THE TRIATHLETE’S DREAM WEEKEND IN KELOWNA
Thank you for traveling to our race in Kelowna. We are thrilled to be your race host and have prepared this “Triathlete’s Dream Weekend” guide for you!
Friday:
Arrive by plane, train or automobile. Whatever your mode of transport, make your way to the funky SOPA (South Pandosy Area) of Kelowna…you could literally park your car all weekend and not miss a beat.
Unless your Aunt Nelly and Uncle Ned have room for you on their orange swag carpet in the basement, we recommend that you stay in the South Pandosy / KLO Area as it is close to the race venue, ideal for light training and provides nice pre-racing fueling / shopping options within easy walking distance.
Check-in to your home away from home. There are lots of options depending on your needs and budget: See ‘Hotels’ below.
Stretch your legs: After carefully upacking your precious bike and gear, it’s time to stretch your legs with a little jog along the lake. Head out along the Abbott Street Corridor – a nice paved path that hugs the lake and takes you past beautiful heritage homes. Take a couple stretch breaks in one of the many parks and enjoy our view of our beautiful lake and mountains. It will take you about 15-20 minutes to run all the way to City Park in Downtown Kelowna…but don’t run too far – it is a race weekend after all!
Burger time! Ok so maybe a burger is not what all budding triathletes need prior to a race, but Original Joe’s serves a versatile menu, including the best burgers in town. Pub style seating and no reservations required – just a healthy appetite needed.
Saturday:
Breaky: Stroll down to one our awesome sponsors, The Bread Co, to enjoy a delicious breakfast and specialty coffee drink. Say hi to owner Dan if you get the chance!
Training: Now would be a good time to do a little reconnaissance for tomorrow’s race. Head over to the H20 Adventure and Fitness Centre and enjoy a little swim, jog and cycle on the course. Be sure to take a copy of the course maps with you so you can visualize your big race in your dreams tonight.
Lunch time: Urban Fare in Mission Park Shopping Centre is a great place for lunch and to pick up your necessary banana, yogurt and bagel staple tri foods. They have a great buffet and assortment of sandwiches, soups and salads, too and a laid back ambience for chilling out and catching up on triathlon news.
Snooze time: Its a “pre-race” day which means you must schedule some kick-back and relax time to rest those legs and lungs.
Package pick-up, shop & walk: Pandosy Street has some great boutiques, galleries and gift shops which are fun to check out on your way to Fresh Air Concept stores to pick up your race package. Be sure to go upstairs for to ogle the triathlon gear and the beauties in the “Trek Project” showroom. It might also be time to go back to Bread Co for an afternoon latte.
Dinner of Champions: Owners Derek and Christian will look after you very well at their intimate bistro, Fandango Bistro, which is only a hop, skip and a jump from Fresh Air Concept store. Gourmet and casually-elegant, this is one of Kelowna’s best kept secrets – but not too well kept because the 28-seater restaurant does fill up so it is best to make a reservation before you arrive in Kelowna.
Hit the hay early tonight because tomorrow is…
Sunday – Race Day!
4 am – If you really want to come help set up the course you are welcome to…just kidding.
6:30 – Chip pick-up, body marking, and transition opening.
7:20 – Start entering H2O Facility
7:45 – First swimmer starts.
10:15 – Most runners finishing up
10:45 – Onsite awards and celebration!
12:00 – Hit the Road, Jack. It was great to have you as our guest at the Cherry Blossom Triathlon. Please tell your friends how much fun you had and come back again in 2023!
BED
Mission Park Inn – 3339 Lakeshore Rd, Kelowna, British Columbia V1W 3S9, Canada. (250) 762-2042 http://www.missionparkinn.com/
Siesta Suites – 3152 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1W 3T1, Canada. 1 (800) 663-4347 http://www.siestasuiteskelowna.com/
Manteo Resort -3762 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1W 3L4, Canada +1 866-332-3590 http://www.manteoresortwaterfronthotel.com
Eldorado Hotel – 500 Cook Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1W 3G9, Canada 844-801-3156 http://www.hoteleldoradokelowna.com/
Don’t forget that there are other great options like Air BnB, Traditional Bed & Breakfast and VRBO too.
ACTIVITIES
This area is great for some light pre or post race training as it is an easy walk/run to the Abbott Street corridor and to the Greenway for running.
Abbott Street Corridor: If you go North you can run/ride all the way to City Park and Downtown Kelowna. If you go South you can continue your ride all the way out Lakeshore Road which is a very scenic / somewhat hilly ride!
Fresh Air Kelowna: Home to our title sponsor and the venue for package pick-up. Also the place in town to get a new bike, helmet, socks, gels, goo, wetsuit, googles, CO2 cannisters, shoes, sunglasses, swimsuits…you get the drift. www.freshair.ca
H20 Adventure and Fitness: This beautiful pool and gym facility is host to our event and is a great place for an easy swim the day before your race. If you are traveling with children, the child-minding center is open in the mornings and is amazing – and the kids are sure to love the waterslides, river ride and kiddie pool. http://www.h2okelowna.ca/
Mission Greenway: This is a car-free, wide, flat, groomed dirt path that runs along Mission Creek from the lake to Hollywood Road. Each half kilometer is marked and you will not be able to run the entire path without regretting it the next day. A small portion of the Greenway is used for the race (run) course.