Running/Walking Bulletin for January 9, 2026
BRRC 2026 Events (Save the date!)
Mark your calendar with the 2026 BRRC running events that are listed in this bulletin.
Make sure to enter the BRRC Race Series in 2026 to qualify for the T-shirt and awards.
Here is what our BRRC proceeds are doing for the Spokane Community.
2025 BRRC Community Support
$31,245
Donations to Local Schools
$12,376 was donated by BRRC
to the following school programs:
Central Valley High School Cross Country
Deer Park High School Cross Country
Ferris High School Cross Country
Flett Middle School sports
Gonzaga Prep High School Cross Country
Liberty High School Cross Country
Lakeside High School Cross Country
Lewis and Clark High School Cross Country
Mead High School Cross Country
Mead High School Cheerleading
Medical Lake High School Cross Country
Mt. Spokane High School Cross Country
Ridgeline High School Cross Country
University High School Cross Country
West Valley High School Cross Country
Youth Running Program
$1,809.70 was raised through
donations and race proceeds to
help area high school athletes
pay for running shoes.
2nd Harvest Donations
* Turkey Trot: $16,318.67
* July 4th run: $741
$95,693 in community support since January 2023!
Running Quotes (New each Week):
Confidence is not some nonphysical quality snatched from the spiritual dimension and installed in the mind. It is the feeling that arises when the body's knowledge of itself is in harmony with a person's dreams.
Matt Fitzgerald
Six Minute Mile (New each Week):
https://mailchi.mp/sixminutemile/smm-new-builder-template-17589582?e=ff960b9e0b
Minute 1: Carry these nutrition tips into 2026
Minute 2: Heavy lifting improves running economy and injury resilience
Minute 3: Raising your cadence could reduce impact forces on your joints
Minute 4: Simple strategies for improving longevity
Minute 5: Quick Intervals
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration
The Spectacular Spokane River on the Thursday morning BRRC run.
(Click on the picture to see the movie.)
BRRC 2026 Events (Save the date!)
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Saturday, January 24, 2026
BRRC Chilly Chili 5K Run and Run Club Awards Banquet
2:00 PM
Onsite packet pick-up starts at 12:30 PM until 1:45 PM.
Moran Prairie Grange
6030 S Palouse Hwy
Registration is now open on Run Sign Up at the link below:
https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Spokane/BRRCChillyChili5K
The event includes Chili Cook-off Competition and Awards Ceremony for the 5K run and the Chili cook-off and the Cross Country team competition.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
BRRC's Partners in Pain
PARTNERS = A fun run for couples, with awards to teams with the fastest combined times.
IN
PAIN = The crazy desire to run in the middle of winter, without regard to seasonal hazards.
INDIVIDUALS WELCOME AS WELL!
Packet Pickup:
Saturday, February 14, 2026 (Race Day)
West Central Community Center
1603 N Belt
Spokane WA 99205
8:30am - 9:45am
Race Start Time:
10:00am - 5K
$25 per runner for Individual, Coed Team, Male Team, Female Team or Virtual 5K
$15 for long sleeve T-shirt
Remember, Partners in Pain is open to individuals too!
Information and Online Registration:
https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Spokane/PartnersInPain?utm_source=platform_find_a_race&utm_medium=referral
March, 6, 2026
BRRC's Annual Awards Dinner
Market Street Pizza
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Snake River Half Marathon
10:00 am
Online signup: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=131522
Registration fee is $50, but will go up to $60 on December 31, 2025. Shirts for this year's race are available for purchase ($15) to those who register before February 1st. Registration closes Wed, Feb 25 @ 11:59 PM PT.
The start and finish are at Wawawai Landing. This is a beautiful river canyon out-and-back flat and paved course along the Snake River.
New this year, they are offering cash prizes of $200, $150 and $100 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, to the overall women's, men's and non-binary winners.
Sunday, March 8, 2026
BRRC 43rd St. Paddy's Five Miler
9:00 AM
Spokane Community College
Online signup: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Spokane/StPaddysFiveMiler
Packet pick-up is on March 7, 2026 at MUV Fitness from 10:00 to 2:00 PM.
The registration fee is $35 and includes t-shirt (there is a NO SHIRT OPTION) until February 20, 2026 at which time registration fee goes to $20 with no shirt.
Race day registration goes to $30 with no shirt.
There will be a FREE Leprechaun Jig for kids 6 years and younger with shirts available at an extra charge of $13.
This is a second seed qualifier for the 50th running of Bloomsday held in May 2026.
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Rapid Rabbit Run
5 mile road race (Second Seed Qualifier)
3 mile fun run (Places only)
10:00 am
East Valley High School
15711 E Wellesly
Spokane Valley, WA
Online Registration:
https://raceroster.com/events/2026/110482/rapid-rabbit-run-live-and-virtual-2026
BRRC Recycle Fun Run
4 Miles
9:00 AM
Fish Lake Trailhead
Packet pick-up on race day starting at 7:30 AM
This fun run is an estimated 4-Mile run on a paved trail, with the turn-around and water station at about 2-Miles.
Registration fee is $30 w/shirt or $20 for NO SHIRT option. After March 23, 2026, registration fee is $20 with NO SHIRT. Day of Race registration is $30 with NO SHIRT.
Please bring your gently used shoes and clothing for donation to high school athletes in the area.
The race starts and ends at the Fish Lake Trail Head which is near Government Way and Sunset Hwy.
Online signup: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Spokane/BRRCsRecycleFunRun
Sunday, May 3rd, 2026
Bloomsday Run
12 Kilometers (7.46 Miles)
Spokane, Washington
https://bloomsdayrun.org/bloomsday-registration/
Thursday, June 11, 2026
BRRC's Pizza and Beer Run
Saturday, July 4, 2026
BRRC's 4th of July Fun Run
Thursday, July 9, 2026
BRRC's Picnic and BBQ
Comstock Park
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
BRRC Membership Renewal
BRRC Membership runs from May to May.
The online membership is presently inactive.
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/
Choo-choo trains and snow bombs
Posted on
February 14, 2014
College distance runners follow coach’s workout advice except sometimes. Now and then mischief happens, especially in the off-season when there’s no meet coming up.
On a snowy, winter afternoon when I was on the track and cross-country team at Spokane Falls Community College, I talked my teammates into turning off the road to drop snow bombs on cars from the railroad bridge pictured below. If you work in security or are an executive for Burlington Northern Railway, please stop reading this now.
The snow was pretty fluffy, and we kept the snowballs lightly packed because we didn’t want to cause any damage.
It was quite a drop from the bridge to the road below, so releasing our snow bombs at the right moment wasn’t as easy as it seemed. In addition, the road wasn’t a busy one, so our opportunities were limited.
I studied so many hours that my eyesight was blurry, and I couldn’t make out this sign. If I had read it, I would’ve immediately abandoned my plan.
After several attempts and a couple near-hits, we were interrupted.
Because the bridge and the approach to it is on a curve with steep embankments, and our attention was focused on dropping snow bombs, we failed to notice the train. You’d think we’d hear the rumble and the loud drone of the diesel engines, but it wasn’t until it was nearly on the bridge that we noticed it.
It’s a good thing that we all just happened to be runners. We sprinted off the bridge and watched the train rumble past.
We failed to score a single hit with our snow bombs, and after the train moment, we no longer had an appetite for more tries. We made our way down to the road and resumed our run.
Choo-choo trains and snow bombs
College distance runners follow coach’s workout advice except sometimes. Now and then mischief happens, especially in the off-season when there’s no meet coming up.
On a snowy, winter afternoon when I was on the track and cross-country team at Spokane Falls Community College, I talked my teammates into turning off the road to drop snow bombs on cars from the railroad bridge pictured below. If you work in security or are an executive for Burlington Northern Railway, please stop reading this now.
The snow was pretty fluffy, and we kept the snowballs lightly packed because we didn’t want to cause any damage.
It was quite a drop from the bridge to the road below, so releasing our snow bombs at the right moment wasn’t as easy as it seemed. In addition, the road wasn’t a busy one, so our opportunities were limited.
I studied so many hours that my eyesight was blurry, and I couldn’t make out this sign. If I had read it, I would’ve immediately abandoned my plan.
After several attempts and a couple near-hits, we were interrupted.
Because the bridge and the approach to it is on a curve with steep embankments, and our attention was focused on dropping snow bombs, we failed to notice the train. You’d think we’d hear the rumble and the loud drone of the diesel engines, but it wasn’t until it was nearly on the bridge that we noticed it.
It’s a good thing that we all just happened to be runners. We sprinted off the bridge and watched the train rumble past.
We failed to score a single hit with our snow bombs, and after the train moment, we no longer had an appetite for more tries. We made our way down to the road and resumed our run.
BRRC NEWS and OREO Award
Karen and Bruce (Moose) Mathews and Crystal Dorris (with an honorable mention to about a dozen others), for your high attendance at our monthly meetings! Without you we may have never reached a quorum.
BRRC Website:
http://www.brrc.net/
BRRC Officers:
President: Tony Proctor brrcpresident@gmail.com
President Elect: open presidentelectbrrc@gmail.com
Past President: Brett Danielson pastpresidentbrrc@gmail.com
Treasurer: Kevin Boercker treasurerbrrc@gmail.com
Secretary: Paul Fitzpatrick secretarybrrc@gmail.com
