For more than 40 years, a vibrant community of running groups, clubs, and annual events has been blossoming in the Lilac City and surrounding region. Everyone—from casual runners and fitness walkers looking for informal clubs and fun runs to competitors seeking race PRs—will all find something from this list for their personal calendars.
RUNNING CLUBS
Trail Maniacs: For trail runners as well as mountain bikers and hikers, this group hosts races and other events.
SoHi Running Club: This informal group meets Mondays year-round—rain or shine, and also on holidays—at Miguel’s Mexican Restaurant at 6 p.m. on Spokane’s South Hill.
Fleet Feet Running Club: Weekly group runs and a No Boundaries 5k Training Program are offered through Spokane and Spokane Valley Fleet Feet store locations. Schedule includes Monday trail runs, Tuesday strength training workouts and drills, Wednesday speed workouts, and Saturday long, slow distance runs.
Spokane Valley Running Club: Also referred to as the Spokane Valley Bison Running Club, group meets at 5:50 p.m. at Monkey Bar, in Spokane Valley. Runs begin at 6 p.m.
Bloomsday Road Runners Club (meets Tuesdays & Saturdays): Group runs start at 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings at Kendall Yards from the parking lot by Central Food. On Tuesday evenings speedwork is done at the Spokane Community College track; warmup begins at 6 p.m. Club’s website is the go-to resource for local running news and includes an event calendar of regional races and local club runs.
Palouse Road Runners: This Moscow, Idaho-based group has coached workouts at the University of Idaho track at 6 p.m on Tuesdays.
Flightless Birds Running Club: Cheney-based group meets at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesdays at Barrelhouse Pub & Pizza; run begins at 6.
Lantern Run Club: Meets weekly at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays in Spokane’s Perry District at Lantern Tap House.
The Monterey Café Running Club: Meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays during Daylight Savings time from March to November at Monterey Café in downtown Spokane (group formerly known as c:nextIT/run).
Spokane Swifts: A women’s running club that primarily focuses on training goals and competitive racing. Group practices take place year-round on Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. The Lilac Bloomsday 12K is the team’s annual race.
Palouse Falls Beer Chasers: Group meets weekly on Wednesdays at Birch & Barley Restaurant in Pullman at 5:30 p.m.
High Drive Highlanders: Meets at Rocket Market on Spokane’s South Hill at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays for weekly 5K group runs.
Green Bluff Running Club: Meets weekly on Wednesdays in Mead at Big Barn Brewery at 6 p.m. for group runs or walks.
Iron Goat Running Club: Meets weekly on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at Iron Goat Tap Room in downtown Spokane.
Flying Irish Running Club: Runners and walkers meet weekly on Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. at Chateau Rive near the Spokane Arena.
Liberty Lake Running Club: Weekly 3-mile run/walk begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Liberty Lake Physical Therapy.
Millwood Milers: Group meets weekly at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at Millwood Brewing Company in the community of Millwood east of Spokane.
Spokane Moms Run This Town/She Runs This Town: The Spokane chapter of this national organization meets on Fridays, year-round, at 9:30 a.m. at the Manito Park duck pond for 3-5 mile runs. According to local chapter leader Noelle Lovoi, the group occasionally meets at Kendall Yards, and runners should request to join the private Facebook group to learn more. Runs are open to all fitness abilities, interest levels, and run paces.
Nike+ Run Club: These weekly Friday morning runs meet at 6 a.m. in front of the Nike store in downtown Spokane.
Manito Running Club: Meets at Manito Park on Saturdays at 8 a.m. in the 18th and Grand parking lot.
Manito Night Shift: Work a non-traditional schedule? This informal group was created for Spokane-area runners to connect and plan group runs anytime, day or night. Join the group’s Facebook page to learn the schedule.
Beers & Blisters Running Group: Meets on Sundays at 9 a.m. at My Fresh Basket in Kendall Yards.
Sunday Slugs: Meets weekly at 8 a.m. at Manito Park on Spokane’s South Hill in the 18th and Grand parking lot for scenic walks or runs starting from the duck pond.
Spokane Distance Project: A dues-based men’s running club that provides a competitive team and training program for post-collegiate athletes.
Palisades Running Club: Request to join group’s Facebook page to learn the schedule; meets near Palisades Park in west Spokane.
SPRING RACES & EVENTS
Get active and outside with these spring races and fun runs. For a more complete list of Inland Northwest running events, check out our Race, Ride & Event Guide online at OutThereOutdoors.com.
Negative Split Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K (April 7): Based in Kendall Yards, event now incorporates the annual Hunger Run.
Hauser Lake Icebreaker 5K & 10K Run (April 7): USATF-certified 10K course and Bloomsday second-seed qualifier. Runners and walkers with strollers or dogs are welcome.
Palouse 100K Relay & Solo Run (April 7): 100K Ultra Relay, 100K 10-person relay, 100K 5-person relay, and 100K Solo, organized by Palouse Road Runners.
Spring Dash (April 27): 5-mile Bloomsday second-seed qualifier race in Coeur d’Alene at McEuen Park.
Spokane River Run (April 28): 5, 10, 25, and 50K races plus 50K relay race at Riverside State Park.
Lilac Bloomsday Run (May 5): 12K race for runners and walkers of all paces. Wheelchairs and strollers welcome.
Priest Lake Marathon, Half-Marathon, 50K Ultra, & 5K Family Fun Run (May 11): Backcountry trail run through the Panhandle National Forest.
Trail Maniacs Farragut Trail Run (May 17-18): Weekend event at Farragut State Park includes a 5, 10, and 25K and free kids race.
Windermere Marathon & Half-Marathon (May 19): Flat and fast Boston-qualifier course along the Spokane River.
Coeur d’Alene Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K & 5K run/walk (May 26): New marathon course organized by Negative Split. Strollers allowed for 5K. //
Amy S. McCaffree is Out There’s special section editor. She wrote the Inland Northwest Race, Ride & Event Guide in March.
