The 52nd running of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend will take place in Virginia Beach. This St. Paddy's Day tradition has a race distance for every goal: Marathon, Half Marathon, 8K, and challenges. No matter the distance, you'll experience the best of Coastal Virginia on our flat, fast, and scenic course before you cross the finish line overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The party continues after the race at our post race celebration on the beach with Yuengling Beer and live music.

Schedule of Events

March 15, 2024

11:00AM - 7:00PM: Sports & Fitness Expo at Virginia Beach Convention Center

Pick up your race packet (race bib and participant shirt) at the US Army Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo located at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The expo includes packet pickup, the official Shamrock retail store, sports-minded vendors, and St. Patrick's Day celebration.

March 16, 2024

7:30AM - 8K Start at 30th Street & Pacific Avenue

The TowneBank Shamrock 8K course is flat and fast, making it the perfect place for a first race, a PR (personal record), and a fun experience. Participants will enjoy spectators and entertainment along the course as well as a festive finish line celebration.

Expect thousands of spectators to cheer you on throughout this scenic course in the heart of the Virginia Beach resort area. The TowneBank Shamrock 8K finishes on the world famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk, just past the majestic figure of King Neptune, and with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. A Shamrockin' post-race party on the beach awaits all finishers and guests.

RACE PERKS
Two-day Sports & Fitness Expo
Finish Line Celebration with Live Entertainment
Yuengling included in your registration
Technical race shirts
Unique bottle opener Medal for all finishers
2024 Finisher Item: Branded Koozie

8:00AM - 12:30PM: Post Race Celebration on the beach at 28th Street

Race weekend isn't complete without a Yuengling toast. Take your race medal to Murphy's Irish Pub so they can treat you to your favorite post-race celebration.

10:30AM - Leprechaun Dash Start at 31st Street on the Boardwalk

The Leprechaun Dash (formerly known as the Children's Marathon) is for our youngest athletes, ages 6 months to 5 years old! These participants get to experience the excitement of race day as they line up on the boardwalk near King Neptune's Park at 31st Street. The children are started in waves by age. At the end of their 26.2 yard run, these marathoners cross the main Shamrock finish line to the cheers of an adoring crowd, where a special finisher's medal awaits them. All participants also receive a T-shirt and goody bag!

Packet Pickup: All Leprechaun Dash registrants must pick up their race bib and T-shirt at the Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo at The Virginia Beach Convention Center on Friday before race day. There is no race day packet pickup – you must pick up your child's packet on Friday at the expo!

We will open the corral to all participants at 10:15am. We ask that our youngest runners be accompanied by one parent. We suggest another parent or sibling wait at the Finish Line to capture the epic finish!

11:00AM - Final Mile Start at 31st Street & Atlantic Avenue

The Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile is the culmination of an ongoing running and walking program for elementary aged children which promotes lifelong fitness and combats childhood obesity. Children participating in the Final Mile run at school and at home in the weeks preceding the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend to accumulate 25.2 total miles. They then run the “final mile” of their 26.2 mile marathon on race day, crossing the same finish line that will welcome the Shamrock marathoners the following day. Many children also raise money for the event's title sponsor, Operation Smile, making it possible for children just like themselves to receive new smiles and to live happier and healthier lives. These young fundraisers learn at an early age the rewards of helping others.

All Final Milers receive a time for their one mile run, but there are no awards given in an effort to keep the emphasis on fitness and fun, not competition. All finishers receive a unique, commemorative medal. School pride is evident throughout event weekend, and the energy, spirit, and enthusiasm displayed by every Final Miler is inspirational–and contagious! Prizes are awarded to the school with the highest percentage of participants and to the school representatives voted the “Silliest Shamrock” by the students themselves.

Course Map

12:00 - 5:00PM: Sports & Fitness Expo at Virginia Beach Convention Center

Pick up your race packet (race bib and participant shirt) at the US Army Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo located at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The expo includes packet pickup, the official Shamrock retail store, sports-minded vendors, and St. Patrick's Day celebration.

March 17, 2024

7:30AM - Half Marathon & Marathon Start at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue

Half Marathon

The Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon is flat and fast, making it the perfect place for a PR (personal record). Participants will enjoy spectators and entertainment along the course as well as a festive finish line celebration.

COURSE DETAIL
The half marathon loop course takes you north from the Virginia Beach resort area past welcoming neighborhoods. The course then traverses tree-lined Shore Drive as it winds along First Landing State Park on its way to Joint Expeditionary Base, Ft. Story. In Ft. Story participants will pass by the site where John Smith, Christopher Newport, John Rolfe and the other Jamestown colonists first landed in America in 1607, and by Cape Henry Lighthouse–the oldest standing lighthouse in the United States. The course then heads south again for a finish on the world famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk, just past the majestic figure of King Neptune, with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. A Shamrockin' post-race party on the beach awaits all finishers and guests.

RACE PERKS
Two-day Sports & Fitness Expo
Finish Line Celebration with Live Entertainment
Yuengling included in your registration
Technical race shirts
Unique bottle opener Medal for all finishers
2024 Finisher Item: Vented Running Hat and Finisher Beach Towel
Earn extra bling by running the 8K on Saturday to complete the Dolphin Challenge (You must register for the Challenge, not each individual race.)

Marathon Start

The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon is the oldest continuously running road race in Virginia Beach! The marathon course is flat and fast, making it the perfect place for a first marathon, a PR (personal record), and a great race. Participants will enjoy spectators and entertainment along the course as well as a festive finish line celebration.

COURSE DETAIL
Marathoners begin by heading north from the Virginia Beach resort area through welcoming neighborhoods. The course then traverses tree-lined Shore Drive as it winds along First Landing State Park on its way to Joint Expeditionary Base, Ft. Story. In Ft. Story participants will pass by the site where John Smith, Christopher Newport, John Rolfe and the other Jamestown colonists first landed in America in 1607, and by Cape Henry Lighthouse–the oldest standing lighthouse in the United States. The course then heads south into the resort area, across Rudee Inlet–the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean–and through stately neighborhoods and the Camp Pendleton military base. Participants return north before finishing on the world famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk. The finish line awaits you just past the majestic figure of King Neptune with the beautiful Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.

RACE PERKS
Two-day Sports & Fitness Expo
Finish Line Celebration with Live Entertainment
Yuengling included in your registration
Technical race shirts
Unique bottle opener Medal for all finishers
2024 Finisher Item: Vented running hat and finisher beach towel
Earn extra bling by running the 8K on Saturday to complete the Whale Challenge (You must register for the Challenge, not each individual race.)

8:30AM - 4:00PM: Post Race Celebration on the beach at 28th Street

Race weekend isn't complete without a Yuengling toast. Take your race medal to Murphy's Irish Pub so they can treat you to your favorite post-race celebration.

Date: March 15-17, 2024

Location: Various Venues in Virginia Beach, VA 23450.

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