “Group.” Under the selection process, if a “Group” is selected, all members of the group will receive entries into the race; if the group is not selected, no one will receive entries. This will avoid situations in which a husband gets in and his wife does not, etc.
“The lottery system will be much more fair,” said Event Director Phil Stewart, “and much less frantic for race applicants because they will have 10 days to enter the lottery. The lottery will eliminate the system overload problems many entrants experienced last year when peak registration densities approached 12 registrations a second, as well as provide an opportunity for individuals who cannot enter during business hours to gain entry into the race.”
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