The Races
Registration is open for 2009.
Maps
These are the 2009 Shamrock Marathon course maps with water stops:
- 8k Map High or Low resolution - Course Certification No: VA06003MS(8K)
- Marathon Map - Course Certification No: VA07002MS
- Half Marathon Map - Course Certification No: VA05029RT
- Shamrock Parking Map High or Low resolution
Marathon: (26.2 miles)
This course is guaranteed to be fast and festive. Enjoy the course as you pass by the beautiful resort area of Virginia Beach and continue through Fort Story and pass Cape Henry Lighthouse, the country's oldest lighthouse. You will spot many leprechauns along the way as well as music and great support through water stop competitions. Runners and walkers will start together. All athletes will be lined up based on their estimated finish time. This is a (2010) Boston qualifier. Along with running the Marathon on Sunday, we encourage those runners who want to go the extra mile ( or 4.97 miles to be exact) to take on the Whale Challenge by running the 8K on Saturday, March 21st. The Marathon course is open for 7 hours, which is a 16:02 per mile pace.
Course Certification No: VA07002MS
Marathon Walk: (26.2 miles)
The walk will follow the same course as the marathon run and will start at the same time. Walkers will be assigned a different series of numbers and are NOT ALLOWED to jog or run at ANYTIME during the race. Awards will be presented to the top 3 men and women overall.
Course Certification No: VA07002MS
Half Marathon: (13.1 miles)
The half marathon will complete a fast flat loop course starting at the Cavalier on 42nd street and ending on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 31st Street. As with the Marathon, we also encourage runners who are doing to Half Marathon, to take on the Dolphin Challenge!!! This challenge is completed by not only running the Half on Sunday, March 22, but ALSO running in the 8K on Saturday, March 21! You must mail in your registration for the Dolphin Challenge as there is no online registration for this event. The half marathon course is open for 4 hours, which is a 18:19 per mile pace. Race limit is 7500
Course Certification No: VA05029RT
2008 Half Marathon Corral AssignmentCorral 1 1:50 and below
Corral 2 1:50 - 2 hours
Corral 3 2 hours - 2:15
Corral 4 2:15 - 2:35
Corral 5 2:35 and above
Half Marathon Walk: (13.1 Miles)
The walk will follow the same course as the Half Marathon Run and start at the same time. Walkers will be assigned a different series of numbers and are NOT ALLOWED to Jog or Run at ANYTIME during the race. Awards will be presented to the top three men and women overall.
8K: (4.97 miles)
The course is out and back through the beautiful Virginia Beach Oceanfront and along the paved boardwalk. Have fun either walking or running this race with over 6,000 other competitors and be ready to finish in front of thousands of screaming fans on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Race limit is 7,500
Course Certification No: VA06003MS
ShoreBreak 8k Middle School Challenge
This NEW EVENT is for middle school students to participate in a 9 week training program to prepare for the Shamrock 8k in March. A training log, training schedule, t-shirt, and incentives will be provided. The school with the highest participation rate will be awarded prize money.
Dolphin and Whale Challenge
Go the distance this year by completing either the Dolphin or Whale Challenge! Each finisher of the Dolphin Challenge (8k and Half Marathon) and Whale Challenge (8k and Marathon) will be mailed a commemorative Dolphin or Whale pin to recognize your accomplishment. Save $5.00 by signing up for both. New this year, you can sign up on-line
Operation Smile Final Mile
Students who participate will run 25.2 miles at school or at home in the weeks prior to Shamrock. They will run their final mile on the boardwalk to complete their very own marathon. Each student will receive incentives for every 5 miles completed, a t-shirt and finishers medal on race weekend, and will be presented with a certificate at their school. The school with the highest participation rate will be awarded prize money. More details about this program will be coming soon.
The Operation Smile Final Mile is a 10 week program that is designed to promote health and fitness for elementary students. For more information about Operation Smile, please visit their website at operationsmile.org
Course Certification No: VA06004MS
Parents will NOT be allowed to run with their children on race day.
We have over 2000 children participating and in order for it to run smoothly we cannot have more adults on the course than the volunteers and course marshals.
Children's Marathon: (26.2 yards)
Children ages 6 months to 5 years old are invited to make the mad dash to the official race finish line (just like what mom or dad run through). We do separate the children into age group categories to start the event. They receive a race goody bag as well as an official Children's Marathon full color race t-shirt. Open to the first 300 to register. (Please use a separate application to register your child.)
Teams
Get together a team to compete in the race together.
There is no maximum limit to the number of team members (minimum of 3 runners per team!) but only times of the fastest three members of the team count in the scoring. For the Mixed teams, at least one woman's time will be scored.
New this year, you can sign up online!
Click here for instructions on how to create a team and how to join a team online!
Military Cup
This will become one of the most competitive categories of all our races. If your military team wins, the team can display the beautiful military cup at your department for the year. Every person on this team must be a member of the military. (Please follow instructions for teams). There is a separate military cup for the 8k, Marathon and Half Marathon.
Chip Timing
Lin-Mark Computer Sports Of Matua,NJ will time Shamrock utilizing the WinningTime Chip System (ankle band)- no other timing chip can be worn. Participants will pick-up their Winning Time Chip at packet pick-up along with their assigned race number.
Race numbers must be worn for visual personal i.d. while on the course.
The WT timing chip ankle-band must be worn to be accurately scored.
No transferring of assigned race number or chips. They are computer coded to your own personal race day data (i.e.: age, gender, race division).
If you know you are not going to participate at packet pick-up . . .remove the timing band, and give it back to the volunteer. If you do not finish on the course . . .you must return your timing band. All participants are financially responsible ($15) for the event's loss/replacement fee.
Yes . . .all timing bands are "scanned" after the event for proper return credit of the timing bands.
Awards for 2009
Awards will be given to the top 5 women and men overall in the marathon, half marathon and 8K and top 5 women and men masters overall in the marathon, half marathon and 8K. Awards will also be given to the top three finishers in each age group for each race. Team awards will be available for the top three finishers in each category. Three awards will be available for each team.
There will not be an awards ceremony at the races; awards will be mailed out after the weekend is over.
Prize Money for 2009
$25,000 in total prize money.
8k Men and Women Open
$1000, $600, $400, $300, $200
8k Men and Women Masters (ages 40 & over)
$500, $350, $250, $150, $100
Half Marathon Men and Women Open
$1000, $600, $400, $300, $200
Half Marathon Men and Women Masters (ages 40 & over)
$500, $350, $250, $150, $100
Marathon Men and Women Overall
$1000, $600, $400, $300, $200
Marathon Men and Women Masters (ages 40 & over)
$300, $200, $100
8k Men and Women U.S. Citizens
$500, $250, $100
Half Marathon Men and Women U.S. Citizens
$500, $250, $100
All three races have record bonuses for world and U.S., open and Masters, male and female records; as well as open and Masters Shamrock course record bonuses. In addition there are various time incentive bonuses for the race winners in the 8K (sub-23:00 men, sub-26:00 women), half marathon (sub-1:04:00 men, sub-1:14:00 women) and marathon (sub-2:24:00 men, sub-2:44:00 women).
All runners qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon will receive a $400 bonus for meeting the "A" standard (men sub-2:20:00, women sub-2:39:00) or a $200 bonus for meeting the "B" standard (men sub-2:22:00, women sub-2:47:00), in addition to their regular prize money.
Elite Athletes
The Shamrock Sportsfest is extremely proud of the competitive field for all of its events. Three World Records and numerous National Records have been set during Shamrock events.
For full details on the Shamrock Sportsfest 2009 elite athlete program, contact Rick Platt.All elite athlete entries should be mailed to:
Rick Platt, Shamrock Sportsfest Elite Athlete Coordinator
Run Fast Promotions
113 Anthony Wayne Road
Williamsburg, VA 23185
USA
Phone: 757-229-7375 (best phone number to use)
Cell phone: 757-345-1431 (especially for race weekend)
FAX: 757-220-2751
E-mail: rickplatt@juno.com