Okanagan College Half Marathon

Okanagan College Media Release

Registering for Okanagan College’s Half Marathon, 10 K or Relay Race may just be the perfect way to beat the gloomy winter skies and tackle the aftermath of excessive holiday indulgence. The race will open its online registration on Jan. 9 – leaving runners lots of time to prepare for the first major road race of 2011.

The Okanagan College race will take place on Sunday, March 27 in Kelowna. Now in its ninth year of operation, the race will offer runners three different options: a 21.2 km half marathon, a 10 km race, and a 21.1 km relay for teams of up to five runners.

The popular fast and flat course from 2010 will be offered again this year. The races begin between 8 and 8:15 a.m. at the KLO Road campus of Okanagan College.

The half marathon course will cover 21.1 kms of Kelowna pavement, taking runners along the Abbott corridor into City Park and will turn around atop the first hill on Knox Mountain. Runners will make their way back along the waterfront to Gyro Beach, across Lakeshore and finish back at the KLO campus.

For new runners or those looking for a shorter distance, the relay race covers the same course as the half marathon and allows up to five runners to participate in segments of approximately 4 km each.

Last year the race offered a 10 km route, which proved to be very popular. The 10 K is back for 2011 and the route will take runners along the same first and last portions of the half marathon course with a turnaround in City Park.

Prize money will be offered to the top three finishers in the male and female division of the half marathon. On each side, first place will receive $250, second place will take $150 and the third place finisher will receive $100. Prizes will also be offered to winners of the 10 km and relay portion of the race.

“We are looking forward to organizing another great running event for the community,” said Race Director Christine Ulmer. “The race has grown significantly over the past few years due to an excellent organizing team, a fantastic group of volunteers and we’ve been told we offer the best finish-line food around. The inclusion of the 10K race last year drew a lot of young runners, as well as experienced racers. We are planning on making this year’s event better than ever.”

Any non-runners wishing to be involved with the race can lend their time as race volunteers or course marshals, explained Ulmer.

“There’s no experience necessary, just some common sense and a desire to help out. Course marshals do not direct traffic but momentarily stop cars to allow racers to pass.”

To register, find out more about the course or to view entry fee deadlines, visit: www.okanagan.bc.ca/halfmarathon after Jan. 9, 2011.

Students receive a $5 discount. All proceeds from the race are donated to Okanagan College’s campus recreation programs. Half marathon runners receive a technical running shirt and a medal. Relay and 10 km participants will receive a t-shirt.

Volunteers will receive a race crew t-shirt. To volunteer, contact Michelle Lowry at 250-762-5445 ext. 4649 or at [email protected].