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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

40th Lilac Bloomsday Run kicks off at trade show

From staff reports

The lines were short, gear sales were hot and doughnuts were plentiful Friday as thousands of people picked up their race packets amid signs pointing to a sunny start to the 40th Lilac Bloomsday Run.

About 50,000 runners and walkers will start the 12-kilometer race Sunday morning.

But first is the growing trade show: Businesses ranging from grocery stores to window sellers and jewelry makers set up booths at the Spokane Convention Center.

For running store Fleet Feet, the two-day trade show has become a sales bonanza that leaves owners Wade and Julie Pannell too tired to run.

“After three 16-hour days in a row on our feet … we’re not running,” she said. Her goal of besting an hour on the course will have to wait.

The shop has doubled its trade-show presence and now operates a string of 42 booths employing four dozen staffers and vendors.

In one 20-minute span Julie Pannell sold hundreds of dollars in shoes, waistbands, shirts, shorts, laces, lights, water bottles and more.

The trade show, race packet pick-up and late registration continues from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Though there are no late registrations accepted Sunday morning, people who signed up earlier and could not arrive in time for packet pickup on Friday or Saturday will have from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sunday to collect their race numbers.

Bloomsday founder and race director Don Kardong said others can pick up race packets as long as they have exact entrant information such as birthdays.

The weather for Sunday’s race is expected to be sunny and mild. Temperatures during the start times should be in the upper 40s or lower 50s and then climb into the 70s by afternoon.

Downtown streets begin to close at 5 a.m. Sunday and will reopen at about 2 p.m.

Security measures include no backpacks on the course. Some types of small packs are acceptable.