ABOUT

PORTLAND'S adidas SHAMROCK RUN

Founded in 1979, the adidas Shamrock Run is the largest running and walking event in Portland, Oregon. In 2013, 35,000 participants will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the event on St. Patrick's Day – Sunday, March 17 – at Waterfront Park in downtown Portland.

The Shamrock Run offers chip-timed roadrace distances at 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) and 15 kilometers (9.3 miles). Shamrock also has a 5km fitness walk – the Shamrock Stride – and a 1km (0.6-mile) run/walk for children age 10 and younger known as the "Leprechaun Lap."

All the courses run through the center of downtown Portland for a fun urban experience and feature slightly downhill final sections. The 15k route adds the challenging, and scenic,Terwilliger hills.

Shamrock Sunday activities in the finish area include the Widmer Brothers Brewing beer garden and an entertainment stage with performances from local musicians.  Bands also perform at the starting line and along the Shamrock Run routes.

Shamrock Weekend kicks-off with the adidas Shamrock Run Fitness Fair, presented by LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon.  This two-day expo at the Oregon Convention Center on March 15-16 is in conjunction with Shamrock participant bib number and T-shirt pickup. The Fitness Fair features more than 40 running and fitness exhibitors, live music, Irish dancers, contests and give-aways and a Leprechaun Lane kids area. More than 20,000 attendees are expected.

All adidas Shamrock Run participants receive the following:

• A souvenir Shamrock green adidas short-sleeve tech fabric runner's style T-shirt;
• A free pour of Widmer Brothers beer (for those over 21);
• A free cup of Stanford's signature smoked salmon chowder;
• A commemorative bottle-opener medallion (for 15km finishers only); and
• A chance to "Win Your Weight in Widmer Brothers beer" at the on-site award ceremony.

The adidas Shamrock Run offers a reduced entry fee for members of teams with 15 or more participants. This entry fee incentive has resulted in the registration of more than 600 company, neighborhood or special interest teams, and has contributed significantly to the tremendous growth of the event, which has tripled in size in just the last five years. Shamrock has also sold out every year since its field limit was implemented in 2010.

The adidas Shamrock Run is sponsored by adidas, 101.9 KINK, KGW NewsChannel 8, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Stanford's Restaurant and Bar and LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon. The designated beneficiary of the event is Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, which has been affiliated with Shamrock for the past 16 years.