The Shamrock Run is happening again this year on March 17! For those who don’t know, it’s been going on annually for over forty years and highlights the best of downtown Portland. It’s been a long time and respected even that features multiple distances, and it’s a lot of fun!

On their website, “The Shamrock Run has established itself as an iconic and spirited running event, ingrained in the city’s culture and community. With a tradition that dates back to 1978, the Shamrock Run is not just a race; it’s a celebration of Irish heritage, camaraderie, and the spirit of Portland.”

The Running Options 

For this event, you have a few options that you can choose from, including the following: 

  • The Leprechaun Lap
  • The Stride Walk
  • The 5K
  • The 8K
  • The 15K
  • The Half Marathon

The Leprechaun Lap is for children ten and under and their adult companions. It costs twenty dollars and will start and end at the SW Pine and Naito Parkway. You’ll get to see the waterfront, and it makes for a great experience. If you have a younger child, you can push them in a stroller. It’s only 1K (0.6 miles) so it’s a perfect distance for the little ones!

The Stride Walk is a four-mile walk and follows the city’s most popular path. You start at the Naito Parkway and go north to the Steel Bridge before following the river. Not only do you get to see the skyline, but you don’t have to run. This is a race for walkers only. 

The 5K starts on the waterfront. The runners will stay on Naito, but there are diversions before the turning point on Naito past the Tilikum Crossing. The time limit is forty-five minutes. The participants must maintain a fifteen-minute mile pace, or they won’t finish within the time limit. 

For the 8K, you’ll head north on Naito and pass the Burnside, Steel, Fremont, and Broadway bridges. You’ll have an hour and fifteen minutes to complete this course, but like the 5K, you must maintain a solid pace. 

The 15K is not to be taken lightly. You have a big loop to travel, and you’ll end up finishing at Yamhill. The course has an elevation gain of almost eight hundred feet, but it’s promised that the height is worth the climb because the views are incredible. You have two hours and twenty minutes for this course. 

The half marathon is for those who want an actual test. With three hours to finish this, it’s an actual endurance test. Starting at Pine Street, you’ll continue south before charging up Barbur Blvd. From there, you’ll experience an incline and finish at Yamhill. The elevation is a total of eight hundred and fifty-nine feet. 

The Race Packets 

To pick up the packets, you’ll need to go to the Oregon Convention Center Hall on Friday the 15th or Saturday the 16th. It’s open until six on Friday but only until four on Saturday. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to ensure you get everything you need. 

Teams 

Another great benefit to this run is that you can create a team. If you want to run or walk with your best friends or family members, you can race as one of three teams: a charity team, a social team, or a corporate team. There have been hundreds of teams signed up, and it’s a great motivator to know that your friends are with your side. Teams also have additional rewards as their size continues to increase. 

For example, if you have up to nineteen members, you’ll have a shirt and bib mailed to you, up to fifty-nine members will get you a reserved area in the village, and if you do more than sixty, you get your tent with a team name. Each team will also get additional rewards, such as a medal and other incentives. 

Going With Style 

Because this is a special event, you can purchase shirts from the official website to do this with style. They have everything from tank tops to long-sleeve options, so it’s the dealer’s choice. They also offer pins, ears, beanies, and sports clothing. You can even pay extra to have your picture taken with FinisherPix, the official photographer at the race. It’s a great memento to look back on this day!

Sign Up!

If you still need more convincing to sign up, think about this: you get a specialized medal at the end of the race, you get to run for a charitable cause, and there is going to be a post-race party with music and dancing that you won’t want to miss, and you get to dress up! What could be a better way to spend a weekend?

Have Fun and Be Safe!

For those signing up for this event, remember to stay hydrated and think of your body. If you feel you’re pushing too hard, rest. Have fun, and be safe; we’ll see you on the course!