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Getting the Jump on Junior Bloomsday
For adults, Bloomsday takes place on the first Sunday in May – May 7 in 2023. But kids can get the jump on their parents, thanks to Junior Bloomsday.
On April 16, runners in grades 3-7 are invited to run a 1.5 mile race on the campus of the Spokane Falls Community College for a $20.00 entry fee. Those who finish the race win a ticket to Silverwood Theme Park, a bottle of Gatorade, a Dutch Brothers gift card, a coupon for Darigold chocolate milk and the official Junior Bloomsday finisher’s t-shirt.
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Register for Junior Bloomsday online, then head for the Spokane Falls Community College Student Athletic Center gymnasium (near the track at 3410 W. Whistalks Way) on April 15. From 9:00 am and 6:00 pm you’ll pick up two important items—your numbered race bib and your Tyvek security wristband. You’ll also be assigned your start-time during registration.
Both items are required to compete. No bib? No wristband? No race.
Bring them when you return on April 16 to start the zig-zag run across the expansive SFCC campus. Start-time waves begin at 9:00 am, but it’s best to arrive at least 30 minutes before yours begins. Junior runners must be accompanied by an adult guardian, but those adults cannot run the race with their competitors.
Runners will be timed via a chip in their race bib. After Junior Bloomsday concludes, each competitor can check and record their times at https://www.bloomsdayrun.org/Results/All-Finishers. Be sure to keep your numbered runner’s bib to gain access to your official run time.
In 2022—the first Junior Bloomsday after Covid-19 shut down the race for two years—nearly 2,450 kids finished the race, cheered on by Otto, the Spokanasaurus, mascot of the Spokane Indians and Skitch, the SFCC Sasquatch mascot. Chilly temperatures didn’t slow the runners down, as energized music filled the air.
Junior Bloomsday 2023 is sure to live up to the 2022 event, so don’t miss the chance to run for fun and prizes on April 16. Short-term parking will be free. For more details about the race, visit the website at: https://www. bloomsdayrun.org/junior-bloomsday/ race-weekend-info.
