Late Bloomers On Prowl Night Before The Big Race

Today, the guy in the tuxedo will be pounding pavement.

But the night before the big race, Mike Severino was cutting a rug.

He was hiding under the Crescent Court awning Saturday night, keeping the rain off those shiny black shoes. He’ll trade in the patent leather for something a little lighter this morning. Say, something with a swoosh.

That’s because even though the Gonzaga Prep senior was at a prom, nothing would stop him from tackling the Bloom.

Downtown was buzzing Saturday night with late-Bloomers (those who hadn’t registered yet), late-night Bloomers (like Severino) and others who just wanted to be a part of the pre-race mayhem.

The Ag Trade Center was jammed. Restaurants were busy. At O’Doherty’s Irish pub, they even ate green lasagna.

Craig Sumner and Greg Lee were there, warming up by doing carbo lifts.

“We’re running,” Sumner said. “We’re getting loaded first.”

He drank oil-dark beer mixed with lager on Saturday. He planned to switch to something cheaper and less filling in the morning. That’s when he has one for the road.

“High carbo, low quality is the secret,” Sumner said of the morning brew. They came from the Tri-Cities.

Inside the Ag Trade Center, volunteer Lexi Burg sat beneath the “Problem Mail” banner, helping the truly harried.

“The most common mistake is people forgetting to put their name or birthday,” Burg shrugged. Some even forget to send a check.

Jonathan Keneipp didn’t forget the money - he forgot the whole thing. He registered with just an hour to go. “I didn’t know I was gonna race,” he said, looking very sincere. He came from Seattle.

A man in a sweater walked in, surveying the human swell carefully.

“That guy has a Popsicle,” he said, pointing. “I bet that was free.”

, DataTimes