Thousands of Chicago Area Runners Welcome Spring with This Annual St. Patrick's Day Tradition
CHICAGO - The start of Chicago's spring running season will begin on Sunday April 3, when the 37th annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K kicks off at 8:30 a.m. in Grant Park. Participants will run through 4.97 miles of downtown scenery before crossing the finish line of the world?s largest 8K race.
Nike Oregon Track Club elites Alexi Pappas and Stephen Sambu will return to the Windy City to defend their 2015 titles. Pappas, also an award-winning writer and filmmaker, set personal records in every distance from the mile to 10 miles last year, while Sambu recently won the New York City half-marathon in a blazing 1:01:16. Both athletes will have their work cut out for them, as the field also includes Olympic marathoners Desiree Linden and Dathan Ritzenhein, several standouts from Michigan powerhouse Hansons-Brooks Distance Project and hometown star Tera Moody, who won the race in 2007 and 2010.The Deloitte Elite Club Competition will feature more than 50 teams from across the U.S. that will fight for the championship title and a $20,000 prize purse.
In advance of the event, the two-day Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Health & Fitness Expo will take place at McCormick Place on Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, featuring more than 80 industry-related exhibitors. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public.
For ease, and to assist in the race's sustainable efforts, runners and spectators are encouraged to take public transportation to the Health & Fitness Expo and to Grant Park on race-day. Divvy ambassadors will be available near McCormick Place and Grant Park stations to assist riders. For more information on public transportation click here and to view race day street closures visit ShamrockShuffle.com.
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K - Sunday, April 3
8:30 a.m.
Wave 1 Start
9:00 a.m.
Wave 2 Start
9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Post-Race Party in Grant Park featuring Stache
2:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
After-Party at Scout Waterhouse and Kitchen
About the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Long recognized as an annual rite of spring and the kickoff to the outdoor running season in Chicago, the 36th anniversary Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K takes runners on a scenic tour of downtown Chicago, starting and finishing in Grant Park. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 29, and will conclude with live music at the traditional Post-Race Party in Grant Park. In advance of the event, the two-day Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Health & Fitness Expo will take place at McCormick Place on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, featuring more than 80 industry-related exhibitors. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to ShamrockShuffle.com.
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