VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - It's finally time to lace up and find that pot of gold at the end of the finish line! The annual Shamrock Marathon returns to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend.
The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon is celebrating 50 years.
Saturday, there will be both an 8K race and the Leprechaun Dash. Then, Sunday finishes the weekend off with a half marathon and a full marathon.
After a two-year hiatus, the Shamrock Marathon Weekend is back.
And they’re doing it big for their golden anniversary-headlining a weekend full of activities!
“Finally!”
Finally is right!
After a years-long break due to COVID, runners will once again hit the pavement.
“It was definitely a tough time,” said Callie Habr, the manager at Croc’s 19th Street Bistro. “But now that we’re getting to normal, it is a breath of fresh air.”
And with more than 20,000 runners expecting to convene at the Oceanfront, it’s one of Virginia Beach’s biggest events.
Expecting to not only draw a crowd, but also bring in the bucks.
“Hopefully a fraction!” said Habr.
Business owners hoping after a long run participants will head on over to celebrate.
“We’re expecting big sales, expecting big tips,” said Nicolette Bloomer, the general manager at the Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House. “We’re serving people again, and I hope people see that. I’m hoping that we’re going to get back to that 2019 summer and get back to our roots.”
And even though there won’t be a pot of gold at the end of the races, it does show that even after the most difficult storms-there can be a rainbow.
“We’ve been talking about this season for the past two years - maybe even three years - that we can’t wait for things to get back to normal, and all the concerts, all the festivals, all the events,” said the owner of Harpoon Larry’s Oyster Bar, Ross Hickam.
The half marathon and marathon kick off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
Keep scrolling for a look at the race routes and road closures for that day:
Event information
Shamrock Marathon Weekend has something for everyone. Below is the schedule of events.
Saturday, March 19
- 7:30 a.m. - 8K race starts
- 30th Street & Pacific Avenue
- 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Post-race celebration
- On the beach at 28th Street
- 10:30 a.m. - Leprechaun Dash start
- 31st Street on the boardwalk
- 11 a.m. - Final Mile start
- 31st Street & Atlantic Avenue
- 12-5 p.m. - Sports & Fitness Expo
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
Sunday, March 20
- 7:30 a.m. - Half Marathon & Marathon start
- 42nd Street & Atlantic Avenue
- 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Post-race celebration
- On the beach at 28th Street
Click here to see the full schedule of events.
Parking
Driving down to the Resort City for the festivities and need to know where you can leave your car? A full list of available parking lots, garages and spaces can be found below:
- 34th Street Garage (34th St. & Pacific Ave.)
- Monitors will help you cross the Pacific Ave closing
- 33rd St. - east side of Pacific Ave.
- Monitors will help you cross the Pacific Ave closing
- 31st St. Garage
- Police will be directing traffic toward garage
- 28th St. - limited amount of on street parking available
- 23rd St. & Pacific Ave.
- This lot will not be accessible from 6-9 a.m. Saturday, March 19
- 21st St. lot - east of Pacific Ave.
- 20th St. lots - east and west of Pacific Ave.
- 19th St. North & South lots
- Both of these lots are free city lots
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
- Free parking is available
Towing will be enforced.
Many roads in the area will be closed for a period of time while runners make their way through the area. Here's a list so you can plan accordingly:
Saturday, March 19
| Street | From | To | Side of Road | Road Closure | Opened By |
| Pacific Avenue | 25th Street | 35th Street | Whole Road | 5 a.m. | 9 a.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 25th Street | 35th Street | Whole Road | 5 a.m. | 1 p.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 25th Street | Rudee Loop | Whole Road | 7 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 35th Street | 38th Street | Whole Road | 7 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
*Northbound Pacific Avenue traffic will be detoured at 25th Street until 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
*Southbound Pacific Avenue traffic will be detoured at 35th Street until 9 a.m. and then 32nd Street until 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 20
| Street | From | To | Side of Road | Road Closure | Opened By |
| Atlantic Avenue | 47th Street/Bay Colony Drive | Pacific/Atlantic Avenue intersection (at Cavalier) | Southbound | 5 a.m. | 9:15 a.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | Shore Drive/83rd Street | Pacific/Atlantic Avenue intersection (at Cavalier) | Whole Road | 7 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
| Shore Drive | Atlantic Avenue/83rd Street | Fort Story West Gate | Westbound | 7 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. |
| Pacific Avenue | 35th Street | Pacific/Atlantic Avenue intersection (at Cavalier) | Whole Road | 5 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 40th Street | 35th Street | Whole Road | 5 a.m. | 3:30 p.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 35th Street | 22nd Street | Whole Road | 6:30 a.m. | 3:30 a.m. |
| Atlantic Avenue | 6th Street | Rudee Loop | Whole Road | 8 a.m. | 2:45 p.m. |
| General Booth | 5th Street/Rudee Bridge | Birdneck Road | Northbound | 8 a.m. | 2:45 p.m. |
| General Booth | Birdneck Road | Prosperity Road | Northbound | 8 a.m. | 2 p.m. |
| Birdneck Road | General Booth | State Military Reservation | Whole Road | 8 a.m. | 2 p.m. |
*One (1) southbound lane of Atlantic Avenue will open at approximately 9:15 a.m.
*Atlantic Avenue from 22nd Street to 6th Street will remain open for the duration of the event.
Related: 700 students to receive new running shoes for Shamrock Marathon Weekend
