KRC "Lost" Race Series #2: Coalmont to Princeton

The Kelowna Running Club is proud to continue the "Lost" Race Series with our second event!

We have been looking back at the history of the club and reminiscing about all the races from years past. Many of them are not on the calendar anymore so we thought a virtual race series would be a great way to get people out to rediscover these fantastic routes.

Here's how it will all work: Every other month in 2021 we will be posting a new route and you have the whole month to run the course. You can run at any time but it must be on the course as outlined in the description. You then upload your GPS data from the run and your time will be entered onto the leader-board to see how you compare with the other runners in the club. This time there are no prizes, but the event will be completely free to participate in. You may run the course as many times as you like throughout the month and you can update your time on the results page so that it shows your best time.

We have spent some time talking to the runners and organizers of these races to give you a bit more of an insight into the courses and their history. Each course will be featured in a short video documentary series where we hope to show off the route and its highlights, as well as telling the stories of participants and how these races came to be.

RACE #1: HARD KNOX (2015-2017)

https://raceroster.com/events/2021/48034/krc-lost-race-series-number-1-hard-knox

RACE #2: COALMONT TO PRINCETON (1980-2008)

A point-to-point course, this route harks back to a time when tough, hilly races were a popular pastime of our running club members. This course is incredibly special and scenic beyond belief, but it will take some dedication to venture out to Coalmont and to get through the 18.5km route.

Our records of the race begin sometime around 1980. It was added to the Interior Running Association Road Race Series in 1983 and remained active throughout the 80s and early 90s before it fell off the calendar after the 1991 edition. It was then revived in 2001 thanks to the support of the Peach City Runners, but eventually, after hitting a peak of attendance in 2005, the numbers started dropping off and 2008 was the last year that the race took place. Below is the flyer for the 2009 edition of the race, which unfortunately didn't take place due to fire restrictions.

Take a look at the mini-documentary below to hear a bit more about the course from Neil Macdonald and Cindy Rhodes:

KRC Lost Races Episode 2: Coalmont to Princeton

This event will run from July 1st- Sept 30th and you can submit your time at any point during these months. You will have to submit a screenshot of a GPS tracking app as proof of completion of the route if you want to be included on the leaderboard. If you need assistance with this, please feel free to reach out at kelownarunningclub@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy the event!

Course Map and Description:

This course is a point-to-point race with plenty of parking for vehicles at either end. We suggest that runners leave a vehicle at the finish line at the Princeton and District Arena, and then drive to Coalmont to begin the run.

The race begins in the small mining town of Coalmont, right in front of the Coalmont Hotel on Main Street. The route takes runners up Parish Avenue until a curve to the right that merges onto Coalmont Road. From here, the course is straightforward as the race simply follows this road for 18.5km all the way to Princeton. The road winds up and down along the forested valley as the Tulameen River appears and disappears off to the right. Eventually, after a challenging course, runners will reach Princeton and the race finish at the Princeton and District Arena.