Run Perry Run Club

09/08/2026

Run No. 27:

It was the best of parks, it was the worst of parks, it was the route of wisdom, it was the route of foolishness, it was the epoch of relief, it was the epoch of agony, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, and blah-bitty blah blah. Some of us, for reasons never quite explained (or more likely never quite paid attention to) had to memorize the literary passage upon which the preceding sentence was based (and largely plagiarized). Perhaps it was so that later in life we too might make use of paradox and anaphora to establish the extreme dualities, social contradictions, and turbulence, not so much of the French Revolution, but rather, the route we will be running this Tuesday, September 8th. Set in contemporary Spokane, Washington, A Tale of Two Parks will take us through two parks with contrasting histories and strikingly similar fates. Liberty Park, once Spokane’s grandest, gave way in the 1960s to the progress of Interstate 90, while Grant Park, on the other hand, was quadrupled in size around that same time due to… drum roll… the atrophy the losses to Liberty Park. At the time, State Highway Commission chairman Elmer Huntley was quoted as saying, “It is our intention to leave the city with as good a park facility as what we interrupted.” If you look at any old photos of Liberty Park, you will find that to be, as former Gonzaga basketball star Ronnie Turiaf (from France no less) might say, “a bold lie.” But they are, nevertheless, two parks, and we’ll run through both. While the 3ish is more than enough, should you choose the 5ish, you’ll have earned the right to say, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.” See you this Tuesday at 6!

Story on Liberty Park's demise: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/mar/09/then-and-now-liberty-park-gave-way-to-i-90/

Story on Grant Park's... rise to glory?: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/apr/03/stadacona-circle-became-part-of-grant-park-in/

09/06/2026

First in run the BRRC XC Series and Run Perry Run Club took home first place. Great start to the series!!!!!!

08/31/2026

Run No. 26:

This Tuesday we’re teaming up again with the folks from The Boulevard Race and The South Perry Lantern for Charlie’s Run. Initially, the idea was to provide an opportunity for folks to gather and remember a good friend and fellow run club member, Charlie Reed (1977-2024). And each summer since his passing, we’ve done just that, welcoming his many friends and family on a special Tuesday to run with “his” run club. Now, we say “his” club, not because it belonged to Charlie, in the traditional sense. But because this is the club HE chose to run with, the club HE wanted to belong to, populated with the folks HE enjoyed commiserating with (both during and after the runs). And in that sense, it truly was his club. Just as it is YOUR club, belonging to everyone who chooses to run with us. With that sentiment in mind, we want expand the sentiment of Charlie’s Run to include remembering and celebrating everyone we’ve lost too soon. So, this week when we gather before the run, if there’s anyone who wants to get up on the bench say a little bit on behalf of someone dear to them, we encourage it. Or if there’s another way you might want to remember someone, perhaps by something as simple as running with their name written somewhere conspicuous on you (calf, arm, shin… forehead ) we’re all for it. And if you want to invite their friends and relatives, have at it. Oh, and just so you know, we will be running the “Charlies Run” route, which takes us by a couple of Charlie Reed landmarks. But we’ll also have another route ready for those who might want to take things a little easier (Look, it is Jaques!!!!!). After all, Charlie's Run is one of our more difficult routes (but well worth it). Looking forward to a good evening and seeing you all this Tuesday at 6 PM!

08/30/2026

Separate reminder, the BRRC Cross Country series has its first race next Sunday, September 6th at Audubon Park. Run Perry Run Club has been very competitive in the first three years of the run club competition portion (2nd, 1st, and 2nd). And we’re hoping this year is no different. Theres four true cross country races in the series. There’s no limit to the number folks who can run for a club, only on those whose times will factor into the scoring (5 scorers and 2 blockers). A team really needs to have a minimum of 5 folks for each race to compete. Men place/score against men, women place/score against women, top five placers/scores are added together for a team score and lowest score wins.

You can run one, two, three, or all four races. The registration is $20.00 per race, but if you sign up for all four at once there’s a $20.00 discount. Make sure you let them know you’re running for Run Perry Run/The Lantern. Sign up here

The BRRC Cross Country Series is on Sunday September 6, 2026 to Saturday October 24, 2026. It includes the following events: BRRC Audubon 5K Cross Country, BRRC Qualchan Bluff 12K Cross Country, BRRC 7-Mile Airstrip 5K Cross Country, and BRRC Mead 5K Cross Country.

08/27/2026

Next Tuesday, September 1, we’re teaming up again with the folks from The Boulevard Race for Charlie’s Run. Initially, the idea was to provide an opportunity for folks to gather and remember a good friend and fellow run club member, Charlie Reed (1977-2024). And each summer since his passing, we’ve done just that, welcoming his many friends and family on a special Tuesday to run with “his” run club. Now, we say “his” club, not because it belonged to Charlie, in the traditional sense. But because this is the club HE chose to run with, the club HE wanted to belong to, populated with the folks HE enjoyed commiserating with (both during and after the runs). And in that sense, it truly was his club. Just as it is YOUR club. It belongs to EVERYONE who chooses to run with us. With that sentiment in mind, we want to say that Charlie’s Run isn’t just about remembering one person (we’re sure Charlie wouldn’t have wanted all the attention - at least not year after year!). It’s about remembering and celebrating EVERYONE we’ve lost too soon. So next week when we gather before the run, if there’s anyone who wants to get up on the bench say a little bit on behalf of someone dear to them, we encourage it. Or if there’s another way you might want to remember someone, perhaps something as simple as running with their name written somewhere conspicuous on you (calf, arm, shin… forehead 😊) we’re all for it. And if you want to invite their friends and relatives, have at it. Just so you know, we will be running the “Charlies Run” route which takes us by a couple of Charlie landmarks. But we’ll also have another route ready for those who might want to take things a little easier, after all, Charlie's Run is one of our tougher routes). Looking forward to a good evening and seeing you all Tuesday, September 1, at 6 PM.

08/27/2026

We’ve seen plenty of ways to help out those in the community who lost so much in the fires this past month. But here’s one where you get to help, stay healthy, and have fun at the same time. This 5k is being put on just this weekend and all proceeds go to help those people. As it says in the description, it’s being put on in a hurry, so there won’t be awards, official timing, or results, but who needs all that? Only one person can win an actual race, while this run will help the community. This Saturday August 29th at the rotary fountain. Donations only, so pay what you can.

lululemon and Ambassador Andy Le Friec are teaming up to help the Spokane community in its time of need. The fires that swept through the Riverside state park…

08/24/2026

Run No. 25!

Oh boy, do we have a run for you this week! (Said matter-of-factly WITH MUCH ENTHUSIASM!!!!) Yes. (Said flatly without emotion). That’s right, as with the preceding 24 weeks, we’ve chosen a route. But where this week differs from all those others where we’ve had you running aimlessly around Perry and into the adjacent neighborhoods, this week’s run will serve as a reminder that no dream is too outlandish, too out of touch, in this great land of ours. You see, for years pedestrians who’d wanted to walk, jog, bike, skateboard, roller blade, skip, and to a lesser extent crawl from Sprague Avenue, just east of downtown, to Spokane Falls Blvd., likewise just east of downtown, had to venture all the way over to Division St., all because of three sets of railroad tracks and a ravine which stood in the way. But that all changed in December 2018 with the unveiling of Spokane’s University Gateway Bridge. Loosely named and styled after the iconic “Gateway” Arch in St. Louis (which, by the way, merely “symbolized” the expansion of the United States to the West), the University Gateway Bridge enables literally tens -possibly hundreds- of pedestrians to freely cross in that area in not one, but TWO directions (both north AND south). An engineering marvel made possible through the sheer grit and gumption of local leaders, builders, and taxpayers, the bridge serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when you want to do something and have money to spend. And this week, we get to experience it firsthand, as we run McDowell’s Arc™. The three milers will cross and then almost immediately cross back over the bridge, while the 5ish will cross, run to the river, cross two more bridges, and cross back over. And to think, back in 2017, one could only dream… See you all this Tuesday at 6!!!

08/17/2026

Run No. 24:

We here at Run Perry Run Club are constantly trying to provide a little something for everyone and this week is no different, as our route goes out to equally to lovers of obscure micro local historical fiction and/or hills. You see, back in 2012, when this club first began, we had a route that went up a hill, then down a hill, then up another hill, then down again, and then up one last hill, and finally down once more. That first year we ran it near Halloween. It was dark and near freezing, but despite these conditions, one club member ran it while wearing what we presumed was his son’s Iron Man costume helmet. We then ran it a time or two in the next season or so, but it never found its way into the main rotation. Perhaps it was because didn’t have a catchy name, having referred to it only as “the Halloween Run.” Following covid, the route seemed all but lost. But then in 2024, inspired by a chance viewing of Tea Loene’s brilliant 2004 performance alongside a baby talking Adam Sandler, the route made its triumphant return, this time with the perfect name. You see, the route had three sizeable hills. And hills, as we all know, can be a runner’s friend (when done correctly). And that movie we mentioned? It just so happened to be titled Spanglish. Sooooo… the route was rebranded, “Tres Hillmigos.” Come to think of it, perhaps this week is more for those who love boring obscure micro local historical fiction and/or hills, as opposed to just obscure micro local historical fiction and/or hills. In any event, we’ve got a great run for you, one which has been around for many years in one form or another, and one which is sure to get your legs and lungs a pumping. Now we just need the air quality to cooperate. Hint: It will. So, see you all this Tuesday at 6!

08/10/2026

Week 23:

If only a regular ole person could type out a good whistling such that others (also regular ole people) could simply read along and understand the tune. In that alternate reality we’d type out “fwit fwhee fwee fwee fwh fwheeee fwheuh fwh fwhit. Fwhee fwut. Fwhee fut. Fweeeh fu, fweee fwhee, fwhee fut” and those of you’d who’d seen the movie The Life of Brian would be transported to its final scene. Those who hadn’t, you’d at least think, “now that’s a nice little carefree sounding ditty.” And we’d all think about how fortunate we (Spokane as a whole) have been, even though we’re by no means out of the woods and even though many continue to suffer through tremendous loss. Miraculously, there’s been no reported loss of life, and some of humanity’s best has shown in the form of a helping hand. For some, the shock of the fires is wearing off, and things seem to be getting back to normal. For others, it’s gonna take a lot longer. Whether you fall in the former, the latter, or somewhere in between, as we said last week, we’re here to provide a bit of normalcy and a distraction. Join us for a bit of both this Tuesday as we ramble up through Lincoln Park. Air quality’s looking good for now (currently 68) and temperature will be in the mid 80s. If all holds up, it should be a great distraction. See you Tuesday at 6!