Half-Corked Marathon 2016 Ticket Lottery Opens November 17

You’ve got to be a pretty serious athlete to tackle 15 wineries over an 18-kilometre run… or at least a seriously fun one.

Not to brag, but I’ve run a couple of half-marathons in my day. (Does that add up to a full marathon? Let’s say yes.) As rewarding as the experience is though, there’s always a niggling thought in the back of my mind, because I am a world-class athlete, around the 8km mark: I sure could go for a glass of wine right now.The Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association are my kind of people: each May, they host the Half-Corked Marathon, an 18-kilometre route that tours runners through the sun-soaked Okanagan valley and scenic vineyards, with stops at 15 tasting stations along the way. (And in case you thought this was a serious event in any way, shape or form, just take a look around: your fellow runners are dressed like superheroes, mimes and slightly buzzed—har har—bumblebees.) It may well be the funnest run in B.C., and an excellent excuse to get yourself to the booming Oliver-Osoyoos for some additional pre-or-post-race tastings.This year’s Half-Corked Marathon is Saturday, May 28, with plenty of wine-related events happening all weekend long: carbo-load at the long-table primavera dinner on the Friday and celebrate your accomplishments at the finish line party in the park Saturday afternoon (because sampling from 15 different wineries while wearing a festive cape is an accomplishment in our books, thank you very much).This event sells out every year—tickets are distributed by lottery, which is open November 17 to 23. Get your name on the list now. I’ll see you at the finish line.