Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Dolphin Challenge during Shamrock Marathon Weekend as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
I had a blast meeting up with members of the BibRave community in person in Austin for The Running Event in 2018, and the opportunity has come again for me to connect with tons of other BibRave Pros. But this time, it’s just two-and-a-half hours away from where I live!
Team BibRave (the BibRave staff) and the BibRave Pros (the ambassadors, like me) will be meeting up for a summit surrounding Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend in Virginia Beach from March 19-21. So, in addition to plenty of green, you’re sure to see lots of orange if you head to Virginia Beach for race weekend. I love the BibRave community, and I am one of the team captains for the East Region.
I’ve run Shamrock races two times in the past, and it’s a well-organized and fun race weekend that always has great swag. Shamrock will always be special to me because it was my first half marathon back in 2011. I also ran my fifth marathon at Shamrock in 2016.
I will be taking on my first race challenge ever at this event — the Dolphin Challenge, which includes the 8K and half marathon. While I’ve run two races in a weekend before (for the past few years, I’ve run the Mike Sterling 10K and Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon), I have never done an official challenge as part of a race weekend.
The Dolphin Challenge comes with a bonus dolphin medal, and since dolphins were my favorite animal for a while as a child, I think this is a fitting first challenge to do.
The race weekend also features the Whale Challenge — the 8K on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday.
And, for an added challenge, there’s the Coastal Virginia Half Marathon Series — featuring the half marathons at Shamrock, Crawlin’ Crab and Norfolk Harbor (where I ran the 10K in November).
Of course, you may want to focus on one race if you’re shooting for a PR or just don’t want to run multiple races.
Here’s some race information:
TowneBank 8K
Saturday, March 21
7:30 a.m.
Start at 30th Street and Pacific Avenue in Virginia Beach
Current registration fee: $50
Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon
Sunday, March 22
7:30 a.m.
Start at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach
Current registration fee: $100
Yuengling Shamrock Marathon
Sunday, March 22
7:30 a.m.
Start at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue in Virginia Beach
Current registration fee $110
Dolphin Challenge (8K and Half Marathon): $155
Whale Challenge (8K and Marathon): $165
There are also children’s running events as part of race weekend.
Prices go up a little more than two weeks from today (Jan. 16), so get that registration in!
Virginia Eye Consultants Shamrock Sports and Fitness Expo
Friday, March 20, from noon-9 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, from noon-5 p.m.
Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St., Virginia Beach
Packet mailing is also available for an additional fee.
Shamrock always has cool swag. The first year I ran the race, I got a long-sleeve tee in addition to the race shirt. For the marathon, I got the race shirt and a beach towel. This year, the additional swag for marathoners and half marathoners is a blanket!
With Yuengling as the title sponsor, of course there is plenty of beer at the post-race party, too.
Shamrock also tends to have special guests. When my friend Veronica and I attended this race in 2016 (and Veronica and I will be traveling together again this year), she won a VIP package and we met now-former Runner’s World Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso — who has since come to other running events I’ve attended, like the Algonquin 50K. I saw he’ll be attending Shamrock this year as well!
Shamrock also earned some spots on The BibRave 100 in 2019!
BibRave will be hosting activities from Friday-Sunday. It should be a fun weekend!
I didn’t have my blog yet in 2011, but you can read about my 2016 experience at the race in two parts here:
Ready to sign up or learn more? Visit the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend website.
She Runs by the Seashore 
There is so much going on that weekend! I was hoping to make it this year but not sure yet.Love the t shirts and the blanket too!
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Hope you can make it! It is a busy time of the year for running!
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