BRRC Running/Walking Bulletin
for May 15, 2026

Saturday, June 13, 2026
Fairfield Flag Flyin' 5K Fun Run
8:00 AM
Fairfield, WA
Online registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Fairfield/FairfieldFlagFlyin5KFunRun?utm_source=platform_find_a_race&utm_medium=referral
Registration is $30 w/shirt or $15 NO SHIRT OPTION.
After 5 pm on 5/24, registration is $15 NO SHIRT.
Day of Race registration is $20 NO SHIRT
Packet Pickup Location
Thiel Park Gazebo
Intersection of 1st Street and E Main Street
Fairfield, WA 99012

Looking for an Assistant Cross Country Coach
Jaime Rorbach, head Cross Country coach at Liberty High School, is looking for an assistant coach. Liberty has a small program that needs some help with coaching and motivating young runners just coming into the program.
Please contact Jamie at:  jaime.rohrbach@yahoo.com 

Running Quotes (New each Week):
Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don't have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.
Amby Burfoot

Six Minute Mile (New each Week):
https://mailchi.mp/sixminutemile/smm-new-builder-template-17590350?e=ff960b9e0b
Minute 1: The fitness metrics worth tracking beyond VO2 max
Minute 2: The best American cities for runners and overall wellness
Minute 3: Should runners eat a protein snack before bed?
Minute 4: Maybe sitting isn't so bad after all
Minute 5: Quick Intervals
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration

I Must Run Everywhere
I'm happy to introduce a new/old runner who is a prolific writer with a unique sense
of humor. Jim Johnson offered to republish a few of his articles from his blog, "I must Run Everywhere."
https://imustruneverywhere.com/  

My No. 1 ranked Ethiopian friend

Posted on   October 31, 2015

Few people have the chance to become friends with a top-ranked runner. I don’t mean top-ranked in the U.S. I’m talking No. 1 in the world.

I’m fortunate that Lensa Etana, from Ethiopia, is active in several Spokane running clubs. She trains for her races here in Spokane.

Though easy-going and likable, she boasts of her top-ranking, even going as far as wearing race jerseys to let her competitors know who they’re up against. Take a look at the below photo.

So Lensa isn’t top-ranked for quickness, but you have to agree she’s pretty good at self-deprecating humor. She adopted the moniker, World’s Slowest Ethiopian, after fellow running club members chided her for race times that are modest for someone from a country known for its outstanding distance runners.

I can relate to Lensa because she seems like someone with a similar background and upbringing, and with no discernible accent, one would think she has lived in Spokane her entire life. But her background is more interesting.

Lensa, myself and others enjoying breakfast after a very cold morning run.

Her parents, both Ethiopian, met in Ukraine while studying when the Soviet Union and Ethiopia were allied prior to the breakup of the Soviet Bloc. Lensa was born there, but when an opportunity arose to go to Sweden, Lensa’s mother elected to return to Ethiopia where Lensa lived until age nine. She moved to Sweden where her dad, a soil scientist, taught at a university. She attended Swedish schools and graduated from high school there.

Ultimately she came to the U.S. and graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle. She works for a medical reference lab in Spokane.

She is fluent in Swedish, two languages used in Ethiopia, Oromo and Amharic, and English.

Lensa enters plenty of road races, so if you’re ever doing the same in the Spokane area, perhaps you’ll have a brush with fame and run past The World’s Slowest Ethiopian.

BRRC and Race Rag 2026 Events (Save the date!)

Thursday, June 11, 2026
BRRC's Pizza and Beer Run and membership drive
Invite your running friends to the party and have them sign up to be a BRRC member.
The party is free for all runners.

Saturday, June 13, 2026
Fairfield Flag Flyin' 5K Fun Run
8:00 AM
Fairfield, WA
Online registration: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Fairfield/FairfieldFlagFlyin5KFunRun?utm_source=platform_find_a_race&utm_medium=referral
Registration is $30 w/shirt or $15 NO SHIRT OPTION.
After 5 pm on 5/24, registration is $15 NO SHIRT.
Day of Race registration is $20 NO SHIRT
Packet Pickup Location
Thiel Park Gazebo
Intersection of 1st Street and E Main Street
Fairfield, WA 99012

Saturday, July 4, 2026
BRRC's 4th of July Fun Run

Thursday, July 9, 2026
BRRC's Picnic and BBQ
Comstock Park
(Members only)

Sunday, September 6, 2026
BRRC's Audubon Cross Country

 

Sunday, September 13, 2026
BRRC's Sundae Sunday

Saturday, September 26, 2026
BRRC's Colbert Autumn Classic

Sunday, October 4, 2026
BRRC's Qualchan Cross Country

Sunday, October 11, 2026
BRRC's The Spokane Marathon

Sunday, October 18, 2026
BRRC's 7-Mile Cross Country

Saturday, October 24, 2026
BRRC's Mead Cross Country

November 26, 2026
BRRC'S Turkey Trot


BRRC Membership Renewal
BRRC Membership runs from May to May.
The online membership is presently active.
Online: https://raceroster.com/memberships/4888/2026-2027-bloomsday-road-runners-club
Printable Paper form: https://www.brrc.net/Membership_2026_form.html

 

 

BRRC Links:

Read the latest Local BRRC Running Calendar here : 
 
https://www.brrc.net/Calendar.html

BRRC NEWS and OREO Award
 

http://www.brrc.net/BRRC_News.html

This month's Oreo Award goes to:
Von Klohe and Dennis Doyle
(Any others?)
BRRC members who are Bloomsday Perennials and ran their 50th Bloomsday!

Submit your nomination for the Oreo to Dori Whitford at: brrcpresident@gmail.com     .

 

 

To see the online BRRC weekly bulletin, please click on this link: http://www.brrc.net/Weekly_Bulletin.html

BRRC Website:   http://www.brrc.net/

BRRC Officers:
President: Dori Whitford brrcpresident@gmail.com  
President Elect: Sharon Van Auch presidentelectbrrc@gmail.com  
Past President: Tony Proctor pastpresidentbrrc@gmail.com  
Treasurer: Kevin Boercker treasurerbrrc@gmail.com  
Secretary: Paul Fitzpatrick secretarybrrc@gmail.com