Tag Archives: Bloomsday 2026

Cheep Thursday Rundown

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Wow, May is off to an absolute gorgeous start! With temperatures in the 70s and so many activities taking place, it truly feels like spring! Speaking of spring, let’s “spring” into my latest Thursday Rundown…

Cheep Chicken – Safeway has a wildly popular promotion called Cheep Chicken Monday. Every Monday, looooong lines form in front of the Safeway deli to purchase heavily discounted and very tasty chicken. When I saw the kid in the chicken suit on the side of the road, I knew it was a sign that our family needed to eat Safeway chicken this past Monday…I also knew it was a sign that Beau needed to get a picture with him. The kid in the suit was tickled that someone wanted to snap a photo with him and even did the chicken dance with Beau.

Beau took a photo with the Cheep Chicken from Safeway.

Homemade Pasta – Last night while I was doing chores in the kitchen, Sloan came downstairs and confidently asked if she could make pasta. However, she wasn’t just asking to boil noodles, she literally wanted to make the pasta herself. Inspired by a YouTube video she saw, Sloan thought she could pull it off. I asked her what she needed. She replied with eggs and flour. Uggh. What can go wrong, right? Well, I let her do it and she definitely made something that resembled pasta and didn’t taste too bad.

Some photos of Sloan making and posing with her homemade pasta.

Christy – Sidney and I watched “Christy” this week and I found it to be pretty captivating. The film stars Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin, the athlete who put women’s boxing on the map while facing plenty of obstacles. Sweeney—who is from Spokane—adopted a Southern accent for this film and delivered an amazing performance. But what I really appreciated was how authentic (and at times brutal) the boxing scenes were. Fun fact: Sweeney did all the boxing scenes herself! Your life won’t be changed if you watch “Christy” but I still think it is worth your time.

Sydney Sweeney gained 30 pounds to play Christy Martin. I enjoyed watching “Christy.”

Bloomsday 50th – Bloomsday started in 1977 and this year (2026) was the 50th running of the event. Don’t ask me if that meant it was the 50th anniversary or not but one way or the other the number “50” was a big part of this year’s race. Naturally, I had to get a picture of the kids marking the milestone at the Bloomsday trade show that we attended on Friday.

Sloan and Beau take a photo in front of the “Bloomsday 50 Years” photo backdrop at the Bloomsday trade show.

Mama’s Boy – Back in 2015, Sid and I found ourselves at a bar. As we sipped on our drinks she admitted that she is a complete daddy’s girl. But then she looked at me and without a doubt in her mind said, “But you are totally a momma’s boy!” On this date 12 years ago, I wrote about the type of mama’s boy I am to commemorate Mother’s Day. I think you will be entertained by it.

If the definition said that a mama’s boy is someone who both himself and his mom cry a little bit when they say goodbye as the son moves across the country, then I am one.

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Thanks for taking the time to read! Special shoutout to all the moms, we couldn’t function with you. Will catch up with everyone next week, I imagine with an extremely packed weekend on the horizon I might have some stories and photos to share. Don’t Blink.

My 3 Bloomsday Accessories

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This year for Bloomsday I made a few changes to my running attire compared to previous races. Perhaps these alterations were responsible for my less than spectacular finish time OR maybe they saved me from going even further south from my PR. Here is what I did…

I made some changes to what I wore this Bloomsday. This is me on the morning of the 2026 race.

Sweatband – Don’t get Sidney started, she HATED the sweatband I wore. However, I decided to sport it because many times in the past I have suffered from sweat dripping down into my eyes (the burn!!). I hate wearing hats while exercising, especially while running, so I wanted to go with the band. It worked absolute wonders! I didn’t combat sweat in my eyes once—a complete non-factor this Bloomsday. When I finished the race I touched my sweatband and it was absolutely soaked, a result that made me think Better the band than my eyes.

Hip Pack Pouch – When I run, I usually try to not carry anything at all. Sometimes that is not possible and I will stuff a key or some cards (debit card, driver’s license, etc.) into my pocket. Because I was running Bloomsday solo this year, I thought it best to take the essentials downtown with me, specifically my phone and cards. Not wanting a smart device weighing me down, I purchased a hip pack (aka fanny pack). Having never used one before, I didn’t know how it would feel or if it would slow me down. However, once I started running I forgot I was even wearing it. For the first time ever, I could take photos on the Bloomsday course and update my family once I finished. Perhaps the pack added a couple minutes onto my time without me consciously realizing it was weighing me down but I think that is just a sorry excuse for my slower time.

Foot Care – At both Bloomsday and Hoopfest in the past I have battled intense blisters. This year, I made sure my feet were protected. Even though I still wore old shoes I purchased from a discount store, I placed padding support along the sole. I also wore cushy socks that were a major step up from the very worn-in exercise socks I wear to the gym. My feet didn’t bother me in the slightest during the race or after it.

I always lay my clothes out the night before and with Bloomsday it is no different. You can see my extra padding in my shoes.

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Like I said, I wish the above improvements would have translated into a better time. But I guess things don’t always turn out the way you hope. Even though I ran a few minutes slower than desired at least I did it on comfortable feet with no sweat in my eyes or items in my pocket weighing me down. Don’t Blink.

Bloomsday 2026: So Spokane

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Call me overly sentimental, but I became just a bit teary-eyed as I stood at the 2026 Bloomsday starting line on Sunday. The combination of gorgeous weather, more registrants since 2016, beach balls flying through the crowd, and just the sheer uniqueness and passion of this one-of-a-kind Spokane event had me feeling some type of the way. Suffice to say, once Chariots of Fire echoed through the loud speakers as I crossed the starting line the emotion was real.

What more could I have wanted?

Well, a PR would have been nice.

Me crossing the finish line during the 2026 Bloomsday race. I finished a few minutes short of a PR.

I will give myself this: I am consistent. From 2022-24 and this year (I missed the 2025 race for Disney World), I have finished between 69 minutes – 72 minutes each race. The only problem is that this year’s time was at that slower end of the spectrum. Take a look…

2022: 1:11:27
2023: 1:09:34
2024: 1:11:27
2026: 1:12:42

People start to gather at the starting line prior to the 2026 Bloomsday run. I hung out for about 80 minutes before the gun sounded for us to start.

It was a tad disappointing because I thought this was the year for a personal record. Driving to the race I felt good and I believed the favorable weather conditions would be a fortunate omen. But severe cramping hit once I finished Doomsday Hill and I had to slow my pace considerably. Throw in my advancing age as a factor too—I am not getting any younger.

A photo I took right before the race started. I am not getting any younger.

However, missing the mark on my goal didn’t take away from another successful Bloomsday experience. From the trade show to the STA shuttle race transportation to the race itself to receiving this year’s t-shirt, I had a blast (minus the cramps).

I snapped this photo of Bloomsday volunteers passing out the 2026 t-shirt. If you turn the shirt upside down it will spell out “1977,” the first year Bloomsday was held.

This year I did Bloomsday solo as my brother walked in the stroller division with his wife and little girl. Despite my bro not by my side, I still did my usual. I enjoyed listening to the pre-race music, I received a blessing from Fr. David Gaines as I ran by Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, and I ducked underneath the vulture on Doomsday Hill.

A photo I took of my brother and sister-in-law prior to them starting Bloomsday 2026. I had already finished and received my shirt before they even crossed the starting line.

I also appreciated the unique aspects of Bloomsday 2026. The young man carrying the cross as he ran was incredibly inspiring, the bands seemed louder this year than ever, and the yellow t-shirt with the upside down twist was probably the most creative design since the 1996 shirt.

I would later find out that this young man’s name is Dalton Degroot but when I saw him carrying that cross up Doomsday Hill during the 2026 Bloomsday race, it gave me some major motivation.

Don’t worry, I will be back for Bloomsday 2027. Maybe I will take my wife’s advice and actually train for it (but probably not) to avoid the cramps that last far beyond the actual race. Thanks to the race organizers for another incredible Spokane experience. Don’t Blink.