Junior Bloomsday Expects 7,200 Kids

Bloomsday 2000

After a weeklong holiday from school to rest and train, kids should be raring to go Saturday at Junior Bloomsday 2000.

Already about 5,700 children are signed up, and race organizer Dan Petek expects the total to reach about 7,200 by the final registration deadline Friday.

“Numbers are usually down in years that Junior Bloomsday happens during spring break,” he said, adding that he is pleased with the response so far. Eight-year-olds still make up the biggest age group, but this year, expect to see more 5-year-olds than ever before, he said.

Kids aren’t the only ones excited for Saturday. About 100 Junior Bloomsday alumni have signed up for the event, open to anyone who’s ever run the race.

“People have gone out of their way to write us notes on their entry forms thanking us for this one-time chance to run it again,” he said.

Organizers urge alumni to bring or, if possible, wear an old Junior Bloomsday T-shirt.

All Junior Bloomsday entrants must pick up their race packets today or Friday between 3 and 8 p.m. at the Ag Trade Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The packets include an official race number and pre-run instructions; children must have a race number to run in Junior Bloomsday.

Only out-of-town entrants will be allowed to pick up race packets Saturday morning from 8-9 a.m. at Albi Stadium.

It’s not too late to register - stop by the Ag Trade Center and pay the $10 late fee. Runners can register until 8 p.m. Friday.

Bloomsday, behind the scenes

David Vahala has it all figured out. By strategically parking his car near the Bloomsday finish line - but also close to an Interstate 90 on-ramp - he can run the race, hop into his car, buzz along Highway 2 through Airway Heights to Hayford Road and back up to Spokane Falls Community College, where he joins the other volunteers at the water station, just in time to hand out a few cups and then help clean them up.

“It brings the whole concept of Bloomsday full circle,” said Vahala, a South Hill resident. “I am passionate about the entire community involvement aspect of the event and am proud to be able to participate in two rewarding ways.”

This year, Vahala will be one of about 4,000 Bloomsday volunteers - most of whom don’t go to such lengths.

Race organizer Karen Heaps said people are always needed at the six water-aid stations, at the finish line to collect runners’ tags and to help with data entry. But right now, volunteers are especially needed for Sunday morning check-in.

Since check-in closes at 8:30 a.m., those volunteers still have time to see the race start or mosey over to check out the finish.

All volunteers receive a volunteer T-shirt, and are treated to a spaghetti feed party two weeks after Bloomsday.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, call the Bloomsday office at 838-1579.

Registration deadline nearing

Bloomsday organizers say Spokanites tend to drag their feet when it comes to registering for the big race - and this year is no exception.

So far, about 5,000 entries have trickled in by mail, and slightly more than 2,200 have come in via the Internet. With Corporate Cup entries, the total nears 10,000. Last year the total number of entrants came in just under 50,000. Organizers expect a similar number this year.

The on-time registration deadline for Bloomsday is midnight April 14, after which the entry fee jumps from $10 to $25. Online race information and registration is available at www.bloomsdayrun.org.

Entry forms are available at Safeway stores locally and in Seattle and Montana. They can also be found at area Big 5 stores, Snyders Bakery outlets, U.S. Bank branches, MSC Premera Blue Cross and Holy Family Hospital. Entry forms will also be published in The Spokesman-Review.

And for those wondering about whether they have to register someone they’re planning to push in a stroller, the answer is yes.

“All participants of Bloomsday must register,” Heaps said. “Anyone who crosses the finish line gets counted as a finisher, so if they haven’t registered, they really mess up our timing system.”

T-shirts in sizes youth medium and youth large will be available for the smallest Bloomsday finishers.

Broomsday ready to sweep into town

Guests are coming - quick, get the broom.

With Bloomsday, the Lilac Festival, Hoopfest and Spokane’s many other spring and summer events, the Lilac City will play host to thousands from near and far. Now is the time to clean the front stoop and set out a fresh welcome mat.

If you need a little nudge, there’s Broomsday 2000 - a local cleanup effort sponsored by the city of Spokane and Spokane County - which will be April 22-30. During that time, city and county officials encourage residents to make a stronger effort to pick up trash in their neighborhood, local parks and vacant lots. Residents can also organize neighbors or co-workers to tackle larger projects.

The Broomsday program will assist qualified volunteer groups with litter cleanup of public areas by offering $20 disposal coupons, reduced disposal costs for compost materials and free disposal of household waste. For more information, call 747-0242.