A few clouds and a slight breeze made the perfect conditions for the more than 160 runners who came out to the 23rd annual Peach City RunFest.

Chris Swift was the first runner to make it across the finish line on Sunday, with a time of 40:19 in the 10k distance.

害羞草研究所淚t was a perfect day to race,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淣ice, good cloud cover. Good temperatures and a lot of good competitors today.害羞草研究所�

Swift had a two-minute lead over the next runner, Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Thomas Lane, who finished at 42:12 on May 19.

A native of Castlegar, Swift had raced at RunFest a few years previously, before taking a break and returning this year.

In the half-marathon, Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Matt Bevilacqua placed first in his first time competing at RunFest.

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害羞草研究所淚t feels awesome to win here,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great place to train. I run the Channel pretty much three times a week, there and back, 14k. It害羞草研究所檚 a beautiful place, I love it. This course is a beauty too, you know, you害羞草研究所檝e got the lake, and you害羞草研究所檙e running around the lakeshore, and you害羞草研究所檝e got a beautiful day. Perfect weather for a marathon, it害羞草研究所檚 awesome.害羞草研究所�

The running is about more than just staying active for Bevilacqua, who took to it after a series of misfortunes over the last year.

害羞草研究所淢y mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she害羞草研究所檚 been battling breast cancer, and she害羞草研究所檚 just getting over it. She害羞草研究所檚 now cancer-free and I害羞草研究所檓 proud of her. I started running for her. To inspire her, and here we go,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nd also my house burned down in February, so that kept me sane as well.

Amanda Kontkanen, who runs the five-kilometre Park Run in Penticton every weekend, was first in the women害羞草研究所檚 half-marathon and fifth overall, with a time of 1:38:40. This is Kontkanen害羞草研究所檚 second first-place finish in the half-marathon where she finished six minutes ahead of the next woman to place, Lorna Froese, with 1:44:52.

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Between the ParkRun and other races, Kontkanen gets a lot of practice.

害羞草研究所淚 do the Blossom Ten-Miler right before, which helps out to get this one going. It害羞草研究所檚 not a huge race, it害羞草研究所檚 just my size, and maybe that害羞草研究所檚 why I keep winning it,害羞草研究所� she said with a laugh.

Jody Evans from Oroville took home the first place spot in the women害羞草研究所檚 10k, with a time of 45:37.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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