Early Interest Swells For Bloomsday Race

SPOKANE — Bloomsday organizers held a Kickoff Meeting Tuesday morning as they gear up for the 32nd annual running of the Lilac Bloomsday Run on Sunday, May 4th. And organizers are hinting that this year could produce a record turnout.

“This winter has kept a lot of people indoors and inactive,” Bloomsday Association President Jon Neill said. “But judging from our early online registrations, everyone is eager to start getting ready for Spokane’s annual rite of spring.”

Organizers say that “online registration has been nearly double what it was at the same time last year.”

Also announced at the kickoff meeting was that, for the first time, Bloomsday participants will be able to get personalized t-shirts, available through the Victory Design Technologies website
. Other customizable race gear is also available, such as water bottles, towels and plaques.

This year’s guest speaker was also announced at the kickoff meeting. Kathrine Switzer – the first woman to run in the then all-male Boston Marathon – will be in Spokane for Bloomsday festivities.

Switzer went on to create running events for over a million women in 27 countries and led the drive to get the women’s marathon event into the Olympic Games. She will be appearing at the DoubleTree Hotel on Saturday, May 3rd at 2 p.m.

Bloomsday is the largest timed road race in the world, with more than 50,000 people participating annually. For registration information or anything related to the 12 km race and  activites that go along with it, visit their website
.