Question:Have any of you run the Shamrock Marathon, held in mid-March in Virginia
Beach, Virginia? Is it well-organized? Is it worth running?
Answer:
I heard the race is very well organized and I guess any thing worth
training for is worth running...especially a marathon. I've never run
it (10 other 26.2's under my belt) but one thing I do remember in the
cobwebs of my mind about it...and that was back in March '78 or '79
(excuse me for the memory loss). I was stationed on the USS America
at Norfolk (this was before I had gotten into running and racing) and
I was driving somewhere near where they were running the marathon that
day. The only thing I remember about that day (other than some dude
having ice on his beard) was that it was so windy and cold that I was
glad to be in my Buick than out on that raod. So all I can say is the
race is great...but watch out for a sneak attack cold front to add to
the intrigue of your LONG run. I'm a meteorologist with the National
Weather service here in NC. I'll see what I can do to convince the
man upstairs to bring you cool but not arctic weather that day.
It is a beach-side run, relatively flat, not crowded. Well enough managed, but
not in the class of Boston, etc. The water stops are not consistent and there
were not regular mile markers the year I did it. It is an out-and-back so you
run the same streets twice. There were a lot of cars turning in, etc that you
had to watch for. There was time at the half way point and of course at the
end. If you are looking for a realtively low-key, low-stress, low profile
marathon it may be the one.
Yes, Shamrock is a well organized race. I ran the marathon last year and
will be going down for the 8k this year. They hold a marathon (about 1200
runners last year), a masters 8k, an 8k open, and a childrens fun run.
They have a great running expo, as good as, if not better than, Philly's.
The race is all flat. You run through the streets for about a mile until you
hit the boardwalk. You then run the length of the Virginia Beach boardwalk
(about 3 miles) - beautiful scenery here, the hotels, beach, and ocean; what
a view. Its then back to the streets until you hit the highway and now
it becomes like the Long Island Newsday marathon...very quiet. After 4 miles
(roughly speaking), you turn off onto the road leading through an army base.
Mile 14 is the turn around point (this is an out and back course). Bascially,
I would say anywhere between 14-16 miles are spent on the highway and army
base before you return to the streets of Virginia Beach.
You will see some folks at the army base. I don't recall any on the highway.
You will see more folks through the streets of VB as well as the Boardwalk,
as well as back through the streets. Then get ready for an out of world
experience. The finish line is inside the building where the expo is held.
Its a 100 yard dash for the finish as the spectators sitting in the bleachers
cheer you on. You get the biggest rush when you enter the building because
you expect and hope for a lot of cheering, but the amount of applause you hear,
far exceeds anything you can imagine. What a roar, what a rush, great acoustics
Just think Long Island for 26.1miles followed by Tavern on the Green for .1 :)
They have a great post race party for the runners. Loads of Beer, Soda, Bananas
Apples, Oranges, and I can't remember what else. Not sure if they had bagels
though...not sure if VB knows what a bagel is. :-)
