The Wine Country Half Marathon Series is navigating the spectacular natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia on September 6.
“The pristine Okanagan Valley provides a picturesque backdrop to this half marathon, and sets the stage for a fun weekend of activities, fine wines, and an opportunity to simply hit the reset button,” says race director Matt Dockstader. “The Okanagan Valley is hidden gem in the wine producing world and the community of Kelowna has provided us with a cultural center that embraces not only an active lifestyle, but encourages the social narrative around wine.
The half marathon (21.1 kilometers / 13.1 miles) kicks off at 7:00 AM at The Vibrant Vine Winery, which offers breathtaking views Okanagan Lake, the surrounding mountains and downtown Kelowna. The course meanders past vineyards, farms and apple orchards, along the East Bench of Kelowna before merging onto the Mission Creek Greenway.
“Watching the sunrise reflect off Okanagan Lake, and running through the glowing vineyards and orchards down to Waterfront Park for the post-race festival will be a memorable lifetime experience,” says Dockstader.
The final six kilometers of the course runs along the edge of Okanagan Lake, culminating with a grand finish at Waterfront Park.
The Wine + Music Festival is open from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM, and is highlighted by the following local Okanagan Valley wineries: Calona Vineyards, Cedar Creek Estate Winery, House of Rose Winery, Living Water Organic Vineyards, Sperling Vineyards, Quail’s Gate Winery, St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Vineyards, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, The Vibrant Vine, Tantalus Vineyards, The View Winery and Little Straw Vineyards.
Registration is still open for this marquis event, currently the only race in the series held outside the USA. Participants can also purchase Race Extras, including the welcome reception at Quail’s Gate Winery, pre-race dinner at the Hotel Eldorado with guest speakers, post-race winery tours of the region’s most esteemed wineries, and the finisher’s celebration at Manteo Resort.
A two-person relay option is also available in addition to the team and individual registration for the half marathon. For more information and to register, go to destinationraces.com/runbc. Destination Races and its winery partners go the extra mile to offer a truly unique wine country destination experience.
Photo courtesy of Vibrant Vines.
