Spokane, WA

The great thing about running is you can do it anywhere. Yesterday I was in Spokane, WA and took a little jaunt through the city. The latest Runner’s World had blurb on Spokane, showing 3 or 4 paths all of varying distances. This day I had 5 miles on the schedule so I strapped on the GPS and just went.

Spokane sits by itself in the eastern part of Washington. It’s a fair sized city that clearly represents a mix between old and new. The streets of downtown are lined with old cement buildings—high-rises and parking structures—signs of new growth and redevelopment shoot up between like weeds growing in a field of grass. Development is present and on its way, but for the time being, it just seems out of place.

Spokane holds an annual race…the Bloomsday 12K. There is a statue on the middle of town of 40 runners that pays tribute to this annual May event. I stayed near the town’s icon, Gonzaga University. Gonzaga is famous for the small town, small school competitive basketball team it fields every year. This year they made it all the way to the NCAA Elite Eight and dominated UCLA for most of the game that could have brought them to the Final Four. Their star player, Adam Morrison, could not hang on…and UCLA moved forward. In fact, as I ran through the Gonzaga campus, I think I spotted Morrison sitting on the grass…still in uniform….crying his eyes out like he did on national television.

The run was scenic. I went through the Gonzaga campus on a trail that can make its way all the way into Idaho if one wanted to keep going. I wanted to get done quickly today…it was perfect weather and good for people watching. As I left the campus I came upon the downtown, right along the Spokane River, which was moving rapidly, flowing at its banks. The spring runoff is already high this year. The trail followed the river, right into the heart of town. Then I crossed the little foot-bridge that took me right over the raging Spokane Falls…BEAUTIFUL…and I doubt I’ll ever come back here. So I took it all in for a moment and then went on.

So, I wrapped up the run, showered, and looked for a good local pub to observe the Thursday night Gonzaga social scene…another topic for another time my friends. Until then, happy running!