Wine Country Half Marathon comes to Virginia
If you enjoy fine wine and running like the staff and friends of OhioOutside.com, what better way to enjoy them both than a half-marathon race that takes you through the heart of beautiful wine country and finishes with a Wine & Music Festival where you can sample some of the world’s finest pinot noirs, chardonnays and cabernets poured by those very vintners from that region?
Destination Races offers you just such an opportunity. The Sonoma, California-based company produces half-marathon races that are growing in popularity among those who want to combine running with all the attractions, cuisine, fine wine and fun that is unique to these wine “destinations.”
The concept is the brainchild of Matthew Dockstader, who founded Destination Races and produced the first Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon in 2004. “My vision was to produce a scenic race in a special part of the country that would appeal to people of all ages and abilities,” said Dockstader, who is a native of northern California. “In the process we’ve uncovered, and developed, a niche market of runners and wine enthusiasts that continues to grow. We pride ourselves in designing some of the most scenic point-to-point road courses in the world with a fun, post-race festival featuring the wines of that region.”
Today, his vision has truly come to fruition. Destination Races now produces five events in prime real estate in California, Oregon, and now Virginia that attract everyone from those who run to support a charity to elite professional runners from around the world. Many others attend with family or friends to show support and partake in the festivities. Destination Races partners with hotels, wineries, visitors bureaus, and other local businesses to make their races a true destination event.
New for 2011 is the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon on June 4th, expected to attract thousands of runners and wine enthusiasts to the heart of Loudoun County, Virginia, located 60 miles west of Washington D.C. The course begins at Breaux Vineyards in Hillsboro, only a 10K away from the West Virginia border, and is set on Virginia scenic byways, many of which follow the same historic routes they did when they were chartered centuries ago. Featuring stunning vistas, the route meanders past historic estates and farms, along rolling vineyards and farmland and under tree-canopied country lanes. The 13.1-mile course ends at Doukénie Winery, site of the post-race Wine & Music Festival where runners join family and friends to enjoy food, entertainment, the awards ceremony, and wine tasting from Loudoun’s finest vintners.
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the national charity and training partner of the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon. CCFA’s partnership with Destination Races has helped raised over $7 million in the past three years at the Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. By joining CCFA’s Team Challenge fundraising program individuals receive training, support, and travel expenses to the destination. Other non-profit organizations including Merlin USA and Special Olympics provide volunteer support and serve as event beneficiaries.
A full slate of activities are scheduled, beginning on Thursday, June 2, with a welcome reception in Reston, VA and culminating with the post-race festivities on Saturday at Doukenie Winery. Lansdowne Resort is host for the race expo held on Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most events are open to the public. For more event details and registration visit www.run4virginiawine.com.
