Bloomsday - RunOther

It was a such a blessing to be back in Spokane for the weekend. I really enjoyed this race. 12k is a pretty awesome distance!
As the gun sounded, we all surged forward. Then just 10 seconds later, a groan from the collective group as we are all forced through a bottleneck at the start line before the road widens again. It took me about 25 seconds to get to the start line.
My targets for the first 3 miles was to hit 6:20's, and somehow, that's exactly what I did. 6:20, 12:40, 19 -flat at the 3mile mark. That was to ensure that I banked some time before the nasty hills, and it worked well. It was time to simply hold on!
I promised myself a couple things for this event. 1. That I would race as hard as I could under the circumstances. 2. Truly have fun and enjoy the race. I accomplished both of those things. A couple beers and Crown Royals the night before at my daughter's/Dad's/Grandpa's birthday party and lots of cake be damned, I still ran my heart out! And not only that, but I rocked out to every band, played some air guitar, gave a dozen kids a high-five, and cheered for the wheel-chair racers struggling up Doomsday Hill. I had a great time!
But back to the action... I survived Doomsday, but it took another half mile to get a quick, smooth, stride back. We were in the homestretch by that point and I was pushing as hard as I could but I wasn't going much faster than a low 6min pace. The important thing was I was giving it my all, and keeping my breakfast down. Woohoo!
I was aimlessly wandering on the bridge after the finish and a guy came up to me who I had gone back and forth with 10 times during the race and said, "Brandon? Hey, I'm so-and-so." It was a high school classmate of mine who I never would have recognized, but my buddies had warmed me that he got really fast. He must have grown 4 inches, and dropped a bunch of weight because he really looked different. It's funny that I secretly had a goal to beat him... and I was racing shoulder-to-shoulder with him and didn't even know it. Spokane, in particular, can make the world feel like a very tiny place!

Nothing. I love the whole weekend. I love packet pickup. I love playing golf at Indian Canyon the day before. I loved the birthday party with drinks and junk food. I love the massive size of Bloomsday and the incredible volunteers. No changes neccessary to the event, or the way I approached it after a 12 year hiatus from it.

Got a massage in the tent, and grabbed some grub, then headed outside to meet my wife. We walked a few blocks to our rendezvous point for a ride home, and then stretched for a while.


Only training, I think.


Top notch event. It's such a spectacle to see people lined up far and wide downtown to participate. It's inspiring, even!