Race Organizers Investigate T-shirt Shortage at Event

Runners in the 40th annual Bloomsday run in Spokane, Wash., left the event without a T-shirt. (Image via Spokesman)

After running almost 8 miles in the 40th annual Bloomsday run in Spokane, Wash., participants expected T-shirts. The event organizers planned accordingly—they ordered 50,000 T-shirts after about 46,000 people signed up. But somehow, not everyone got a shirt.

According to Spokesman, Don Kardong, director of the Lilac Bloomsday Association, apologized for the mix-up and said that participants could email the staff to receive their shirts.

"We are working hard to resolve the situation and determine the cause of the shirt shortage at the finish line," Kardong said, according to Spokesman.

Facebook users took to the comment section of KHQ's report on the T-shirt shortage. Some complimented participants, or "Bloomies," on their patience and understanding, and others voiced their disappointment.

"Since we had kids and strollers holding preschoolers, we really were behind normal times but more exhausted than ever," one user wrote. "Imagine how disappointed the 10- and 7-year-olds, who were real troopers, walking the whole way, felt being told, 'no shirt for you' … [I have] been coming since 1997; [worst] day ever."

"I was a volunteer handing out shirts at the end of the race, and I was amazed by how gracious people were," another wrote. "There were a lot of disappointed and irritated racers, but I didn't see anyone take their frustrations out on the teens in our group who were volunteering their time. I thought Spokane showed a lot of class yesterday."

The organization said that runners can either send an email or drop by the office to receive their shirts. But, the mystery of the missing T-shirts remains open. What could've happened?