2027 Seattle Cherry Blossom Run

Seattle's Cherry Blossom Run lands in Seward Park each April, when the trees along the outer stretch of the park and South Lake Washington Boulevard are in full bloom. The half-marathon shares race morning with 5K and 10K fields, so the park fills with runners of every pace before the longer race settles into its rhythm along the water.

The course is a road run, extending out onto Lake Washington Boulevard to take in the blossoms, with the lake as a constant companion. The profile is gentle — the certified course carries only a slight net drop — so this is a morning for steady rhythm and a honest effort rather than a battle with terrain. Spring weather here is cool and changeable: expect a crisp start in the low 40s and a finish that may not climb much past the high 50s, with wind coming off the water.

The field is a real one — roughly 1,500 finishers in recent years, with runners traveling from some 35 states and about one in six returning for another spring. The race supports the UW Botanical Garden, and the morning closes under the signature inflatable arch with the park in blossom around you.