Apple Triathlon return a welcome sight ahead of fall marathon

Sunday, Aug. 11, was an exciting day for the local triathlon community as the coveted Apple Triathlon made its return after a half-decade absence.

“It went really well for our first year back, lots of smiles, lots of great community feel,” race director Susie Ernsting told KelownaNow.

“The event looked a little bit different than it did in past iterations, but it was a great stepping stone for the community and getting back on the calendar and we had some great feedback from participants of all ages.”

The Apple Triathlon is part of the Apple Race Series, which includes the Apple Marathon (formerly known as the Okanagan International Marathon and the Kelowna Marathon).

The marathon and triathlon were prized events in Kelowna, but they had not run since 2019 after being cancelled in 2020 because of the pandemic.

“We weren't sure whether or not the event would ever come back after all of the COVID cancellations,” said Ernsting.

With a desire to bring the races back, the City of Kelowna provided funding to re-establish the races over the next three years, combining them to form the Apple Race Series.

“It (the Apple Triathlon) was a lot smaller than prior years, but we knew that going into it, and for our team, it was more just a matter of establishing the event, reminding people of the Apple (Triathlon) and coming to Kelowna in August for an event, and then we'll look to grow back to our prior size for next year,” explained Ernsting.

On top of the adult races that took place this year, there was also an emphasis on children with a trio of events for aspiring triathletes.

“There aren't a ton of racing opportunities for kids in triathlons across the province,” added Ernsting.

“So making sure that we add in the kids component is really important. The history of the Apple Triathlon dates back to the early 80s and kids have always been an important component of the race and our team hopes to continue with that in future years as well.”

With the 2024 edition of the triathlon in the rearview mirror, Ernsting and others have set their sights on the Apple Marathon, which is scheduled for Sept. 29.

“The Okanagan attracts athletes from across the country and North America, so having a marquee marathon event is really important for the community,” explained Ernsting.

“I think the next closest larger marathons are Vancouver and Calgary. So certainly we fill a need within the community in order to host a race at that level.”

The Apple Marathon and half marathon are both set to be certified courses, meaning runners can compete in Kelowna and qualify for the Boston Marathon.

More information on the Apple Race Series and where to register for the marathon can be found online at this link.

“There's certainly an appetite for both of these events within the community,” added Ernsting.

“(And) we were able to pull these events off rather quickly this year, so we're really looking forward to what we're able to expand on in 2025 when we have a full 12 months of planning.