Race Will Move To The University District With Start And Finish Near Gonzaga University Campus
Exciting news from race officials for the second running of The Boulevard Race on Sunday, September 22nd.
The Boulevard Race will blaze new ground this fall on an entirely new course in downtown Spokane. A heavy load of downtown road construction projects necessitated a new course design from their original 4-mile course in 2023. With the help of city officials and local universities, the race course will be run entirely on city streets in Spokane’s University District with the Gateway Bridge serving as one of the impressive and iconic landmarks along the scenic 4-mile run/walk.
Registration for the race is open at www.boulevardrace.com Race entry is $30 and includes a race shirt from The Great PNW; $30 Rosauer’s Grocery coupon; free Dutch Bros. beverage; and free Metro Express Car Wash.
The Boulevard Race is a Community Cancer Fund event. Proceeds from the race fund organizations and services that support cancer patients in the Inland NW.
Runners and walkers will pick-up their race numbers at The Kennel the day prior to the race. The Kennel is the home of the Gonzaga’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The start and finish of the race will be adjacent to Gonzaga University’s campus. Appropriately, the street where the race will begin and end is named Spokane Falls BOULEVARD, allowing race officials to continue the slogan from 2023: “We will see you on the Boulevard.”
“Our goal with this charity race from the beginning was to introduce an amazing fall event to the City while allowing our participants to run and walk for a cause on Spokane’s best city streets,” said Jon Neill, The Boulevard Race Director. “With this year’s new course in mind, we are confident that we have once again done that.”
In 2023, more than 2,000 runners and walkers participated in the inaugural race. This year race organizers are taking steps to accommodate a crowd size double that amount. One of the exciting features of the race are the entertainment zones and cheer stations along the way. Race participants this year can expect the same high energy features and volume as they experienced last year including DJs playing music; cheer teams handing out Mardi Gras beads, drumlines, bands, and the ringing of lots of cowbells. “The Boulevard is all about celebrating life, especially for those impacted by cancer,” said Kelly Risse, race co-founder and Boulevard Director of Vibe. “When you run or walk this course, you will experience electricity and endless energy from the epic cheer squads lining the course. It’s pure magic.”
The course features dramatic Spokane River views. Racers will also zip underneath several historical bridges creating the ultimate “scream tunnel” experience with cheering spectators.
The Boulevard is one more way for us to show that we are all in the race to beat cancer.
Jon Neill
