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Run to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
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You won’t need the luck o’ the Irish to run successfully in one of Detroit’s fun races this St. Patrick’s Day. And what better way to kick off a party with pals than to sweat together before bellying up to the pub rail?
Today, we highlight two local races, with some Detroit Running Examiner inside information so you can make the most of your St. Pat’s Day celebrations. Both races are on Sunday, March 15. Pick your race and have a great time running – and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!
Shamrocks & Shenanigans, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Irish pub Conor O’Neill’s has teamed up with Running Fit for the past five years to bring local runners a great event to support a great cause.
The "Save A Heart" foundation at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital benefits from race proceeds, and provides much needed support to families who travel from all points on the globe to Mott for heart surgery for their young children. That’s as good a reason as any to paint your running shoes green and tear up the streets of Ann Arbor for a day!
The course is nice and slow, too, says race director Steve Angerman, co-owner of Running Fit. This appeals to those who aren’t serious runners, but could just possibly be serious St. Patrick’s Day partiers.
“It’s really what I would call a fun run as opposed to a competitive race,” says Angerman. It’s a tight course with many turns and a lot of laps in a downtown setting on a Sunday. Hard core runners looking for a serious performance are not going to get it because it’s not a fast course.”
And that’s exactly what makes this race so attractive. “It’s really more for people who are doing it because it’s one of the first races of the spring,” says Angerman. “For a lot of people, it might be their only race but they are Irish and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. And they celebrate with Guinness at Conor O’Neill’s and relax for the rest of the day.”
Angerman says he expects between 1,200 and 1,500 participants, so it will be a big party, regardless of the weather, which, according to Angerman, is always just perfect.
Not ready to run just yet? Squeamish about sweating in the chill March air? Volunteer instead! Angerman says it takes many, many volunteers to make a successful event.
Detroit Running Examiner inside tip: race volunteers have a special incentive to give their time to Shamrocks & Shenanigans: The Dash and Burn Soiree. This is a party, held in a secret location, usually in early June that only race volunteers are invited to attend. This is a chance for Running Fit to thank all those who gave their time to make some great running events happen. There will be food and drinks, plus the chance to win some GREAT swag left over from previous races. It’s win-win!
Grab all the event info, plus some more details about the Dash and Burn from the Shamrocks & Shenanigans website.
Corktown 2009
This is a Detroit tradition with a 27 year history. Beginning and ending at Old Central station in the Corktown neighborhood, this course loops Campus Martius and old Tiger Stadium (tip your hat and wave!) and follows the St. Patrick’s Day parade route.
Once again headed up by expert race director and seasoned runner Doug Kurtis (of Fifth Third Turkey Trot fame), the Corktown Race offers lots of running options: a kid’s quarter mile, an (almost) two mile walk, and a four mile run, so there’s something for everyone in the family!
In the past three years, interest and participation in this race has skyrocketed, according to Kurtis. “More and more people are wearing costumes, it’s become more festive, but thanks to the Fraternal Order of United Irishmen, people come for the beer, too!” Jovial United Irishmen will be on hand to distribute the finest brew from the Motor City Brewing Works, whose owner lives in Corktown.
A stellar course, a fantastic atmosphere, hometown brew served by Irish-rooted gentlemen -- could anything be finer?
The answer is yes. All the fun you have supports a great local charity called the St. Patrick Senior Center, a non-denominational, non-profit organization for Detroit elders, aged 60 and over. You can make an additional donation on your race entry form and bring along some canned food to donate, too.
Detroit Running Examiner insider tip: Kurtis has secured a limited number of free parking sites for those who arrive early and can make a donation to the St. Patrick Center. Race starts at 11:30, so early is a relative term!
Click over to the Corktown Race website for full race information, and remember to wear green!
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