Looking at my blog this morning, I realized that my last post was on the 4th, which was 6 days ago. Whoops! So how about an update on Bloomsday? 
I did the Spokane Lilac Bloomsday 12K race on Sunday. This was my second year doing it, even though I’ve lived here for 20. If you live in or near Spokane, Bloomsday is a yearly EVENT. Everyone goes. 53,000 people from all over the US and the World signed up and walked, jogged, or ran it this year, with the coveted finisher’s t-shirts waiting for everyone at the end of the race. This year’s shirt is GREAT.
Bloomsday is always FULL of interesting people– or, characters. I didn’t get to take a lot of pictures this year, but I saw 2 men in kilts, a gorilla, Mario, a chicken, a banana, a clown-faced Elvis (he had a definite horror-movie creepiness), Raggedy Ann & Andy, the Doomsday Buzzard (of course), and I found Waldo! There were also many decorated shirts. I was only able to capture these two images:
It was around 40 degrees that morning, so I was looking forward to just getting to the shuttle pickup and ON the bus with as little waiting as possible. True to my mom-without-a-brain form though, as I approached the pickup location I realized I had forgotten my hat. I called E and sweetly asked him (at 7:15 on Sunday morning, mind you, while he was getting everyone ready to leave for church) to please bring it to me? He said yes but wasn’t happy about it.
Let me explain. A hat is really NOT necessary, but for me, even with sunglasses on I have trouble with bright sunshine. Also, last year I got very sunburned on my face and when that went away I discovered I had two coffee stain sun spots on my face– one on the upper cheek bone/outside edge of each eye. NOT something I wanted to repeat! So I asked, and he came.
My hat says PAYBACK on it. Yes, Payback. Bloomsday– or running in general– is my payback for allowing myself to become unhealthy and my weight to steadily climb. I did the crime, now I’m doing my time. (But I like running now so it’s not so bad!)
The run itself was great, up till almost half way. I got to start in a run/jog group and didn’t have to dodge 20,000 people to get started. THAT was wonderful! I found my pace, walked when I needed to (about a minute at a time) and it was nice. Around mile 3, just as I was approaching Doomsday Hill, my left foot started to hurt. I ended up walking the hill, which I ran 2/3 of last year.
From that point on it was walk, jog, walk, jog, with the intervals being about 5 minutes each. I met a lady around mile 6 who asked if I wanted to finish with her, since we were pacing one another, so we had a nice time chatting and jogging, but my foot was KILLING me and I told her to go on without me. She finished about 45 seconds ahead of me. I did run the finish, but I was in a lot of pain.
My results? Better than I thought!
I beat my last year’s time by 42 seconds!! And that was with a lot of pain and a lot of walking. This tells me that I ran WAYYY better than I did last year! And now I’m off to make a doctor’s appointment to have my foot looked at.
Have you ever run in a timed race? How did you do? And do you still run?
Hi,
I live in Spokane, I have except for a few short stints always lived here. 57 years. I was born at Sacred Heart. I have never done Bloomsday. Next year I am going to do Bloomsday with my Sister and Brother and any other family members or church family who wants to do it with me. I am losing 100 pounds between now and then. My motivation for the loss is the reunion and the Race. By the way I live over by Holy Family Hospital.
Wow Cynthia, that's big motivation! I wish you luck and a firm resolve over the next year! Even if you just walk it, it will be WORTH IT.