Photo: © J & A Racing / Shamrock Marathon▶Shamrock Marathon Weekend
Virginia Beach, United StatesChoose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Shamrock Marathon Weekend 2027 takes place on 19 March 2027 – 21 March 2027 in Virginia Beach, United States. Distances: 42.195 km, 21.098 km, 8 km. Start at 07:30 from 42nd Street & Atlantic Avenue.
- Date
- Friday, 19 March 2027 – Sunday, 21 March 2027
- Location
- Virginia Beach, United States
- Start
- 42nd Street & Atlantic Avenue
- Finish
- Oceanfront (King Neptune Statue)
- Distances
- Marathon · 42.195 km · Competitive
- Half marathon · 21.098 km · Competitive
- 8 km · Competitive
- Start times
- 07:30
- Registration
- Registration open · Register now ↗
- Organiser
- J & A Racing ↗
- Official website
- shamrockmarathon.com ↗
Last updated: 18 October 2026
The race
The Shamrock Marathon Weekend is a Virginia Beach tradition: the 2027 edition runs from 19 to 21 March. The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and the Sentara Shamrock Half Marathon start on Sunday 21 March at 7:30 at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue; on Saturday 20 March come the TowneBank Shamrock 8K (7:30), the Leprechaun Dash (10:30) and the Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile for children (11:00).
The course is flat and fast and finishes on the Oceanfront near the King Neptune statue. Right after the finish comes the big beach party under a football-field-sized tent, with two days of live music; your bib is your ticket for beer and food.
The 2027 marathon is a qualifier for the 2028 Boston Marathon. There are also the Dolphin and Whale challenges for runners doing several races. The event is organised by J&A Racing.
Videos
Course
Start and finish
The marathon and half start together at 7:30 at 42nd Street and Atlantic Avenue. The finish is on the Oceanfront, near the King Neptune statue.
A flat, fast course
The course runs along the Virginia Beach coast on flat roads. Along the route:
- Water stops about every 1.5 miles.
- GU gels at miles 5.5 and 19.
- Portable toilets at the start/finish and next to every water stop.
- Pace groups from the Running Etc. Pace Team.
Bag check
Dry bag trucks open at 6:30 on Atlantic Avenue (30th and 38th Street) and close at 7:15; bags are then collected on the Boardwalk.
Time limits
- Marathon: 7 hours 30 (17:09 per mile), i.e. 7 hours from the start of the last corral.
- Half: 4 hours (18:19 per mile).
Walkers are welcome in all races.
What's included
- Aid stations
- Bag drop
- Pacers
- Finisher medal
- Ristoro finale
Rules and requirements
2027 schedule
- Saturday 20 March: TowneBank Shamrock 8K at 7:30, Leprechaun Dash at 10:30, Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile at 11:00.
- Sunday 21 March: Yuengling Shamrock Marathon and Sentara Shamrock Half Marathon at 7:30.
Who can take part
- Marathon: at least 16 years old.
- Final Mile: for elementary school students.
- Registration stays open until races sell out.
Refunds, deferrals and transfers
- No refunds, no exceptions.
- You can defer to the following year, once and to the same race, for a fee, until the day before the race.
- Bib transfers follow the official procedure on the website; distance switches are also possible.
Post-race party
Your bib is your ticket for beer and food at the beach party; ID is required, at any age, to receive a wristband.
Awards
For races of 8K and longer, awards are mailed after the event; the Final Mile has no individual awards.
