Spring is that magical time of the year when life re-creates itself. When growth and bud swelling begins, when the blustery fierce prairie winds blow down off the foothills of the Cascades, when large migratory birds are to be seen flying back to the North country. It’s a time of new beginnings symbolized by the first astrological day of the year on the Spring equinox – March 20th., and though, the daylight hours have been getting longer since Dec. 21st daytime temperatures lag behind insolation by several weeks because the earth and sea have thermal latency and take time to warm up. And so, Spring is here in full force in the Columbia basin and the fields are changing from their winter browns, to spring green tints. The skies too are losing that perpetual gray and changing to increasing amounts of blue. Life is renewing, regrowing, and re-birthing ! The perennial plants are triggered as temperatures and daylight hours increase, and new life just feels in the air.

We are lucky here in central WA to have these four unique seasons each with their own characteristics. Our own life schedules as farmers, or gardeners changes to one of increasing work days in the fields. More physical activity ensues with projects from preparing our soils, to starting our irrigations systems, and the planting of the annual seeds. After a winter of resting from the past season, planning for the future season, and doing a lot of sitting by the fireplace I’m ready once again to embrace the new growing year. It happens without fail that I become so lazy and complacent that each year I wonder how I will have the energy to get done all that needs to be done in the upcoming farming season. But, as magically as the plant buds swelling I find that renewed energy within each year to burst forth into the Spring work.

It’s that time of year when working outside or getting our hands in the dirt just seems to be a part of our hard-wiring, and part of what helps us survive from one year to the next. That strong desire for a new beginning, on whatever symbolic level, with the planting of seeds or even just the observation of plants renewing is an awe inspiring phenomena of nature, that truly deserves our deepest reverence. I have to admit that I love spring over any of the seasons. May it’s fresh aliveness of another year’s new potential of a bountiful harvest invigorate us all.

35th Running Promises to be a Big One

Early entries are running over 40% ahead of last year’s pace, and the Corporate Cup Competition reached its 250 team limit in less than three days, so its clear that interest in the 35th running of the Spokane Lilac Bloomsday Run is setting a blistering early pace. There are just two weeks left until the popular 12-kilometer (7.46 mile) road race, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 1.

“The early interest is a great sign,” said Bloomsday Association President Carol Hunter. “Last year we had our largest number of recorded finishers since 1996, and it’s looking like this year we’ll have another increase.”

Along with online registration, which has been open since January 1, printed entry brochures are available at hundreds of locations. Meanwhile, over 6,000 elementary school children have already begun getting in shape by participating in a Fit For Bloomsday…Fit For Life training program at one of nearly 70 participating schools in the region. The Fit For Bloomsday program is now in its 26th year.

Most of the Bloomsday experience this year will be similar to what participants enjoyed in 2010, with everyone starting on Riverside Avenue and finishing at the north end of the Monroe Street Bridge, just above the Spokane River falls. The D-tag timing system implemented last year will be used again to accurately time every entrant from start to finish. One change, though, in celebration of the 35th running of Bloomsday, will be an increase in the number of performers along the 7-1/2 mile course, from 29 to 35. Also in celebration of the 35th, Bloomsday will offer a special medal for sale, and prizes will be awarded after the run for the 35th, 350th, 3,500th and 35,000th finishers.

Another change this year will be in the number of teams participating in the Bloomsday School Challenge. Last year the School Challenge, which matches four-person teams of teen runners from area middle schools and high schools, had 27 teams. That number will be increased to 60 this year.

To help people get ready for this year’s 12-kilometer challenge, Bloomsday has partnered with a new non-profit called Step Up Spokane—which is encouraging residents to engage in daily physical activity and healthier eating year-round—to offer training programs for Bloomsday participants.

Those entering this year’s Bloomsday online, which represented 80% of the field in 2010, will continue to enjoy features that are only available to online entrants. That includes an email about a week before Bloomsday weekend letting them know their race number and the color of their starting group, as well as the option to keep family and friends together in the same starting group. Online entrants may also want to join Bloomsday’s Facebook fan page, which currently boasts nearly 8,000 fans, and which will be inviting Bloomies to post photos of themselves, family or friends wearing Bloomsday shirts in interesting or exotic locations. Bloomsday also has a Twitter account this year for anyone wanting to receive regular tweets about the event.

Along with the run itself, this year’s Bloomsday weekend will feature the sixth annual Marmot March, a non-competitive 1.2-mile kids event in Riverfront Park on the day before the run. The Marmot March is for children second grade and younger and their parents,. The Marmot March is sponsored by Franz Bakeries and is open for the first 300 children who sign up.

While there have been many changes in Bloomsday in recent years, some things remain the same. Competition at the front end promises to be fierce, as world-class racers and wheelchairs battle for prize money, which includes a $20,000 U.S. citizen’s purse. In addition, top age-group runners will vie for medals, local stars will hope to earn a free trip to Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race, and businesses will scramble for top honors among over 250 teams in the Corporate Cup, which is sponsored again this year by Orthopaedic Specialty Clinic.

For those farther back in the pack, on-course entertainment and the cheers of spectators should help make the journey fun and memorable. During its thirty-five years on the Spokane scene, Bloomsday has become a favored spring gathering place for families and friends, most of whom complete the course and collect the coveted finisher’s shirt, the color and design of which are kept secret until the finish line.

Online registration for Bloomsday ’11 is open at www.bloomsdayrun.org

THIS IS FOR ALL THE MOTHERS whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls “mom?” in a crowd. This is for young mothers stumbling through mountains of diapers and sleep deprivation and life changes. For all the mothers who have run carpools and made dozens of cookies for school events and sewn Halloween costumes and prom dresses. And all the mothers who haven’t because they’re working trying to keep on top of the bills. This is for all the mothers who have sat on metal bleachers at football games or grass at soccer games any night of the week, so that when their kids ask, “Did you see me?” they could say, “Of course, I would not have missed it for the world!” For all the mothers who read “a favorite book” twice a night for a year. And then read it again “just one more time.” This is for mothers that have learned 1001 things to do with an empty oatmeal box and turn regular things into amazing tools to teach. This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro, instead. This is for mothers who taught their sons to cook and sew and their daughters to be brave and strong (and sink a jump shot.) This is for all the mothers who have listened to the band in the “garage” and hear the sounds of (potential) music unfold. This is for mothers that know fun begins with a willingness to seek it, seize it, and transform even the most mundane experiences into moments to treasure. This is for all the mothers who learn flexibility and the ability to juggle daily life challenges. For mothers who feel empathy when their child struggles with a project; humility when they give wrong direction; compassion when they see their child cry and elation when they see them smile. This is for mothers with faith and the belief that their hopes and prayers for their children will outlive any failures. For mothers with trepidation when their child moves away for the first time and confidence in their ability to succeed. And mothers with unending thoughts every moment of every day for the safe return of their child who is protecting our United States of America. This is for all the mothers whose children have gone astray, and who can’t find the words to reach them. For all the mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And the mothers who adopted those babies and gave them homes and all their love. This is for mothers who have tearfully placed flowers on their child’s grave. This is for mothers who have learned and are still learning to let go. This is for all the mothers who truly know the love of a child.

For working mothers and stay at home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. Grandmothers and great-grandmothers, whose wisdom and love remains a constant.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY…..everyday.