Spokane’s Bloomsday run has always had a visible national profile. At one time, it was billed as the country’s largest timed road race. But during the pandemic, Bloomsday’s stature as a virtual race has grown internationally as well. That’s reflected in a new poster released for the 2021 event on Thursday.Thanks to the pandemic, Bloomsday is again virtual this year. Participants are able to choose their own 12-kilometer race course, anywhere in the world, and complete it sometime between April 30 and May 9. They then submit their results and collect their finisher’s t-shirt.
In 2020, many of the roughly 26-thousand participants, representing 20 nations, were overseas. And so it made sense that Bloomsday’s new poster reflects that. Artist Steve Merryman’s stained-glass-like design includes outlines of continents and mosaic tile representations of Spokane landmarks and iconic structures such as the Eiffel Tower.
The poster is now available for sale at the Bloomsday website.
Race director Jon Neill says entries can also register to get a multi-colored personalized race bib to wear during their solo races. To get one of those you must register by March 13.