It”s time to get it going

The trade show is over. The registrations are in. It’s finally time to hunker down and run the dang race.

Bloomsday 2005 starts just before 9 a.m. today.

Whether you’re reading this in your workout gear or pouring a mimosa to enjoy as you cheer from the sidelines, here’s a recap of what to expect on race day.

“Competitive wheelchair racers begin at 8:40 a.m. on Riverside Avenue, at the front of the yellow starting group. Elite female runners, with race numbers lower than 100, begin there at 8:45 a.m. Any elite runners with numbers above 100, which includes the male elite athletes and some elite females, start at 9 a.m. at the front of the yellow group.

Corporate cup, second-seed runners and perennials start on Sprague Avenue at 9 a.m. Runners in the yellow and green groups start on Riverside at 9 a.m. You must arrive at least 20 minutes early for these groups.

Orange and blue groups start on Main Avenue at 9:15 a.m. Lilac and red groups start on Sprague Avenue at 9:30 a.m. The red group is made up of those with strollers, baby joggers and assisted wheelchairs. This group must walk the entire course.

“The top elite and wheelchair racers will be honored at the Riverfront Park Lilac Bowl at noon. The course closes at 1 p.m., but the post-race party in Riverfront Park goes until 4 p.m.

“The Spokane Transit Authority is offering special service for Bloomies for $1. For more information, visit www.spokanetransit.com or call (509) 328-7433.

“The Spokane Bicycle Club will keep your bike safe in a corral in Riverfront Park, just south of the YMCA, if you prefer to pedal into downtown. The service is free and runs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The latest forecast from the National Weather Service is warmer than previously predicted. They’re calling for mostly sunny skies, with morning temperatures in the mid to upper 40s and highs in the upper 60s. Winds should be coming from the northeast at 10 to 20 mph.

“One last piece of advice from a salesman at Runner’s Soul: Avoid those water puddles that inevitably form near the drinking stations. If your socks get wet from the water that’s splashed about, they will harden and cause blisters.