The Spokesman-Review Newspaper

The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review

Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883 Partly Cloudy Day 29° Partly Cloudy
Cache Reset
Admin Edit Exit Admin
Log in Subscribe
Activate
My account Log out
Go to e-Edition Sign up for newsletters Customer service
Subscribe now

Bloomsday's Doomsday Hill

The Lilac Bloomsday Run turns 35 years old this year, a long way from a modest start. Encouraged by the mayor and and bolstered by sponsors and service organizations, founder Don Kardong, an Olympic marathon runner, led off the first race May 1, 1977.

Section:Then & Now

Image one Image two
Image One Photo Archive | The Spokesman-Review
Image Two Rajah Bose | Special to The Spokesman-Review
The Lilac Bloomsday Run turns 35 years old this year, a long way from a modest start. Encouraged by the mayor and and bolstered by sponsors and service organizations, founder Don Kardong, an Olympic marathon runner, led off the first race May 1, 1977. Olympic gold medalist Frank Shorter won the race and almost 1200 runners finished that day. Since then, organizers have found ways to accommodate tens thousands of participants, providing them with water, t-shirts, accurate timing and medical aid. In 1980, the course was changed to avoid the Maple Street Bridge, which shook when the crowds pounded across it. The new course took runners up Pettet Drive for the first time. It was immediately nicknamed “Doomsday Hill”. Participation peaked in 1996 at 61,298.

Share on Social Media

Tags: bloomsday, bloomsday 2017

Recently in Then & Now