Thanks for the email but I will be removing my name from your email list and will not be participating in the 2011 race. I found it appalling you stated there was little you could have done to prevent the accidents in last year's race- and I find it troubling you have no safety information in your emails. These roads are dangerous by design and participants need to be aware they are crossing a four lane highway - which no runner would (or should) ever have to cross. My group were the first responders to the Friday accident across Highway 2 near Colbert and I'm still haunted by the experience. It was after that incident, we learned the local Fire District was unaware of the Spokane2Sandpoint race -  with 1,300 participants covering these roads through the weekend, I find that hard to believe. I know in the case of Patricia A. Lambie, who was killed riding a bicycle in support by an impaired driver in the opposite direction, it could've been any of us, as you said, but that is a cop-out. I'm a bicycle advocate and advise against riding in the shoulder in the opposite direction and I saw a lot of "spotters" doing just that. This unsafe activity should not go uncorrected in the race.

We live in an amazing region full of recreational activies with successful events that highight local activites. Your lack of accountability puts a big stomp on myself and others wanting to participate in this event. I humbly request you make significant changes to this race to improve the safety or discontinue it altogether.

 

Sincerely,

Paul Dillon

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