The popular Half Corked Marathon will be using a new route for the 2016 event, which is set to take place this Saturday, May 28. Instead of starting on the Golden Mile, participants will begin the race at Burrowing Owl Winery and make their way through 15 winery properties located between Oliver and Osoyoos. The event has become so popular that a lottery has been held each of the past several years to land a coveted spot. Close to 1,000 participants are expected to have a lot of fun and drink plenty of wine on Saturday. This photo was taken at last year’s event.
Those lucky enough to win the lottery in this year’s Half Corked Marathon will be running – and drinking a lot of wine – on a new route this Saturday.
Organizer Tony Munday from the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association said that’s the biggest change this year – the route.
Instead of starting on the Golden Mile, runners will begin at Burrowing Owl Winery and make their way through 15 winery properties.
Munday said the nice thing about the route change is that participants won’t have to cross the highway this year.
“They’ll be running through more vines than before (and through different properties that they hadn’t before).”
The first wave of runners begins at 7:45 a.m. Granted, it’s a little early to be drinking wine, but hey, this is a special occasion.
Munday said the reason for the route change is simply for a change of scenery, and he acknowledged that it can be “tricky” crossing the highway.
Once again, the finish line will be set up in Oliver Community Park, where the public is invited to cheer on the 1,000 racers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Members of the public can buy a souvenir wine glass and three tasting tickets for $20. Food trucks will also be available on site.
Live music will be provided by a Penticton band called “Uncorked.”
Many runners will be wearing costumes, while some will be going “crazy” with creativity in what they wear.
Munday said his favourite costume last year was the wine roller coaster group.
Prizes will be given for the best costumes.
This year’s lottery for a spot in the marathon attracted 4,000 entries. But only 1,000 were lucky enough to get tickets, which sold out very quickly last November.
Munday said the people who won the lottery were “darn lucky.”
Annick Stoltz from Peachland didn’t win the lottery, but was given a ticket to cover the event for social media.
“I’m planning to run as fast as I can to be able to drink as much wine as I can,” she said.
Stoltz loves the camaraderie that comes with the marathon.
“The wine is the talk of the day but I must say the food is as good as the wine.”
She plans on wearing an orange racing tank top that reads “Run now, wine later.”
Stoltz said the new friends you make along the way is the best part of the event. The wine, too, of course.
She is also looking forward to the water sprinklers at the finish line.
Munday said the Half Corked Marathon has a significant impact on the local tourism industry, reportedly more impact (higher occupancies) than the May long weekend alone. He noted the event will bring 2,500 to 3,000 people to the area.
“A lot of Osoyoos has been booked up,” he said, adding that many of these bookings were made in January.
Prizes will again be handed out for best team costume once the race finishes up on Saturday.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
