Fashion runs the course from superheroes to fish

Bloomsday always brings out people’s fashion sense, for better or worse.

This year’s crowd included one man wearing plastic buttocks, two women wearing red wax lips and a “cowboy” in a foam hat riding an inflated chicken. It included a girl with a Tigger backpack, a woman in a neck brace and various international themes, from a kilt to a sombrero. One large, bearded man wore what appeared to be a fringed dress made from a tablecloth.

Superheroes such as Superman, Captain America and Flash Gordon, lilac-waving princesses, gorillas, parrot heads, fish and cheerleaders were also out for the annual run.

A wide range of T-shirts were on display as well. Local schools and sports teams – including the seemingly endless variations on Gonzaga basketball – probably topped the list.

Then there was this: “Only You Can Prevent Narcissism.”

Fueling up

In Browne’s Addition, libations abounded. People along the side of the route held orange juice, mimosas or bottles of beer. Popular among the runners were energy drinks, which were being handed out to anyone who passed. The crunch of empty energy drink cans could be heard more and more as the race wore on.

One runner on Riverside spotted a woman enjoying a drink in the shade.

“Is that a mimosa?” she asked with a note of deep envy.

“Yes.”

“Oh, jeez,” she answered, before heading, huffing and puffing, downhill.

Having a wing-ding

Three girls were wearing wings attached to their backs as part of their Bloomsday outfits. As they passed, one observer on Riverside said, “At this point, she probably wishes she could fly.”

Running an ad

A Gonzaga University business student used the Bloomsday run to do some marketing for Brooks running shoes.

Marc Chappron, 19, held up sign that read “Run Spokane Run” with the Brooks logo across the top during the first start. During the second start 15 minutes later, he crossed out run and wrote “Walk Spokane Walk.”

Chappron has a marketing internship with Brooks.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity for some street marketing.”

Postrace party in the park

Bloomsday runners packed Riverfront Park Sunday after the big race.

“It’s way more packed than it usually is afterwards,” said Penny Leistiko of Kalispell, Mont.

Leistiko and Debbie Horinek have participated in the Bloomsday event for 14 years and meet at the park when it’s over.

The two women said weather, more food booths and better live bands could all be reasons why more runners ended up at the park.

Kettle corn, Greek food, sandwiches, pizza and fruit kabobs were among the food choices. Drink vendors slung lemonade, water and sodas.

The live band played from a stage on the Spokane Falls Boulevard side of the park, and kids bounced around in several giant inflatable toys.

“We don’t usually stick around at the park after the race,” Leistiko said. “But today we are.”

Ken and Brenda Matheison ran in Bloomsday Sunday for their first time in nine years.

They said they went to the park out of habit because that’s where the race used to end.

“It’s nice they have the food here,” Brenda Matheison said.

T-shirt flower-free, but nice anyway

The 2005 Bloomsday T-shirt was well received Sunday. The light-gray shirt has a watercolor-like painting of a Spokane neighborhood with the city in the background.

“I thought it would have flowers,” said LeeAnn Saccomanno, 24. It didn’t, but she liked it anyway.

The Storebo family, of Spokane Valley, has a tradition of betting on the T-shirt color. As family members arrive from across the country, each draws a Crayon from a sack and puts $2 into the pool. The person whose Crayon most closely matches the shirt wins all the money.

No one drew the gray Crayon, but Michael Huffman was closest with the silver one, so he walked away with $106. Oddly enough, his fiancee, Jamie Chamberlin, drew the red Crayon, and the couple’s wedding colors are silver and red.

Reservist finishes in 56 minutes

Perennial Bloomie Brian Kenna, who took his leave from Iraq to coincide with Bloomsday, finished the race in 56 minutes, 5 seconds.

“That’s about what I expected,” he said.

The U.S. Army reservist had predicted he’d finish slower than his time of 48 minutes last year since training while on duty has been difficult.

Sweet taste of success

After finishing Bloomsday, Quintin Evans made a beeline to Anthony’s restaurant on Post Street and approached hostess Amy Staton.

” ‘I’ve been training for three months and haven’t had a soda,’ ” he reportedly told her. “He was like, ‘Give me the Coke.’ “

Evans, who has run 26 Bloomsdays now, enjoyed that Coke on the restaurant’s terrace overlooking Spokane Falls.