Challenge responds to bombing

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Officials announce Challenge Penticton last summer

As organizers plan for Challenge Penticton this summer, their thoughts and prayers go out to the families, athletes, spectators and race organizers impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing.

Furthermore it raises the flag for anyone doing any sort of big event, said executive director Barb Haynes.

“It certainly causes all of us to sit up and pay attention, especially for events with an International flavour like Challenge Penticton has,” she said.

Monday’s twin bombings next to the race course, killed three people, including an 8-year-old boy, and wounded  more than 170 people.

The incident shocked the world, as the marathon is a time-honoured tradition that has been around for more than 100 years.

Haynes said security for Challenge Penticton,  a triathlon featuring a 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle and 42.2 km run on Aug 25, 2013,  is already a big piece of the event.

“We are already working diligently on that. It is a part of what we planned for,” she said.

So far there has been a good response to the race. Volunteers are coming in and there are about 1,350 athletes signed up.

Haynes will provide an update on the race at the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen board meeting on Thursday in Penticton.

“It will be about what’s going on with Challenge, who we are and what we are doing,” she said.