Lilac Bloomsday Run

Lilac Bloomsday Run
Lilac Bloomsday Run
	2010 finish line at Monroe Street Bridge
Date	First Sunday in May
Location	Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Event type	Road
Distance	7.456 miles (12 km)
Established	1977, 47 years ago
Course records	Men: 33:51 (2008); Micah Kogo ; Women: 38:03 (2016); Cynthia Limo
Official site	bloomsdayrun.org

Last updated June 16, 2024

Spokane

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Location in the United States

The Lilac Bloomsday Run, also known as Bloomsday, is an annual timed road race in the northwest United States, held on the first Sunday of May since 1977 in Spokane, Washington.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] The course length is 12 km (7.456 mi).

Don Kardong, who founded the race, explained the name as "a starting event for the Lilac Festival … you know, lilacs blooming. And of course, I like it because it rhymes with doomsday."^[1] The shortened name Bloomsday is usually associated instead with James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses and celebrations of June 16, the day in the life of Leopold Bloom that the novel chronicles.

Kardong had hoped for five hundred participants for the inaugural edition in 1977,^[1] and got nearly triple that.^[3] The second edition had over five thousand,^[11] and the third in 1979 was over ten thousand, with fifty thousand spectators lining the streets.^[12] The sixth edition in 1982 had over 22,000,^[13] and despite rain and some snow, there were over 30,000 in 1984.^[14]

The early editions were around eight miles (12.9 km) in length.^[3]^[11]^[12]^[15] A new course was introduced in 1980.^[16]

Course

The course starts in Downtown Spokane and heads northwest along the far west end of town, passes by Mukogowa Ft. Wright Institute and Spokane Falls Community College before heading up "Doomsday Hill" and back downtown past the Spokane County Courthouse and ending at the Monroe Street Bridge. Every finisher of the race receives a Bloomsday T-shirt

Results

Year	Date(s)	Registrants	Finishers	Men's winner	Country	Time	Women's winner	Country	Time
2024	May 5	32,000+	27,889	Tebello Ramakongoana	Lesotho	34:40	Sarah Naibei	Kenya	39:00
2023	May 7	30,000+	25,882	Jemal Yimer (2)	Ethiopia	33:58	Yeshi Kalayu	Ethiopia	38:49
2023	April 27 - May 7			N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	May 1	24,096	21,088	Charles Wanjiku	Kenya	35:08	Biruktayit Degefa	Ethiopia	38:47
2022	April 28 - May 8	5,448	5,276	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2021	April 30 - May 9	28,824	23,029	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2020	September 18-20*	21,149	20,999	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2019	May 5	38,559	35,244	Gabriel Geay	Tanzania	34:50	Rosemary Wanjiru	Kenya	39:06
2018	May 6	41,702	38,210	Jemal Yimer	Ethiopia	34:18	Buze Diriba (2)	Ethiopia	39:27
2017	May 7	42,986	39,371	Gabriel Geay	Tanzania	34:31	Buze Diriba	Ethiopia	40:19
2016	May 1	46,566	43,018	Philip Langat	Kenya	34:26	Cynthia Limo (2)	Kenya	38:03
2015	May 3	46,914	43,026	Lani Rutto	Kenya	34:22	Cynthia Limo	Kenya	39:27
2014	May 4	49,094	44,681	Allan Kiprono (2)	Kenya	34:11	Mary Wacera	Kenya	39:36
2013	May 5	51,613	47,298	Belete Assefa	Ethiopia	34:21	Buzunesh Deba	Ethiopia	39:53
2012	May 6	53,296	48,229	Allan Kiprono	Kenya	34:29	Mamitu Daska	Ethiopia	38:26
2011	May 1	56,652	51,303	Simon Ndirangu	Kenya	33:58	Misiker Mekonnen	Ethiopia	40:25
2010	May 2	55,090	50,721	Peter Kirui	Kenya	34:15	Lineth Chepkurui (3)	Kenya	38:10
2009	May 3	51,259	45,477	John Yuda	Tanzania	34:36	Lineth Chepkurui	Kenya	38:37
2008	May 4	47,528	43,640	Micah Kogo	Kenya	33:51	Lineth Chepkurui	Kenya	39:47
2007	May 6	44,180	40,362	John Korir (3)	Kenya	34:18	Edna Kiplagat	Kenya	38:52
2006	May 7	44,756	40,809	Gilbert Okari	Kenya	34:14	Isabella Ochichi	Kenya	38:38
2005	May 1	43,842	40,012	John Korir	Kenya	34:16	Asmae Leghzaoui	Morocco	39:33
2004	May 2	43,514	39,695	Simon Wangai	Kenya	34:59	Albina Ivanova	Russia	39:22
2003	May 4	44,641	40,027	John Korir	Kenya	34:16	Lyudmila Biktasheva	Russia	40:01
2002	May 5	51,282	45,775	James Koskei	Kenya	34:25	Colleen De Reuck	United States	38:53
2001	May 6	49,532	45,346	Dominic Kirui	Kenya	34:30	Elana Meyer	South Africa	39:24
2000	May 7	50,401	45,538	Reuben Cheruiyot	Kenya	34:10	Jane Omoro (3)	Kenya	40:08
1999	May 2	53,898	47,215	Joshua Chelanga	Kenya	34:18	Jane Omoro	Kenya	39:37
1998	May 3	53,389	48,453	Hezron Otwori	Kenya	34:23	Jane Omoro	Kenya	40:14
1997	May 4	55,270	49,467	Lazarus Nyakeraka (2)	Kenya	34:19	Kim Jones	United States Washington	40:34
1996	May 5	61,298	56,156	Lazarus Nyakeraka	Kenya	34:07	Colleen De Reuck	South Africa	38:48
1995	May 7	59,100	54,154	Josphat Machuka (2)	Kenya	33:52	Delillah Asiago	Kenya	38:31
1994	May 1	60,037	55,195	Josphat Machuka	Kenya	34:10	Olga Appell	United States New Mexico	38:57
1993	May 2	57,680	53,206	Arturo Barrios	Mexico	33:55	Anne Marie Letko	United States New Jersey	39:19
1992	May 3	57,651	53,303	Yobes Ondieki	Kenya	33:55	Lisa Ondieki	Australia	39:02
1991	May 5	60,104	55,794	Steve Moneghetti	Australia	34:52	Lisa Weidenbach	United States Washington	40:03
1990	May 6	54,869	51,122	Germán Silva	Mexico	34:42	Anne Audain (7)	New Zealand	39:40
1989	May 7	56,280	52,457	John Halvorsen	Norway	34:21	Lynn Williams	Canada Saskatchewan	39:30
1988	May 1	57,298	53,155	Peter Koech	Kenya	34:22	Anne Audain	New Zealand	39:35
1987	May 3	54,261	50,946	Steve Binns	United Kingdom	34:38	Lesley Welch	United States Massachusetts	39:22
1986	May 4	48,406	45,541	Jon Sinclair	United States Colorado	34:25	Anne Audain	New Zealand	38:48
1985	May 5	39,662	37,736	Paul Davies-Hale	United Kingdom	34:27	Anne Audain	New Zealand	39:20
1984	May 6	33,312	30,463	Ibrahim Hussein	Kenya	34:33	Regina Joyce	Ireland	40:28
1983	May 1	28,173	25,932	Jon Sinclair	United States Colorado	34:55	Anne Audain	New Zealand	39:29
1982	May 2	22,210	20,540	Henry Rono	Kenya	35:49	Anne Audain	New Zealand	40:02
1981	May 3	17,000	15,546	Duncan McDonald	United States California	35:34	Anne Audain	New Zealand	41:54
1980	May 4	13,576	11,962	Mark Anderson	United States Colorado	36:22	Gail Volk	United States Washington	46:27
1979	May 6	10,082	10,070	Ric Rojas	United States Colorado	37:07	Cathy Twomey	United States Oregon	43:56
1978	May 7	5,460	5,024	Bill Rodgers	United States Massachusetts	37:07	Marty Cooksey	United States California	43:24
1977	May 1	1,400	1,198	Frank Shorter	United States Colorado	38:26	Joan Ullyot	United States California	53:26

*Delay due to COVID-19 pandemic. First virtual race.

Key: Course record Virtual race

Early editions were around eight miles (12.9 km) in length.^[3]^[11]^[12]^[15]

Notes

↑ The International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics/track and field, does not recognize world records or world bests in either an indoor or outdoor 12 km.^[8] The Association of Road Racing Statisticians does recognize a world record in the outdoor 12 km, however, their record keeping rules state: "A record quality course is defined as having not more than 1 m/km net drop between the start and finish and not more than 30 percent of the race distance separation between that start and finish, e.g. not more than a 3 km separation for a 10 km race [or 3.6 km for a 12 km race]. Records will only be accepted for record quality courses."^[9]^[10] Per ARRS standards, the course for the Lilac Bloomsday Run fulfills these conditions. Although Chepkurui ran a 38:07 two weeks later on May 16, 2010 at the Bay to Breakers (presumably the fastest 12 km ever for a woman), the course is not considered a "record quality course" in that the start and finish are separated by approximately 10.5 linear kilometers.

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References

1 2 3 Payne, Bob (March 15, 1977). "Lilac Bloomsday Run - Kardong creation". Spokesman-Review. p. 17.
↑ Payne, Bob (May 1, 1977). "It's 'Bloomsday' – and Spokane's ready to run". Spokesman-Review. p. D1.
1 2 3 4 Payne, Bob (May 2, 1977). "Horde of runners captures Spokane". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
↑ "Lilac Bloomsday 12 km Race Winners (41 runnings)". ARRS. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
↑ Morgan, Kelsie (7 May 2019). "35,233 people cross Bloomsday finish line, lowest turnout in 35 years". KXLY. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
↑ "Lilac Bloomsday Run". www.bloomsdayrun.org. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
↑ Richardson, Jared (2 May 2010). "Chepkurui sets world record on Bloomsday course - News Story - KXLY Spokane". kxly.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
↑ "100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2014". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
↑ "ARRS ROAD RECORDS". ARRS. 26 March 2000. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
↑ "Association of Road Racing Statisticians". ARRS. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
1 2 3 Payne, Bob (May 8, 1978). "Spokane streets jammed with mass of humanity". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
1 2 3 Gerheim, Earl (May 7, 1979). "10,000 runners cram the streets of Spokane". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
↑ Mills, Judy (May 3, 1982). "'Twas bloomin' beauty of a run for over 22,000". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
↑ Morlin, Bill (May 7, 1984). "Bloomsday's 30,465 sets record". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.
1 2 "Rodgers wins Spokane run". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. May 8, 1978. p. 6C.
↑ "New course for Bloomsday Run". Spokesman-Review. February 26, 1980. p. 20.

External links

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[11] The International Association of Athletics Federations, the international governing body for the sport of athletics/track and field, does not recognize world records or world bests in either an indoor or outdoor 12 km.^[8] The Association of Road Racing Statisticians does recognize a world record in the outdoor 12 km, however, their record keeping rules state: "A record quality course is defined as having not more than 1 m/km net drop between the start and finish and not more than 30 percent of the race distance separation between that start and finish, e.g. not more than a 3 km separation for a 10 km race [or 3.6 km for a 12 km race]. Records will only be accepted for record quality courses."^[9]^[10] Per ARRS standards, the course for the Lilac Bloomsday Run fulfills these conditions. Although Chepkurui ran a 38:07 two weeks later on May 16, 2010 at the Bay to Breakers (presumably the fastest 12 km ever for a woman), the course is not considered a "record quality course" in that the start and finish are separated by approximately 10.5 linear kilometers.

[krdcre-1] 1 2 3 Payne, Bob (March 15, 1977). "Lilac Bloomsday Run - Kardong creation". Spokesman-Review. p. 17.

[itsblom-2] Payne, Bob (May 1, 1977). "It's 'Bloomsday' – and Spokane's ready to run". Spokesman-Review. p. D1.

[hordof-3] 1 2 3 4 Payne, Bob (May 2, 1977). "Horde of runners captures Spokane". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.

[4] "Lilac Bloomsday 12 km Race Winners (41 runnings)". ARRS. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2021.

[5] Morgan, Kelsie (7 May 2019). "35,233 people cross Bloomsday finish line, lowest turnout in 35 years". KXLY. Retrieved 16 July 2021.

[6] "Lilac Bloomsday Run". www.bloomsdayrun.org. Retrieved 2023-05-08.

[7] Richardson, Jared (2 May 2010). "Chepkurui sets world record on Bloomsday course - News Story - KXLY Spokane". kxly.com. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[8] "100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2014". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2014-08-07.

[9] "ARRS ROAD RECORDS". ARRS. 26 March 2000. Retrieved 16 July 2021.

[10] "Association of Road Racing Statisticians". ARRS. Retrieved 2014-08-07.

[mofhmnt-12] 1 2 3 Payne, Bob (May 8, 1978). "Spokane streets jammed with mass of humanity". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.

[crmsos-13] 1 2 3 Gerheim, Earl (May 7, 1979). "10,000 runners cram the streets of Spokane". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.

[twasbl-14] Mills, Judy (May 3, 1982). "'Twas bloomin' beauty of a run for over 22,000". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.

[ttsrec-15] Morlin, Bill (May 7, 1984). "Bloomsday's 30,465 sets record". Spokesman-Review. p. 1.

[rwspr-16] 1 2 "Rodgers wins Spokane run". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. May 8, 1978. p. 6C.

[ncfbr-17] "New course for Bloomsday Run". Spokesman-Review. February 26, 1980. p. 20.

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v t e Ulysses by James Joyce
Characters	Leopold Bloom Molly Bloom Stephen Dedalus Buck Mulligan The Citizen
Locations	Davy Byrne's pub Glasnevin Cemetery Howth Castle and Environs Sandycove Martello Tower Monto Sandymount Strand Sweny's Pharmacy National Library of Ireland Museum of Literature Ireland
Analysis	Gilbert schema Linati schema
Adaptations	Ulysses in Nighttown (1958 play) Ulysses (1967 film) Ulysses (1982 broadcast) Blooms of Dublin (1982 operetta) "The Sensual World" (1989 song) Bloom (2003 film) "Air War" (2007 song) Ulysses "Seen" (2012 graphic novel)
Other	Bloomsday Lilac Bloomsday Run Obscenity trial of Ulysses in The Little Review United States v. One Book Called Ulysses