Shamrock Run Portland
Portland, OR
- Half Marathon, 8K, 4 Miler, 5K, Kids Run
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
It’s a 13.1-mile St. Patrick’s Day party! The Shamrock Half Marathon Run Fest has defined Portland’s running scene for nearly 50 years. The streets turn green, the energy runs high, and every runner gets their shot at chasing gold. The city’s oldest and largest running event, with a course that … MORE
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Hilly and Disorganized Race But Not Bad
I read another review on here, and it said something like "this was the most disorganized race I have ever been to." This isn't the most disorganized race I have … MORE
I read another review on here, and it said something like “this was the most disorganized race I have ever been to.” This isn’t the most disorganized race I have ever done, but I will say that it was disorganized and not well thought out. When I got there to the race, I was stressed out that I wouldn’t be able to get to my corral. The 5K and 8K had started before us, and it was someone’s brilliant idea to have us run through that ongoing race to get to the other side (and get to our corrals). It got worse when on the way back, when we looped back, the 5K/8K people who finished had to do the same thing to us–running in the gaps between runners to get to the other side (where the race party was). And I thought that was bad, but it got even WORSE. At the very end, there were WALKERS that were taking up the very narrow last mile of the course. I was yelling at people to move out of the way; I was pretty irritated by this. There were a lot of walkers, and it really pissed me off to have people in jeans, in front of me, wasting my time. I I will also say that I really liked the t-shirt they gave us this year, but the medal for the half marathon was really boring (it was just “13.1” and that was it) when the other medals for the other races were a cute little shamrock. I don’t know why they made the half marathon medal so boring. This course was also very hilly, and the race website said that the views were “worth the climb.” It did have good views around miles 6-9ish so that was nice, but I found this race harder than expected because there was about three miles of straight incline. However, I will say on the way back, we did get a good amount of downhill so that was really nice, and it helped me make up for lost time.
Hilly
The expo was not huge but had a good variety of vendors from apparel, shoes and other running necessities. We were able to navigate on public transportation from the airport, … MORE
The expo was not huge but had a good variety of vendors from apparel, shoes and other running necessities. We were able to navigate on public transportation from the airport, to the expo and to our hotel downtown.
The start line was crowded with a mix of runners running different races. It was crowded but organized. There were plenty of porta potties. The course (half) started flat and then delivered some big inclines. There was one switch back a few miles before the finish line. I was not stopped but some runners had to wait at times to allow a bus to cross over the route. There was adequate fluid support on the course.
The finish area had plenty of snacks, a free beer and awesome Irish music entertainment. Most of the runners wore green and a lot had festive St Patty’s Day themed outfits.
We had never been to Portland before and really enjoyed both the city and the race.
Large St Patty's tradition, lacks org.
This is the largest race in the Portland area and takes place every March for St Patty's day. The course starts off along the edge of downtown; the first 2 … MORE
This is the largest race in the Portland area and takes place every March for St Patty’s day. The course starts off along the edge of downtown; the first 2 miles are along the Willamette River where you pass three or four bridges before u-turning. You then run back through the starting line, and end up off the waterfront almost immediately. There are two or three more u-turns which I find to be boring and also hard on my knees. By mile 6 the scenery is prettier and it gets greener as you approach mile 8ish where there is a gnarly hill that makes your training worthwhile. At the top of the hill there were bagpipers (it is a St Patty’s run after all) and then it’s pretty much downhill from there until the finish line.
It was an unseasonably warm and sunny 2024 event but still not a lot of sideline support/enthusiasm. Very little organized support too; it was surprisingly lackluster for such a vibrant city in general. The participants had plenty of spirit though, it was abnormal to see someone not wearing green.
This is one of the least detailed halfs I’ve participated in which is surprising considering its nearly 50 years old. The bib numbers are not assigned to you and there are no organized starting corals – they say you can ‘seed’ in accordingly with the pacers in the line up; the race gear is not a technical shirt (which means I’ll wear it less, for sure); even the map of the course does not have mile markers which made it harder for my friends/family to plan where they were going to meet up with me to cheer me on. All of this is fairly minor but annoying. My chief complaint is they had a ‘strider’ (walking) course that ended at the same finish line as the half. Another running distance didn’t finish in the same place but they had walkers and halfers literally crossing paths at the very end. It was dangerous and frustrating. I had to shout at multiple people as I approached to pass because they were not paying attention. I literally finished within 90 seconds of PRing and it was absolutely due to this hot mess at the end. Overall, if you want to run an event in PDX, maybe you’ll have a better time during a different year. I traveled from out of town for this and would not go out of my way to return.
The PNW Weather!
Fun race with a not-so-easy hill from mile 5-7. March in the Pacific Northwest isn't the greatest weather for running--cold, wet and cloudy--but with good gear, any weather is fine. MORE
Fun race with a not-so-easy hill from mile 5-7. March in the Pacific Northwest isn’t the greatest weather for running–cold, wet and cloudy–but with good gear, any weather is fine.
Wet, windy, and hilly BUT fun!
This year (2022) it was rainy and windy--and the wind was worse than the rain. A friend warned me that it was hilly, but I was still shocked about the … MORE
This year (2022) it was rainy and windy–and the wind was worse than the rain. A friend warned me that it was hilly, but I was still shocked about the climb. There was a bagpiper at the top of the hill–apparently, he is there every year to welcome runners to the top of the hill.
There were multiple races happening on Sunday (5k, 8k, 15k, and half marathon). The race organizers did a great job managing the different distances and start times.
There were ample aid stations and port-o-potties on the course. It was also well marked and plenty of volunteers directing runners.
The finish area was fun – food (including oatmeal), beer, and a band.
The shirt was long sleeve and nice. The medal, not surprisingly, was a shamrock and cool.
Participants (plus up to 4 people, I believe) got access to the Adidas Employee Store – where all merchandise was 50% off. It was worth a visit – save room in your suitcase!
St. Patrick's 5k in Portland 1,000's Run
What an event.vIt was HUGE. After Party was soooo fun! 5K, 8K, 10K,Half Marathon We hung out and listen to the bands, drank green beer and collected a full grocery … MORE
What an event.vIt was HUGE. After Party was soooo fun!
5K, 8K, 10K,Half Marathon
We hung out and listen to the bands, drank green beer and collected a full grocery bag of snacks.
Stayed at a real nice hotel and met so many new people who are now my friends.
This event is now giving a Finisher Medal.
Best Portland Shamrock I have run
The weather was perfect, it seemed way less corroweded even with the same amount of runners as years past. The t-shirt & medal we’re the best ever for this race, … MORE
The weather was perfect, it seemed way less corroweded even with the same amount of runners as years past. The t-shirt & medal we’re the best ever for this race, had the race distance on the medal & nice fitting shirt with not much advertising. This 15k is very challenging going up hill the first 5 miles.
Competitive 15K with local elites
Large field. Relatively hilly course with almost 700 ft of vertical mostly in the first 8km through the Terwilliger curves with a sneaky last climb a couple of miles from … MORE
Large field. Relatively hilly course with almost 700 ft of vertical mostly in the first 8km through the Terwilliger curves with a sneaky last climb a couple of miles from the end. Can make up time on the downhills on the backside if you haven’t gone out too fast. Bottle opener metal is a plus. Free 12 ounce Hefeweizen from Widmer Bros at end of race was just the right thirst quencher even at 10 in the morning.
Very Fun Race
This was so much fun! People of all sizes & ages were a part of this race. I loved that they had the 5K race start earlier than the longer … MORE
This was so much fun! People of all sizes & ages were a part of this race. I loved that they had the 5K race start earlier than the longer distances. By the time we finished we had first pick at the food and water. LOVED it!! The sponsors were great too. Very good energy!
Fun Race with a Big Crowed
First time doing the 15K Shamrock race. To start off with don't plan on getting any kind of personal best. It's very crowded, 6,000 people did the 15k. With no … MORE
First time doing the 15K Shamrock race. To start off with don’t plan on getting any kind of personal best. It’s very crowded, 6,000 people did the 15k. With no room to pass anyone the first mile. With that said this year they really put on a good show. They have great music & dancing at the starting line to keep your mind off how cold you are. They do a great job keeping everything together with the 4 different distances with a total of 25,000 people that attend. This year they even had to change the course last minute because the City doesn’t have a enough police offers. The new course was beautiful up in the forest above the city with live bands on the way. There was a lot of up hill in the middle but that equaled some nice downhill on the way down. Lots of free stuff & entertainment after the race. The weather was amazing this year with sun but not to hot. For this years portland Shamrock I have to give for shoes overall.
Changed Course can be good and bad...
New course and I was dreading it. On one hand, going mostly downhill significantly decreased my race time, so that was great. But races in Portland keep getting more and … MORE
New course and I was dreading it. On one hand, going mostly downhill significantly decreased my race time, so that was great. But races in Portland keep getting more and more boring. This race is sponsored by Adidas, so that saves some of the quality in other areas. 15k was mostly the same course as the half marathon, which got confusing with the mileage signs. Beer after is always great. This year they got covers, in case of torrential rain that’s happened in past years.
Terwilliger is a beast
It was pouring rain in 2015 for the first half of the race And this was a wonderful thing. This was a great race to start the season off, and … MORE
It was pouring rain in 2015 for the first half of the race
And this was a wonderful thing. This was a great race to start the season off, and the beginning of me being pretty serious about running. I learned a lot about my style, running gear I did and did not need, and made a PR.
Sharmrock Time!
This was my 3rd Shamrock Run, 2nd in the 15K. Weather was perfect, it seemed to be way more organized and less crowded this time around. I think they spread … MORE
This was my 3rd Shamrock Run, 2nd in the 15K. Weather was perfect, it seemed to be way more organized and less crowded this time around. I think they spread the race times out better for all the different races like 5k, 8k, 15k, half & some of the shorter walks. In the past you couldn’t even move in places before the race. I enjoyed this one the best of all the ones I have run. That hill on mile 3 is a killer, my legs still hurt!