Lilac Bloomsday Run facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lilac Bloomsday Run
The finish line in 2010 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, 48 years ago
Course records	Men: 33:51 (2008); Micah Kogo Women: 38:03 (2016) Cynthia Limo
Official site	bloomsdayrun.org

Spokane

Location in the United States

The Lilac Bloomsday Run, usually called Bloomsday, is a big annual running event in Spokane, Washington, USA. It's a timed race held on the first Sunday of May each year. The race started in 1977 and covers a distance of 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles).

Runners going down Fort George Wright Drive in 2008

Since 1986, more than 38,000 people have joined the Bloomsday Run every year. The only exception was in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most people ever to sign up was in 1996, with over 61,000 participants. That year, more than 56,000 runners finished the race!

The fastest time ever for the men's race is 33 minutes and 51 seconds. This record was set in 2008 by Micah Kogo. For the women's race, the fastest time is 38 minutes and 3 seconds. Cynthia Limo set this record in 2016.

What's in a Name?

The founder of the race, Don Kardong, picked the name "Lilac Bloomsday Run" for a special reason. He wanted it to be a starting event for the city's Lilac Festival. He also liked that "Bloomsday" rhymes with "doomsday."

However, the name "Bloomsday" often makes people think of a famous book. It's linked to James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses. This book follows a character named Leopold Bloom through a single day, June 16. Many people celebrate "Bloomsday" on June 16 because of this book.

How Bloomsday Grew

When the first Bloomsday Run happened in 1977, Don Kardong hoped for about 500 runners. But nearly three times that many people showed up! The second race had over 5,000 participants. By 1979, more than 10,000 runners joined, and 50,000 people watched from the streets.

The race kept growing! In 1982, over 22,000 people ran. Even with rain and some snow in 1984, more than 30,000 runners took part. The first few races were about 8 miles long. A new course was introduced in 1980.

The Race Course

The Bloomsday course starts in Downtown Spokane. Runners head northwest, passing by places like Mukogowa Ft. Wright Institute and Spokane Falls Community College.

A famous part of the course is "Doomsday Hill." After climbing this hill, runners head back downtown. They pass the Spokane County Courthouse and finish at the Monroe Street Bridge. Every person who finishes the race gets a special Bloomsday T-shirt!

Course map of the Lilac Bloomsday Run

Race Results Over the Years

Here's a look at the winners and how many people have participated in the Bloomsday Run each year:

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
	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
	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

*This means the race was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the first time the race was held virtually (online).

Key:       Course record       Virtual race

• The first few races were about 8 miles long.