I was one of the people who went to Myrtle Beach only to have the race canceled. AND it was my first marathon too. I chose Virginia Beach and signed up the minute I got home from Myrtle Beach. Then I trained another 5 weeks. I have to say... I was so impressed with everything and everyone associated with the marathon. First-rate job! I would request that future races start at 7 a.m. or even earlier, since marathoners are out there longer than the runners doing the half and it can get hot ( and it did).

I was delighted to do a 4:21 for my first marathon, missing qualifying for Boston by less than 6 minutes (although qualifying was not my goal). Thanks to the volunteers who all were enthusiastic, supportive and genuine. I normally don't have a smile on my face for 4-plus hours while running, but I sure did that day. The soldiers at Camp Pendleton were a real highlight and I just can't express enough how great my experience was. Thank you for an experience I will never forget. I plan on returning for sure!

This was my fourth marathon, but my first time doing the Shamrock. This was my wife Joanne's first marathon. Based on our training, I was slightly concerned because the course time limit had dropped to 6.5 hours from 7 hours the previous year. I emailed the race director in October and recieved a prompt reply that we would be fine if we finished by 7 hours. We did not need the extra half hour, but it was nice to know we had it. The organization for the race was fantastic, and the volunteers could not have been nicer. At each water stop people were encouraging us. My high-fives to our Marines might have been the highlight of my run. I thanked each one of them for their sacrifice. I actually liked the solitude of Fort Story. There was also an unofficial "beer stop" at mile 23! When Joanne and I saw Neptune, we knew we were home.

We received a great medal, a finisher's hat and a second shirt! Thank you all for a wonderful experience. For anyone considering running this race, I highly recommend a hotel near the start/finish. The rates were good and you could not beat the convenience. We left our room at 7:40 a.m. to start the race at 8. It doesn't get better than that! The only downer, and no fault of the race committee, was the temperature. I was hoping for 50's, but I got 70's. We went a little slower, but so what? Be sure we will return.

This is flat course, but marathoners get a pretty nasty headwind for the first few miles and the last few miles. It definitely impacted my pacing the first few miles, and then I did myself in by overcompensating and forgetting to wear sunblock, so by mid-race I was sunburned and delirious! Not the race's fault!

Organization was great. Very efficient and manageable expo (get there Friday night, if you can). You pay a lot for entry, but you get a lot too, if you're into that.

The half attracts a much bigger crowd and I also got the impression that the half was their premier event. The 7 a.m. start time for half marathoners didn't make sense to me because, in this weather, the marathoners should receive the benefit of the cooler weather for that first hour - they're out there twice as long! Marathoners trying to pull down a decent pace were catching up to half marathon walkers during the final miles.... It's totally feasible that this be reversed so the marathoners get the earlier start.

Crowd support was really good for a race this size.

DJ's on the course were awesome and looked like they were having a great time working the crowd and runners....

The course itself was average. You're not running along the water for that long, and although the finish is nice, there are lots of sun-baked miles between the start and finish.

All in all, it was fun, and I'd probably do it again if I were a local.

This is a terrific event, very well run, with lots of nice perks. Would have preferred to have an earlier start time for the marathon based on the warm temperatures, but that is a minor whine coming from a northerner used to running in 30 degree temps. The post-race party was great.

This was the 2nd year I did the Whale Challenge at Shamrock (8k on Saturday and Marathon on Sunday) and it was great. Like previous posts before, this is a race where you get a lot of bang for your buck. My ony grievance for this year was the poor corralling of the 8k race - I run a 39 minute 8k and was put all the way in the back of the pack, while walkers and children were in the front. What gives??? It took 2 minutes off my time just to dodge all those people.

Other than that, a great and friendly atmosphere and the off-season provides a good chance to get a cheap hotel right by the start.

I was very impressed with this event.

Expo - It was well-organized and appropriately decked out in green and shamrocks. There was a nice variety of vendors and friendly volunteers.

Course - There were plenty of nice hotels on the beach within walking distance of the start and finish. It is pancake flat (except one tiny overpass that you cross on the way out and back) with diverse scenery - stretches are on the boardwalk, tree-lined roads and military bases. Miles 16-23 were a little rough due to the unseasonably hot weather, blazing sun and no shade. However, the finish on the boardwalk made up for it.

Crowd support - Very good for the most part but absent in some stretches (which I like). Spectators really got into the Shamrock theme and dressed in creative costumes!

Swag - The best I have seen. Great long-sleeved technical race shirt, a nice-looking finishers hat, a long-sleeved cotton finishers shirt, and a very nice medal. The finishers tent was also pretty cool.

Although the weather was in the 70s in the latter part of the race and I didn't come close to PRing, I was very impressed with the Shamrock Marathon. I will be back next year!

Pros:

1) Decent expo with lots of easy free parking, packet pickup was easy, nice long sleeved technical t-shirt. Goodie bag was physically nice though contents a bit spartan (there was an electronic green goodie bag too).
2) Course was generally very flat, though actually less along the seafront than I imagined it was, a little more wouldn't hurt I feel if it could be squeezed in. There were also a few places where you could run on the side of the road on grass or gravel, I think my feet appreciated that!
3) Excellent water stations, seemed to be an endless supply of them with very enthusiastic and encouraging volunteers.
4) Crowds were good and very encouraging. Especially around the half way mark and the finish although there were long stretches through the woods and military bases where it felt more like a long run with friends.
5) Fantastic support from the High 5 Corridor by the soldiers at Camp Pendleton, they made so much noise that when I first heard it I thought it was half marathon finish I could hear!
6) Excellent finish line organization, no shortage of food or drinks (and I finished in 5.35) and a bonus finishers cap and cotton finishers t-shirt to boot and really nice medal.
7) Very impressed with the Team in Training crew, whilst at the beginning they were very much supporting their own people by the time I was getting to the end their support was universal, especially during the quiet miles circa 16-21 or so. I actually watched them come in at just under 7 hours with one of their runners, certainly no one got left behind.

Cons

1) Probably another gel stop wouldn't hurt, just had the two.
2) Weather was perfect, unseasonably warm in fact, I found it rather toasty, but perhaps better than wet and wild! Not the organizers fault of course& but do wonder if starting the marathon a little earlier wouldn't hurt.
3) Errr&

Overall excellent and would recommend to anyone to run at least once.

I'll start by saying that this is a fantastic marathon. For a first timer, for a veteran, for anybody. The course is kind to the runner...if it's not sunny, windy, 65-70 degrees outside and doesn't start at 8 am. The weather forecast for the race predicted warm weather, possibly in the 70's. Knowing that, it's beyond me that the race directors did not alter the start time for the marathon (8 am) even though the start time for the HALF marathon was 7 AM. I understand the traffic problems that could be created with coinciding start times. My suggestion would be to create two lanes. I realize runner traffic would then become an issue but would you rather have a traffic problem or a heat problem because of a late start time? Seems like a no brainer: start the race earlier and avoid an over-crowded med tent at the end and a bunch of 'DNF's' in the results' page the next morning. By mile 21, the heat hit me and my quest for a sub 3 hour marathon went out the window. It was a disappointing finish to a nice race with nice volunteers (except for the 2 who were SMOKING in the information booth at 7:30 am. That'll really pump you up before a race), a nice course and a great post race party. So the bottom line is: would I do this race again? Sure. If it started earlier.

The organizers of this marathon demonstrated their experience, knowledge and concern for the runner with every detail. 1. Flat scenic course. 2. great long sleeve technical shirt + a hat, finisher's shirt and medal 3. good expo with entertainment 4. great support on the course ( 2 gu stations, lots of water stops, lots of porta potties,joke posters, disc jockies blasting music 5. convenient and well run start and finish easy walking distance to lots of hotels 6. Lots of fantastic, enthusiastic, kind and patient volunteers 7.this weekend is all about family running events and the organizers go out of their way to make it easy and fun

This is the 6th time I have run the full marathon here in Virginia Beach (and probably 40 overall), so I hope my comments carry a little more weight here.

The race is owned by two runners and athletes, so they know what runners want. This is an extremely well organized race. Packet pick up is easy and quick. The expo is fine, lets be real, if you have been to one, you have been to them all!

Race day parking is an issue for the FULL marathoners, as each year, the half (which starts an hour earlier at 7 am) gets bigger. 8,500 half marathoners plus their support people/spectators means that if you are looking for parking for the full, you are going to be parking about a mile or more away. Personally I don't mind as it helps to walk AFTER the race!

The races start on time and you will get a flat, well marked course. Expect clocks every few miles, with them being more consistent towards the end. At the water stops/aid stations (Gel), expect them to be fully stocked and fully staffed. I have NEVER seen them run out of water or not have cups always ready!

The weather, of course, is the wildcard. I have run it in 35 degrees and 30 mph headwinds. I have run it in 70 degrees with no wind. It's the weather in March in the Mid-Atlantic. You just never know...I always say, just show up and run!

Do not expect a lot of spectators, as the race is run near the Oceanfront and passes thru a lot of non-residential areas. You won't see much on the Oceanfront for the start or on the military bases you run thru.

Post race & 'schwag' is fantastic...You get a nice long sleeve Brooks tech shirt (design this year was hideous, I thought), a reusable cloth bag and at the finish you get a huge medal, a finishers hat and shirt (long sleeve cotton, which I love). The post race party is great...The stew is nice, and free beer (although I don't drink). If its warm outside, people just hang out on the beach after the race for hours.