Challenge Penticton in Canada is including a Half-Challenge Penticton event for its 2014 race calendar. The introduction of the middle-distance race will be in addition to its running of the long-distance Challenge event on 24 August 2014. The date of the Half-Challenge will be announced shortly.
The Half-Challenge commences with a 1.9K swim in Okanagan Lake, followed by a single-loop 90K bike ride through the iconic landscape of the South Okanagan and finally a 21.1K out and back run through Penticton and along north-eastern Skaha Lake. Wave starts and relay teams will again be available for this new event.
The decision to introduce the Half-Challenge Penticton, Canada race was very much athlete driven. Athlete Liaison for Challenge Penticton, Canada, Bruce Schoenne said “Athletes have long been asking for a half-distance race to be part of the Penticton program. Many people don’t have the time to train for the long-distance triathlon event due to family and work commitments. We’re listening to what athletes want and are going to make Challenge Penticton, Canada an event that caters to a variety of triathletes.”
The Half-Challenge event will be limited to 600 entries: 500 individual athlete entries and 100 relay teams, composed of two or three members. The registration fees, will be C$350.00 for an individual entry and C$475 for a relay team. Race registration will be available from 09:00 local time on Monday 26 August 2013 in Penticton at Gyro Park and online shortly thereafter. Those registering in person will be given priority.
Middle-distance triathlon races are one of the fastest growing sectors in the sport. It is anticipated that registrations will be extremely popular for the new event, with predictions of a sold-out posting for the inaugural race. The half-distance event is also expected to attract more spectators by offering a ‘race within a race’.
Schoenne explained, “Typically there is a lull in activity between the full-distance athletes leaving Penticton on the bike course and returning in the early afternoon. The Half-Challenge is an excellent opportunity to create a more consistent environment for our spectators, as the ‘Half’ race will finish before the first long-distance triathlete is off his/her bike.”
Challenge Penticton is part of the global series of long-distance triathlons within the Challenge Family, holding the first race in North America on 25 August 2013. Challenge Penticton is a not-for-profit society ‘committed to providing an exceptional race experience for athletes, the supporters, and the community, with the mandate to give back to local sport-related charities.’
