Local Community Advertising
About 1,100 runners are expected take to the streets and trails of Kelowna on Sunday for the fourth annual Wine Country Half Marathon (video).
Runners and wine enthusiasts from across Canada and the United State are descending on the Central Okanagan for a weekend of wine-themed activities and a scenic 21.1-kilometre course.
The race will require some road closures and parking restrictions. For more information go here.
The race starts at 7 a.m. at Vibrant Vine winery in East Kelowna with magnificent views below of Okanagan Lake and the city. The course leads runners past vineyards, orchards and farms on the East Bench, before dropping down onto the Mission Creek Greenway and running along the lake for the final seven kilometres.
Once through City Park and Stuart Park, participants reach the spectator-lined finish on the promenade adjacent to the Grand Okanagan Resort.
“I’m fascinated by the diversity of the terrain, the wines, and the natural beauty here,” said Destination Races founder and race director, Matt Dockstader. “The course is spectacular with all its variety. And it showcases some of the best scenery in the area.”
Waterfront Park and the Delta Grand offer a picturesque setting for the signature post-race Wine and Music Festival, where local producers pour wines and serve food as participants lounge on the grass or beach listening to live music.
Each participant receives a race shirt, a new finisher’s medal, and an etched wine glass for tasting at the festival. The top three finishers in each age group win a bottle of wine, and the top three overall win a magnum, a Fortessa plate trophy, and cash.
Jim Lawrence, a near-death cardiac survivor, has run the race every year since its debut in 2013 and raves about his experiences.
“I have participated in many half marathons across the United States and Canada, and the Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon is by far my favorite. It’s a well-organized, beautiful race. The best out there.”
Lawrence, a Kelowna resident, looks forward to the opportunity again.
“I feel very fortunate to run,” he says, “I’ll never take it for granted after what I have been through.”
The pre-race Expo will be held on Friday at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and Conference Center in Kelowna. The Expo features race packet pickup and product sampling from health and wellness exhibitors, plus exclusive deals on race apparel and gifts, and a race orientation seminar.
The Kelowna Yacht Club will host a pre-race dinner on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon and Destination Races partner with a number of local and national non-profits, including the Okanagan Athletics Club, the International Children’s Games and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Registration is still open for the event.
For more information and to register for the race go here.
The race will require some road closure and parking restriction. For more information go here.
Local Community Advertising