RUN Wenatchee

Shore to Shore runners cross the finish line in Manson.

MANSON —  Lake Chelan has long been a world-class attraction for travelers. The same can be said for runners.

This coming Saturday, Sept. 10, more than 500 runners from around the United States will take part in the 15th-annual Lake Chelan Shore to Shore Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10K.

“We’re seeing registrations from different parts of the country as well as from our core area of Chelan and Douglas counties, plus the Puget Sound region,” said race director Joel Rhyner. “It’s rewarding to see so many people coming to Lake Chelan to run and to experience this beautiful community and lake.”

“The marathon has the distinction of being one of the last Boston Marathon qualifiers in the Northwest, and the half-marathon has a reputation as a fast course,” Rhyner said.

As of Monday, 65.7 percent of registrants were women. Runners are coming from as far away as Virginia, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Colorado, Arizona, California, Alaska, Hawaii and all the Pacific Northwest states and British Columbia.

The 26.2-mile marathon begins at 7 a.m. on the lake’s south shore just past Field’s Point Landing; the half-marathon starts at 8 a.m. on the south shore at Lakeside Park; and the 10K will take off at 8:30 a.m. from the north shore on Highway 150 near the Lake Chelan Shores development. The finish is in Manson on a closed-off section of Pedoi Street adjacent to Manson Bay Park and the lake shore.

To ensure the safety of runners, several lane closures will be in place during the day on South Lakeshore Drive, Highway 150 and Manson residential streets.

To celebrate the event’s 15^th anniversary, race organizer RunWenatchee is giving away draw-string back packs to marathon and half-marathon runners and commemorative tiles featuring the print of a Jan Cook Mack painting as awards to top runners. Technical shirts and finisher medals will be given to all participants. In addition, there will be a beer garden and taco wagon at the Manson finish area for entrants and their family members and friends.

The event, presented by the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce, is expected to generate an estimated $250,000 for the local economy through the purchase of lodging, food, goods and services.

Packet pickup will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at RunWenatchee’s weekly club at First and Columbia streets in Wenatchee; from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Vin du Lac Winery, 105 Highway 150, Chelan; and from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the North Shore Bible Church parking lot, 123 Wapato Way, Manson.

The running event benefits several local school programs.

Sponsors and partners include the chamber, Vin du Lac Winery, Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort, Northwest Public Radio, Orchard Bar, SCJ Alliance, Chelan Red Apple Market, Jan Cook Mack, Silverhand Massage, and the Chelan County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.