COEUR d’ALENE — April showers intermittently poured on the nearly 1,000 brave souls who ran in the 32nd annual Spring Dash Sunday morning.

Racers championed through the wet weather to complete the 5-mile circuit, which looped from City Hall through the Sanders Beach residential area, out toward Potlatch Hill and back to the starting point.

“It’s typical spring,” said Lisa Lawrence of Sandpoint. “It’s wet and wonderful to be running for a great cause.”

Lawrence, her daughter Lydia Rasor and friend Kaylind Ball wore ponchos and smiles as they trekked the race route. Rasor said she participated “to be a better me” and to get fit.

“I kept saying, ‘I have to walk in this weather,’ because I knew it was going to be rainy,” Lawrence said. “Then I changed my attitude and said, ‘No, I get to walk in this weather, and I’m doing it for a great cause.’ And I’m going to get healthy while I’m at it. So I’m excited I get to walk in the rain. Go rain!”

The Spring Dash, a fundraiser for United Way of Kootenai County, was also a qualify race for Bloomsday’s “second seeding.” Jonathan Tevis of Coeur d’Alene has been running the Spring Dash since 2009. While he enjoys the athleticism, he said the social aspect is a key part of the fun.

“It’s an awesome community event. Everyone just comes together and hangs out on a Sunday morning, in a time of the year when nothing else is going on,” he said. “I think all races in general are really good events because they always promote something positive. No matter what, when you sign up, you know the money is going somewhere useful, so it’s always a good feeling.”

United Way of Kootenai County community impact coordinator Jeanette Laster of Hayden estimated the event raised more than $10,000. She said the funds benefit United Way programs and the Community Care Fund, ultimately returning to the community through a grant process.

“This is a great way for those that can’t give on a monthly basis to United Way to give as a one-time community event,” she said. “To show their camaraderie as a community and support United Way and the programs that we do the great work in.”

She said the Spring Dash commences the racing season in the area, acting as a kickoff event for those ready to lace up and get out of the house.

“We are the first race of the season, and we look forward to being that every year,” she said. “A lot of people use our race to qualify for a position in Bloomsday.”

Race results can be found at www.lakecitytri.com and www.kootenaiunitedway.org