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Shamrock Marathon

March 21, 2027 · 7:30 AMVirginia Beach, VA, United States

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Race snapshot

Race Day

50°F

45–59°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

269ft

Relatively flat course

Participants

2,435

Medium-sized race

Entry

Registration Open

Marathon

$130

Full marathon entry (26.2 miles). Registration is first-come, first-served (no lottery) with prices rising in tiers as race day approaches; this is the current starting rate.

Official Website

Key Dates

1. Lovato Electric Shamrock Sports & Fitness Expo & packet pickup (Day 1)
  Mar 19, 2027
  11:00 AM - 7:00 PM at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. No race-day packet pickup (limited paid Race Day Will Call available for up to 200 participants).
2. Expo & packet pickup (Day 2) / 8K, Leprechaun Dash, Final Mile races
  Mar 20, 2027
  Expo 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. 8K starts 7:30 AM; Leprechaun Dash 10:30 AM; Final Mile 11:00 AM.
3. Race day: Marathon & Half Marathon
  Mar 21, 2027
  Marathon and Half Marathon start together at 7:30 AM at 42nd Street & Atlantic Avenue; course time limit 7 hours 30 minutes.

Found in

Marathons in Virginia Half Marathons in Virginia Races in Virginia Marathons in the United States

The Lowdown

The Shamrock Marathon is the marquee event of the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend, a St. Patrick's Day-season tradition in Virginia Beach organized by J&A Racing since 1973 (the 2027 edition is the 55th running). The USATF-certified, flat and fast out-and-back course starts at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue and finishes on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk near the King Neptune Statue, making it a popular Boston Marathon-qualifying race (the 2027 marathon qualifies for the 2028 Boston Marathon). The full marathon and half marathon run together on Sunday, with an 8K, Leprechaun Dash, and Final Mile held the day before as part of the same weekend. Yuengling is the race weekend's title sponsor, hosting a beachfront finish-line celebration with live music. Course time limit is 7 hours 30 minutes.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer269ft gain, 50°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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