For The Love Of Clothes

Participating in Bloomsday, isn't just for the "fun" of running or being with your family, but it is also a time where community members can give to the less fortunate in a time honored tradition. Although I able to remember this tradition from when I was a child, this was my first year to actually be apart of it.
It is in the chill of Spokane morning, that many of the racers begin to line up for the big race. They are dressed in layers, so as the morning progresses, the heat rises, and their start time gets closer they can slowly peel off each layer. Therefore by race time, they will have shed all their extra layers and will be ready to speed down the open road (-although the road they are racing on is really filled with people.)
It is in these layers that the tradition takes place. The clothes are not put in backpacks to be packed throughout the race, or placed nicely along side the road, but thrown up into the trees, strewn about on parking meters, and hanging from fences. Mostly found are sweatshirts and sweatpants, but sometimes their might be an odd hat. They are left behind for the local area thrift stores to come and pick up to sell in their stores at reduced rates. Although some of the people, can't wait till the clothing gets to the stores and start shopping as soon as the races hear the shotgun to start their race.
In picking out my clothes that I was going to throw into the trees, I was super excited although sad at the same point. The clothes that I was throwing away I had had since high school. They were too big for me and I figured someone else would need them, so off they came and into the trees they went right before we passed over the start line.

There go my sweatpants!

My god brother, Owen, sister, me and Barb with less clothing than we started with.