At 45, Shamrock Run Hitting Its Stride Once Again in 2023 — Sport Oregon Voices

Organizers team with Kells Irish Festival to make this year’s run even more festive

As one of the area’s longest-standing and largest running events, the Shamrock Run has long been considered an opening day of sorts for the running season in Portland. The traditional St. Patrick’s Day event, which celebrates its 45th edition this year, annually draws upwards of 20,000 runners, walkers and supporters for a half-marathon, 15k, 8k, 5k and the Shamrock Stride, a four-mile walk that takes participants over the Willamette River via the Tilikum Crossing.

This year, organizers are excited to bring the event back to its full glory and hit its full stride once again following its return in 2022 after the pandemic forced cancellations to both the 2020 and 2021 runs.

In its goal to make the event even bigger in 2023, the Shamrock Run has partnered with Kells Irish Pub & Brewery this year. The new collaboration promises a finish line celebration unlike any other, combining the traditional appeal of one of the largest runs in the state, the Shamrock Run, with the popular Kells Irish Festival.

“This year, we really feel like we’ve got our feet on the ground, and we’re back with the community,” said Alex Jee, community manager for the Shamrock Run. “We are working more with the city, more with our partners, and we have a great new partnership with Kells.”

This year’s Irish Festival kicks off Friday, March 10, at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Continued festivities on Saturday, March 11, include Irish dancing, live music, bagpipes and, of course, Irish food and beverages. The Shamrock Run takes center stage on Sunday, March 12, also originating from Waterfront Park. Event weekend culminates with a finish-line festival at Waterfront Park, including a tented beer garden and an entertainment stage featuring performances from local musicians.

Among the many things that make the Shamrock Run special, its appeal to participants of all skill levels makes it attractive to many. The Shamrock Run has grown into a fun event where even the most casual of runners or walkers feel at home jumping in and participating. In short, everyone has their own personal goal and emerges as a winner. Even the little ones are able to get into the action, with the 1K Leprechaun Lap, an untimed fun run for kids 10 and under.   

“We want everyone to feel like they can be a runner,” Jee said.

Registration for the March 12 Shamrock Run is open now until the week before the race. Once online registration closes, those wanting to sign up for this year’s event can do so onsite.

“Folks can come down and spend the whole weekend downtown,” said Jee. “We really want to celebrate Portland coming back and being able to be at the waterfront, to really have this be an event to celebrate local Portland sports.”

The primary beneficiary of the Shamrock Run once again is Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation, which has been affiliated with the race for the past 25 years. Throughout its history, the Shamrock Run has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for the foundation.

For Jee, who enjoyed participating in the race and feeling a part of the racing community even before her involvement as the event’s community manager, this year has a special feel to it.

“We’re just feeling like we’re getting back to that real, authentic Shamrock Run.”

For More Information
Further details on this year’s Shamrock Run – including registration, event weekend activities, team information, hotel information, volunteer opportunities and relevant FAQs – is available at shamrockrunportland.com.