Bloomsday Seeding
Elite Seeding
A special starting area near the front of the pack.
If you’re aged 13 or older and believe you have the potential to finish in the top 50 overall (maintaining a 5:15 pace for men or a 6:30 pace for women), you may qualify for Elite Seeding.
Runners who wish to be considered for this category should email information verifying their ability to Elite Seeding Coordinator Andy LeFriec.
Click the links below to jump to each section:
Second Seeding
For those qualifying for Second Seeding at Bloomsday, there are specific instructions to follow. If you earned Second Seeding based on your 2024 Bloomsday time, it’s advisable to register online by March 19. During registration, you’ll have the option to purchase a $30.00 amenities package, featuring a Second Seed singlet, gear bag, race day gear transport, and access to the post-race tent party. Regardless of the amenities package, a brown number will be assigned for your Second Seeding area start.
If you qualified based on age-group placing or another listed race, contact the Second Seed Coordinator for instructions by March 19, including your date of birth and qualification details. Pick up your official number and purchased amenities package at the Second Seed desk during Check-In on May 2nd or 3rd. For those not purchasing the amenities package in advance, it can be obtained at Check-In for $30.00, subject to availability, ensuring a brown number for the Second Seed start. Second Seed runners with the amenities package can drop off warm-up gear at the start line and retrieve it at the Corporate Cup Post-Race Party, which is inclusive of free drinks, food, and massages. Attendees must wear their Second Seed singlet to access the party.
Out-of-town runners without Elite Seeding qualification or attendance at qualifying races may inquire about Second Seeding eligibility; contact the Second Seed Coordinator for details. Although Second Seeding is limited, efforts will be made to accommodate out-of-town runners. Any inquiries about Second Seeding should be directed to the Second Seed Coordinator, including relevant details about your qualification and date of birth.
2nd Seed Qualifying Races | |||
Race | Date | Dist. | Website |
Bloomsday | 05/05/24 | 12K | bloomsdayrun.org |
Spokane Dad’s Day Dash | 06/16/24 | 5K | raceentry.com/dads-day-dash/race-information |
Spokane Valleyfest 5K | 09/21/25 | 5K | valleyfest.org/river-run |
Spokane Valleyfest 10K | 09/21/25 | 10K | valleyfest.org/river-run |
Spokane Marathon 10K | 10/13/24 | 10K | thespokanemarathon.com |
Seattle Jingle Bell Run | 12/8/24 | 12K | runsignup.com/Race/WA/Seattle/JingleBellRunSeattle |
Richland St. Patrick’s Day | 3/15/25 | 10K | St. Patrick’s Day Foot Race (runsignup.com) |
Spokane St Paddy’s | TBA | 5 Mile | BRRC 40th Annual St. Paddy’s Five Miler (runsignup.com) |
Spokane Rapid Rabbit Run | 3/25/25 | 5 Mile | Rapid Rabbit Run (eastvalleyhs.wixsite.com) |
Hauser Lake Ice Breaker | 04/19/25 | 5K/10K | Hauser Lake 5k/10k Icebreaker Run (runsignup.com) |
Wenatchee Marathon | 04/19/25 | 10K | www.teddriven.com/wenatchee-marathon |
Coeur d’Alene Spring Dash | 04/26/25 | 10K | Spring Dash (runsignup.com) |
Qualifying Race Times (USATF Courses)
Distance | Men | Women | Senior Men | Senior Women |
5K | 18:40/6:01 | 22:30/7:16 | 20:37/6:39 | 26:23/8:31 |
5M | 31:00/6:12 | 37:00/7:24 | 34:12/6:51 | 43:23/8:41 |
10K | 39:00/6:17 | 47:00/7:34 | 43:00/6:56 | 55:06/8:53 |
12K | 48:00/6:24 | 58:00/7:45 | 53:00/7:10 | 1:08/9:05 |
13.1 | 1:29/6:48 | 1:45/8:04 | 1:38/7:30 | 2:03/9:24 |
26.2 | 3:05/7:04 | 3:40/8:25 | 3:24/7:48 | 4:17/9:51 |
Senior Seeding
If you qualified for Senior Seeding based on your 2024 time, register online by the posted deadline, with an option to purchase a $30.00 amenities package. A brown number will be assigned for your Senior Seeding start, whether or not you choose the amenities. Pick up your number (and amenities if purchased) at the Second Seed desk during Check-In on May 3 or 4. Senior Seed runners with the amenities package can drop off warm-up gear at the start line and retrieve it at the Corporate Cup Post-Race Party, inclusive of free drinks, food, and massages, provided you wear your Second Seed singlet.
Out-of-town runners unable to qualify for Elite Seeding may inquire about Senior Seeding eligibility; check with the Second Seed Coordinator for details. While Senior Seeding is limited, efforts will be made to accommodate out-of-town runners. Questions about Senior Seeding should be directed to the Second Seed Coordinator, including relevant details about your qualification and date of birth.
Bloomsday, 2023: Senior Seeding (50 and older):
Men |
Women |
53:00 |
1:08:00 |
Ages 50-69, top ten in Age Group. Age 70 and over, top five in Age Group
Yellow Seeding
To secure a spot in the Yellow starting area for Bloomsday 2024, runners must have achieved a time of 1:12 or faster in Bloomsday from 2016 to 2023 (excluding virtual times). If eligible, yellow seeding will be automatically assigned during registration by indicating an estimated finish time of 1:12 or faster.
Runners without a Bloomsday 2024 time under 1:12 can still qualify for the Yellow start by providing proof of recent participation (within the past two years) in a race of 5 miles or longer, with a finishing time averaging 9:40 pace or better.
To qualify, register online for Bloomsday, indicating an estimated finish time of 1:12 or faster. During registration, if qualifying results are needed, you will get a request via email for submitting your race results. Respond to the email with your qualifying race results following the provided instructions. If deemed eligible for the Yellow start, you will receive confirmation in our email communications with you. For those who have already registered and wish to be considered for the Yellow start, contact Bloomsday directly.