Lilac Bloomsday Run (12K)

The Lilac Bloomsday Run (12K) is Spokane, Washington's marquee road race, founded in 1977 by Olympian Don Kardong and held every year on the first Sunday in May. Now one of the largest timed road races in the world, Bloomsday has drawn well over 30,000 registrants in recent editions — the 2026 race marked its 50th running. The 7.46-mile (12K) course starts in downtown Spokane on W. Riverside Avenue, winds along the Spokane River, and finishes near the Monroe Street Bridge. Its defining challenge is Doomsday Hill, a roughly 120-foot climb over less than three-quarters of a mile with an average grade of about 6.5%, coming after the halfway point. Runners start in seven color-coded, chip-timed waves — from Elite Wheelchair and Elite Women through the Lilac and Red groups — so slower starters aren't penalized despite a staggered gun. Every finisher receives the event's famous Bloomsday T-shirt, and the post-race Bloomsday Bash draws thousands to Kendall Yards for food, music, and awards. The course closes at 1:30 p.m. or when the sweep vehicle passes. Registration for the 2027 race, the 51st running, opens January 1, 2027, with prices rising in tiers as the race approaches; race-weekend registration is also available in person at the Spokane Convention Center.