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Final run for Penticton Lakeside 5K

Penticton Lakeside 5-k run going for last time due to struggles getting volunteers

After 20 years as the test of early fitness in the Okanagan, the final edition of the Penticton Lakeside 5-kilometre event will run March 2.

It is the second race in the Canadian Tire Interior Road Race Series—the fourth race in the BC Timex Series — and has been one of the best attended races in the Interior Series since 1994.

This will be the final year as the organizers have been unable to fill the position of race director.

"It's kind of sad," said assistant race director Neil MacDonald. "It's tough though because the club is aging and we're not getting the volunteers like in the past. It was going to be cancelled this year until Rick Jenkner volunteered to be the race director."

The race has had some illustrious winners over the years, several of whom have gone on to greater fame such as local coach and Peach City marathon winner Kevin Cutjar, Olympian Malindi Elmore, Vancouver marathon winner Keddi-Anne Sherbino, and Challenge Penticton winner Jeff Symonds. Symonds and Brent Helland are the only people to win the race three years in a row, while Mark Bomba has four wins and the course record of 15:17.

Among the women, Jessica Hannah has won three times and Cindy Rhodes, Sarah Clark, and Brenda Shackleton twice each. Shackleton holds the women’s record of 17:50 set in 1997.

All former winners have been invited to attend with complimentary entry.

The final race will honour former Penticton Pounder Lorne Smith, who died from Alzheimer disease in 2013. A portion of each entry fee will be donated to the Alzheimer Foundation in his memory.

The race will start at 10 a.m. on Lakeshore Drive just outside the Lakeside resort.  Register in person at Peach City Runners or on-line at www.interiorrunningassociation.com. The cost is $18 for adults and $13 for those 15 and under. Walkers are welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the ballroom.

Volunteers are also need for course marking, traffic marshalling and finish line set up. Those interested should email Neil at oktrailrunnr@shaw.ca.