Talk to any runner and they'll preach the benefits of their passion. Stuff like improved cardio, reduced fat, stronger muscles and that intangible post-workout euphoria some call a "runner's high."
Luckily, Penticton's a runner's paradise. We're talking riverside paths, lakeside promenades (at both ends of town!), lots of quiet streets and sidewalks, and of course the glorious network of trails of the converted Kettle Valley Railway.
Now all you have to do is get out there. And there may be no better way to do that than in the supportive embrace of a local running club.
Currently, Penticton has three running groups. And if our experience is any indication, they're all ready to welcome and inspire newcomers.
But which is best for you and your own personal level of ability and comfort? We're here to help you find out.
We'll start with the newest and arguably most rookie-friendly and end with the elder statesman, a group that's been in action for almost a half-century.
On your mark. Get set. Go!
Run Club Penticton: Best for early-risers/newbies
It didn’t even exist 'til mid-2025. But already the newly minted "Run Club Penticton" attracts three dozen or so participants each time it gets together.
And that's quite often. Run Club congregates twice a week – every Wednesday and Friday at the alarm clock-smashing hour of 7 AM at the downtown BMO parking lot. From there, they follow a course that takes them alongside the scenic Okanagan Lake waterfront.
It's clear they’re having a good time, as we discovered when we followed along during a Halloween morning run. Some ran fast, others jogged, and others just strolled. And most were dressed up and chatting.
It's that sort of no-expectation friendly freedom that's at the heart of the Run Club philosophy.
Founded by 19-year-old Kinesiology student Aisha Bouchard and good buddy Ali Rebagliati, the group is an offshoot of a Bouchard school project.
"For my class last winter I needed to write myself a prescription for an exercise I wasn't good at," explained Bouchard, still in costume. "And that was cardio, so I chose running and hoped for the best.
"The mornings were cold and dark, but my friend Ali jumped in with me and I quickly realized it was so much better than running alone."
Soon the two pondered asking others to join.
"I thought we'd put up an Instagram and see how it goes," explained Bouchard. "We started with Wednesdays and then added Fridays, where we now do run/walk intervals."
Run Club costs nothing to join and features a generally youngish crowd. The goal, said Bouchard, "is just to get out and moving."
"I'm definitely not fast," she laughed. "And it was a struggle when I started. But if you keep showing up and getting motivation from everyone else, you start to feel good about it."
Already the upstart group has its devotees. Like speedy veteran runner Ashley Wiles of Penticton, who's been involved with the sport in a variety of capacities and competed in three Ironmans.
"Run Club is fun, free fitness," she told us. "It’s consistent and it's inclusive. You can run, walk, hop, skip, jump. There are no boundaries."
For more on Run Club Penticton, head to its Instagram page @runclubpenticton.
Penticton parkrun: Best for timed results
Like Peach Fest, the no-charge Penticton parkrun has become a local institution.
Almost every Saturday morning for the past eight years, folks have gathered bright and early at the southwest corner of Rotary Park for the latest edition.
At 8 a.m. sharp they’re given the signal and they take off along Lakeshore Drive toward the SS Sicamous sternwheeler. There, they turn around and head back.
Then they do it all over, which makes a total of five km of gorgeous lakeshore running that starts at one icon (the Penticton Peach) and ends at another (the Sicamous).
But parkrun is more than spectacular scenery.
For starters, it's a global movement. The Penticton event is just one of 2,300-plus in 23 countries worldwide to unfold every Saturday morning.
What's more, each entrant is timed and their results uploaded to the Penticton parkrun website. That's a super cool perk for an event that's 100% free of charge.
Perhaps because of all of the above, you never know who you'll meet at a parkrun run.
When we dropped by, we spotted Penticton endurance sport whiz Dave Matheson tuning up for his next big event. And we watched seasoned Edmonton athlete Kris Butler hit the finish line first in a scintillating 16 minutes flat – the fastest time of the year.
"I kept looking over my shoulder the whole time trying to enjoy the view," the speedster smiled afterward.
But we also saw some who calmly jogged and others who simply walked. And at the finish line, all entrants got an energetic high five.
"People are here for different reasons," said parkrun volunteer/spokesperson Michael Kascak. "And behind everybody we have a walker who sweeps the course. So you'll never finish last at our event."
Making his parkrun debut on the day of our visit was 26-year-old Asifwe Alfred. Alfred and family lived in a refugee camp in poverty-stricken Malawi until Okanagan-based One Person Project spirited all of them to BC in mid-2025.
A long-time runner, Alfred has quickly adapted to his new athletic world. He finished fourth in his parkrun intro and has topped the charts twice since then.
To join Penticton parkrun, sign up at parkrun.ca/penticton and present your barcode, in either printed or digital form, any Saturday morning.
Penticton Pounders: Best for runners with ambitions (road & trail groups)
Founded all the way back in 1981 by U.K.-to-Okanagan transplant Steve King, an ultra-distance athlete who's since become a world-class endurance sport announcer, the Penticton Pounders is one of the oldest running clubs in B.C.
Today, the Pounders caters to all levels of runner but is perhaps best suited to those with at least some experience.
Prospective Pounders participants are asked to pay an annual membership – currently $43.02 – an amount that gets them full access to all three groups under the Pounders umbrella.
Those who prefer trails over pavement may want to start with the "Suck it up Buttercup Group" and its Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday off-road schedule.
Road runners can choose the "Twisted Blister Group," which convenes every Sunday morning at 8 a.m. at one of a number of spots.
A bit more specific is the "Interval/Speed Group," a weekly exercise that spotlights disciplines like interval and speed training.
Presiding over the Pounders is regional running guru Neil Macdonald, the quarter-century owner of independent running shop Peach City Runners and a familiar face at events throughout the Okanagan.
"I’d run for a long time but I'd always run alone," explained Macdonald, who understands the apprehension newbies may feel when contemplating joining a group.
"I wanted to join the local running club (in 1995), but like many I was nervous. The 'Penticton Pounders' sounded really intimidating. But it was a great bunch and everyone was so friendly."
Macdonald, who swims and bikes too, is quick to point out his own take on running's big benefit.
"Endorphins," he smiled. "It's the one thing you get from running that you don't get elsewhere. It genuinely makes you feel more alive."
Pounder Morgan Galloway, a guy who didn’t run at all a decade ago but joined the group in 2018 and now competently competes in events like the Vancouver Marathon, agrees.
"Running is a great way to keep fit and it definitely makes you feel good," he said. "It clears my head every time."
But, he added, that's not all.
"Our club helps keep you accountable," he said, "And it's turned into a really great social thing too. A lot of us get together outside of the running."
For more on the Penticton Pounders, turn to their website at pentictonpounders.com.
And More
We're a sporty city, home to IRONMAN Canada and playing host to many endurance sporting events around the year. Another local club includes the Penticton Triathlon Club (swim, bike, run) and the Penticton Track and Field club. Did we miss yours? Email us at communications@penticton.ca.
Love Local
This blog post is part of the City of Penticton's Love Local series, designed to shine spotlights on local businesses and encourage people to shop and support local. Have a great idea for us? Email us at communications@penticton.ca.
