SPOKANE, Wash. — With less than two weeks until Bloomsday’s 50th anniversary, local experts are sharing crucial preparation tips to help runners avoid injuries and succeed on race day.
Whether chasing a personal best or enjoying the community energy, proper training and gear selection remain essential for the challenging 12 kilometer course.
Training recommendations
Health experts recommend maintaining training routines in the weeks before tapering down in the final days.
“A lot of the protocols that we use for preparing for a race involve running this week and then next week. Usually about 72 hours before the race, start to phase down a little bit and get your body prepared,” said Dr. Zach Strandy of Summit Rehabilitation Associates.
Strandy recommends focusing on rest and recovery rather than intense training sessions in the days before the race, especially given Bloomsday’s elevation changes including the notorious Doomsday Hill.
Footwear preparation
Shoe experts warn against buying new running shoes days before the race. Instead, runners should select and test their gear now.
“We love for you to get out there and maybe do a run or two in your shoes and make sure everything fits right and is doing what it is supposed to,” said Nicole Coburn, Director of Merchandising at Fleet Feet.
Fleet Feet offers free 3D foot scanning to help runners choose proper shoes, socks and insoles. Running specialists emphasize that these gear choices can make the difference between race day success and a painful experience.
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