Runners head out from the starting line at the inaugural Osoyoos 5000, a five-kilometre fun run on Sunday. (Keith Lacey photo)

A summer fun run is here to stay in Osoyoos.

Jim Winter and Mike Cater, longtime friends who own and operate Freestyle Fitness from Vancouver, were very pleased with the results of the inaugural Osoyoos 5000, a five-kilometre fun run that took place this past Sunday. The event was called Osoyoos 5000 as 5,000 metres covers equates very closely to five kilometres.

Despite less than two weeks of preparation time, the race managed to attract more than 30 participants, including many young kids who were all smiles at the start and finish line near Legion Beach in Osoyoos.

Winter, who competed in the Osoyoos Desert Half Ironman on many occasions before the event was cancelled back in 2014, said he and his partner are convinced Osoyoos will support a summer road racing event.

“We’ve both spent a lot of time in Osoyoos and we both love this area and we have felt that Osoyoos and the South Okanagan needed a summer road race event, especially since the Desert Half Ironman was cancelled,” said Winter. “Summerland has a summer event and Penticton and Kelowna have all kinds of racing events, but there was nothing in the South Okanagan, so we thought it would be a great idea to bring an event back to Osoyoos.”

Having more than 30 competitors for a first-time event that was put together very quickly without a lot of promotion is very encouraging, said Winter.

“We ended up with more than 30 and we had another 15 to 20 who really wanted to come, but had to cancel for various reasons,” he said. “Our original target was 40 to 50, but having more than 30 is very good for an event we put together so quickly.”

A large contingent of runners, in all age groups, from Port Moody, ensured the event would be successful and he personally wanted to thank the large group from the Lower Mainland community for supporting the event, said Winter.

With heavy promotion and an online presence, Winter said he and Cater are very confident the 2018 road race event in Osoyoos will be a huge success.

“Right now we’re talking about another five kilometre race, but we would expand to add a 10 K if there is sufficient demand,” he said.

Winter then added he could see him and Cater expanding to a half ironman event as soon as year three.

“The Desert Half Ironman in Osoyoos was a great event and used to attract some top-notch competitors,” he said. “If there’s demand for a return to an event like that, I think me and Mike would be very interested in organizing that.”

Jim Dixon, the man who organized and promoted the Osoyoos Desert Half Ironman, has moved out of this region and he and Cater are more than willing to organize a similar event in future years, he said.

“We will see how things go next year and go from there,” he said. “I really do think Osoyoos can support a big event because they did it for years.

“We wanted to bring back a smaller event that appeals to the grassroots competitors, but we will hopefully get bigger next year and then we’ll see where we’re at.”

While there were very few competitive runners in the field, veteran ultra-marathoner Brian Clements easily won the race with a time of 21:06, while Heather Sandquist was the top female finisher with a time of 23:27.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves and they all want to come back,” said Winter,

All of the other participants times and names have been posted on the Freestyle Fitness Facebook page that can be found at www.facebook.com/freestylefitnessBC

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times

Veteran ultramarathoner Brian Clements (pictured) easily won the race with a time of 21:06. Heather Sandquist was the top female finisher with a time of 23:27. Many of the participants in the inaugural event were from Port Moody. (Keith Lacey photo)

Several runners take a refreshing drink as they loop past the start/finish line in the middle of the race. More than 30 people participated, even though the event was organized at short notice. (Keith Lacey photo)