BRRC Running/Walking Bulletin
for July 10, 2026
BRRC's 4th of July Fun Run
Donations are for Second Harvest
$1,043 cash donations
107 pounds of food
Thank you to all of you who ran and made your generous donations.
BRRC's Picnic and BBQ at Comstock Park
BRRC Membership Renewal
BRRC Membership runs from May to May.
Make sure to renew your membership online. Help support your club so that BRRC can continue to do good things for the Spokane running community.
The online membership registration is presently active here.
Online Membership: https://raceroster.com/memberships/4888/2026-2027-bloomsday-road-runners-club
Paper Membership form: https://www.brrc.net/Membership_2026_form.html
BRRC Race Series
https://www.brrc.net/series_results.html
Running Quotes (New each Week):
Most runners hope running will always be a part of their lives. I'll be happy if running and I can grow old together.
Haruki Murakami
Six Minute Mile (New each Week):
https://mailchi.mp/sixminutemile/smm-new-builder-template-17590603?e=ff960b9e0b
Minute 1: Why marathon runners should train for the mile
Minute 2: Hit your step count with a photo safari
Minute 3: How frequent should a runner's meals be?
Minute 4: The runner we're rooting for at the Hardrock 100 this weekend
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/
Encounters with wild animals while running
Satirical and absurd describe most of my posts. Sometimes I write of true events.
As a high schooler, my parents owned a remote lake lot, and I frequently accompanied my dad to do some work there. I once arranged to leave early to get in a run, and he’d pick me up on the way home.
A couple miles in I saw a small animal on the gravel road ahead, running away from me. I caught up and slowed to its pace. Never before had I run in tandem with a skunk.
He ran a lot further than I thought skunks could run before stopping and facing me. He stomped his front feet in warning. I didn’t react, but when he turned and backed up toward me, I backed up, too.
Eventually he ran into the woods—a smarter escape route than sticking to the road.
During my college days I worked summers at a YMCA camp north of Spokane. Running on an old logging road one morning, I rounded a corner and found a coyote and a badger, faced off, about to fight.
They immediately fled. I ran on a short distance and looked back, hoping they’d resume their scuffle. I would’ve enjoyed watching a coyote-badger fight. Apparently I ruined that possibility.
My most perilous encounter occurred during a solitary, 10-mile hike in a remote area of the Colville National forest in northeastern Washington. I was taking a break from running because of a partially torn meniscus.
I awoke an animal sleeping near the trail. I thought it was a moose at first, but as it galloped toward me, I saw it was a bear.
I’ve done a lot of hiking, and I’ve crossed paths with bears several times. In every instance they fled as if I was the dangerous animal. I waved my arms and yelled loudly which didn’t deter him one bit. My torn meniscus didn’t allow evasive action. I gave one last, deep-throated yell and waved my arms in the most aggressive way I could. The bear closed in at a full run.
He skidded to a stop, his snout nearly touching my legs. I could have patted his head. He turned and trotted away.
Though I was concerned and hyper-alert, the bear wasn’t especially hostile—no growling or baring of teeth. I believe he was groggy, and his first reaction was to run at me. When he realized I was a human, he did what black bears normally do.
For more instances of “amazing” wildlife encounters, I describe another in the previous, farcical post, “Camels vs. Humans“.
BRRC and Race Rag 2026 Events (Save the date!)
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Cherry Pickers Trot
5:00 Pit Spit and Dinner
6:30 Tot Trot
7:00 Race at Harvest House and Green Bluff Church
https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Colbert/CherryPickersTrot
August 23, 2026
Inland Northwest Cross Country Invitational
https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Spokane/InlandNorthwestCrossCountryInvitationalINWXCI
Spokane Valley, WA
Spokane, WA 99216 US
The Inland Northwest Cross Country Invitational @ The Course
Experience race day at THE premier new cross country running venue in America, The Course in Spokane Valley with a fast, exciting 5K cross country event designed for runners of all ages and abilities.
Held on Sunday, August 23rd, the day before high school cross country season officially begins, this event is the perfect way to kick off the fall racing season. Whether you're sharpening up before competition, chasing a personal best, or just looking to experience an incredible new course, this race delivers championship-level atmosphere on a state-of-the-art cross country venue built for the top runners in the region and for one day this August, everyone gets a chance to see what the fuss is all about.
Women's 5K
Price:$20
($10: Ages 1 - 18)
Time:8:00AM PDT
Men's 5K
Price:$20
($10: Ages 1 - 18)
Time:9:00AM PDT
Registration ends August 22, 2026 at 4:00pm PDT
Awards
Top 3 Overall, High School, & Masters
1970's style headband for all finishers
Expect wide starting areas, beautifully designed rolling terrain, premium footing, and an authentic cross country racing experience at the newest state-of-the-art cross-country course in the United States. Come test yourself, celebrate the start of cross-country season, and race where the future of XC begins.
Brought to you by Bloomsday Road Runners Club & The BRRC's Fall XC Race Series.
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 NEWS and OREO Award
This month's Oreo Award goes to:
All of the volunteers who worked at the BRRC Bloomsday booth. Thank you for your help!
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
