WASHINGTON — For D.C.-area runners, it’s their “rite of spring.” Some 18,000 runners are expected to participate in the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile run and 5K Run/Walk Sunday, April 2.
Related Gallery
Expect road closures starting at 4 a.m. until 11 a.m. The staging area on 15th Street between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue NW will be closed starting at 1 a.m. until noon.
From 4 a.m. to 11 a.m., 15th Street between Independence and Constitution avenues will be closed.
From 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. the following roads will be closed:
- Independence Avenue SW between 14th and 23rd streets
- Ohio Drive, 23rd Street to Virginia Avenue (Rock Creek Parkway section)
- Ohio Drive, riverside and channel side (East and West Potomac Parks)
- Memorial Bridge, which includes Arlington Memorial Circle and Lincoln Memorial Circle
- 23rd Street, Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle
- 17th Street, Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue
- Raoul Wallenberg Place SW (15th Street), Maine Avenue to Independence Avenue
- Daniel French Drive SW
- Henry Bacon Drive NW
- Parkway Drive NW
- Maine Avenue SW, 12th to 15th streets, all traffic diverted to Interstate 395 South
Metro
With scheduled track work in place Metrorail will operate its regular schedule, with stations opening at 7 a.m. It will not open early for the race.
Weather
Sunday will see plenty of sunshine with a lighter wind. It will be a bit chilly early in the morning but temperatures will be in the low to mid 60s for the rest of the day.
Cherry blossoms
The warm February had the cherry blossoms blooming a bit earlier than usual, but a March snowstorm and cold snap damaged about half of them. But the warm weather and sunshine will draw many visitors to see what’s left of the blooms. The famous cherry trees reached peak bloom last weekend.
Last year’s Cherry Blossom race was disrupted by high winds, causing the removal of any overhead signage and the cancellation of the Kids’ Run, pre-race warm up and post-race awards ceremony.
