Bloomsday traditions

Bloomsday: 50,00 people crammed onto Spokane's streets and run/walk 7.46 miles just for a T-Shirt. Worth it? Heck yes.

This is my fourth year doing Bloomsday, and I confess it's starting to grow on me. I typically try and jog it, obsessed with my time and finishing no matter the cost. This year I chose to walk the course. I took my sweet sweet time and finished in 2 hours and 56 minutes. Under 3 hours, baby! I walked with a good friend of mine from last summer and my boyfriend, both first-timers to Bloomsday. I excitedly explained to them all the exciting traditions of the day. Anyone who has experienced Bloomsday, whether participating or one of those jerks who sit on their lawn barbecuing while starving runners water at the mouth, know the traditions. But if not, I want to share what makes Bloomsday much more than a race.
1. The trade show. You pick up your packets the day before in the Convention Center located downtown. Organizers conveniently place the activation lines for your timers to lead you straight to the vendors. Salespeople set up their booths, trying to sell the latest athletic wear, new vitamins, even ring-cleaner. As you wander through the booths, you pick up free samples, like the free cookies from Safeway, and are bombarded with advertisements. Making it to the end of the booths, you walk out and try and find where you parked your car.
2. The trees on Riverside. Every year the tree lining Riverside are covered in clothing. People bring extra clothes they want to donate and litter the trees with extra sweatshirts, pants, etc. Afterwards, volunteers pick up the clothing and donate them.
3. The costumes. People want to get on the news, so we get kids in Slurpee outfits, Star Troopers, gorillas, Spiderman, and neon-colored hair.
4. The random bands on the side of the streets. It's a competition. We are supposed to vote for our favorites. The acordian-playing Elvis; skaa band with a saxaphone; old men rockin' out to Sweet Home Alabama. It's all there.
5. The T-shirt. No one knows what they look like before the race. It's kept a secret from everyone. But people who finished before you often spoil the surprise when they walk by you as you head to the finish line. But still, the T-shirt is the proof that you survived Bloomsday. You get total bragging rights. An unspoken rule is that everyone wears it the next day.

Well, those are some fun Bloomsday traditions. Anyone who didn't participate this year should definitely plan for next year. Whether running or walking, it is a great experience.