51 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 26 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Life Arts    H4'ed 3/21/10

Shamrock Marathon Rocks On

Follow Me on Twitter     Message Meryl Ann Butler
Become a Fan
  (81 fans)


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

The 38th Annual Yuengling Shamrock Marathon was held in Virginia Beach, VA, on St. Patrick's Day weekend, March 19-21, with approximately 23,000 participants.

A variety of events included the marathon, half marathon, and the 8K run on the boardwalk as well as several youth events.


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

The main event, the Shamrock Marathon Run/Marathon Walk, began at at 8 a.m. Sunday. The 26.2 mile course runs through the resort area of Virginia Beach and then continues through Fort Story past the historic Cape Henry lighthouse, the oldest in the country.


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

The race is a 2011 Boston Marathon Qualifier.


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

Costumed leprechauns, green cheerleaders and blaring boom boxes offered enroute support to the runners.


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA

The Shamrock Marathon was founded in 1973, with 59 participants. In 1982, the 10th annual Shamrock Marathon was named the Largest Sporting Event in Virginia, and by 1992 Shamrock was recognized by Runner's World magazine as one of the Top 20 Marathons in the Country.

In 2006 Shamrock won Runner's World's award for Best Schwag Perks and Prizes Worth Bonking For.

Since 2003, 32 national records and three world records have been set at Shamrock Sportsfests. Thus far, three participants have qualified for the Olympic Trials.

The Marathon boasts many levels of "green." Recognized by Runner's World as an Official Green Race, it features TFC Recycling containers at the start-finish line and near the 53rd Street support station. Last year, Shamrock Marathon participants recycled approximately 1,490 pounds of recyclables, the equivalent to recovering more than 65,120 plastic water and energy drink bottles.

Saturday, March 20th featured the 8K Middle School Challenge and Operation Smile Final Mile Start.

More than 2,900 elementary school students from more than 150 schools across the U.S. participated in the fundraiser for Operation Smile, a worldwide children's medical charity. Founded in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile, is headquartered in nearby Norfolk, Virginia. Since its founding, Operation Smile has treated more than 145,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 50 countries.


(Image by Unknown Owner)   Details   DMCA



RESOURCES

Shamrock Marathon homepage: http://www.shamrockmarathon.com

Accessed 03/20/10.


More than 2,900 Elementary Students Running Their "Final Mile" on Saturday, March 20 at the Shamrock Sportsfest

http://www.marathonguide.com/news/newsviewer.cfm?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etransworldnews%2Ecom%2FNewsStory%2Easpx%3Fid%3D275937%26cat%3D10

Accessed 03/20/10.


Customer Magnetism Supports Shamrock Marathon Runners

http://www.prlog.org/10582795-customer-magnetism-supports-shamrock-marathon-runners.html

Accessed 03/20/10.


TFC Recycling Helps St. Patrick's Day Marathon Event Go Green http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/tfc-recycling-helps-st-patrick's-day-marathon-event-go-green

Accessed 03/20/10.

Rate It | View Ratings

Meryl Ann Butler Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Meryl Ann Butler is an artist, author, educator and OpedNews Managing Editor who has been actively engaged in utilizing the arts as stepping-stones toward joy-filled wellbeing since she was a hippie. She began writing for OpEdNews in Feb, 2004. She became a Senior Editor in August 2012 and Managing Editor in January, (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

CEO Ridiculed for Raising Minimum Wage to $70K Has the Last Laugh

The Bizarre Theft of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski's Miracle Cancer Cure

Mysterious Bayou Sinkhole Continues to Cave In: Radiation, Hydrocarbons Detected

Tips for Avoiding Coronavirus

Relentless Bayou Corne Sinkhole Nearly 30 Times Original Size (UPDATED with Cave-In Video)

Sex, Love, and Jesus: A Few Surprises in the Easter Basket

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend