Shamrock Sportsfest Marathon - Race Reviews

This was my 10th marathon (9th state), and wow I was not expecting the race weekend to be THAT much fun! The expo was large-ish and had everything you need. So many hotel options near the start and finish, not to mention restaurants and things to do. The race was excellent - flat, good crowd support, numerous stations and porta potties. But really the afterparty steals the show! Being able to rest on the beach while you drink 4 (!!!) beers - yes please! Definitely take Monday off so you can enjoy!

Nice flat course. Wind can be a challenge. Hands down has the best post race party! I wish I had taken Monday off,

The organization was fantastic. Every two minutes a wave of about 100-200 runners started sorted by running pace. Aid stations every mile and a half. The course hid us from the wind for the first 6 miles and then we got a tailwind for about 13 miles. We had a strong headwind on the way back to the finish. This course is laid out for PRs, even with the wind. If you run it in a year without wind, lookout you will have a blazing fast time. Crowd support was generally good, but there were empty spots on the course. The best support came from what looked like new national guard recruits on their base. They were so enthusiastic. The after party was the best I have been to. The band was fun and everyone got 4 free beers, so the place was full of energy. Only downside was the headwind for the last 6 miles.

I was signed up in 2020 and they cancelled this the week before due to COVID, so I was very anxious to get this one in. There was a really big 8K that day before, and most of the expo seems dedicated to this, so the merch was nothing special. Race day weather was perfect, low 60s with a light wind. There were 1800 marathon runners with about 4000+ halfs. The corrals/start times are the same for both groups, with a very large contingent of first time runners. I was a little banged up so I started back with the 4:50 pace group, and I was dodging groups of walkers for 4 miles (I ended up running a 4:28 so I was back too far), and it was clear based on the lines at the portopotties during the race as well as the number of people I saw pull up with injuries that there were a lot of inexperienced runners, but we have all been thru this and I think its great to see 1st timers try both of these distances. The course was completely flat except for one bridge and for the most part interesting. Very well supported and staffed with respect to water and gatorade stops, and a nice crowd for the last mile. Restaurants and the hotel locations were ideal. Would definitely recommend this for a first timer

J&A Racing does a great job putting on the weekend's events/races. Logistically, this marathon is a breeze, especially if you stay within several blocks of the start. There are plenty of hotels to choose from on Atlantic Ave. You can be in and out of the expo (at the Convention Center, which is close to the beachfront hotels) in 10 minutes if you don't want to linger and browse after picking up your bib, but there are enough vendors to get last-minute supplies/gear if you forgot something. As for the course, it's basically flat (except for the bridge around mile 16 and then again around mile 23), but I wouldn't describe it as easy because I've done it 3 times and every year the wind has been a major factor. I've run better times on much hillier courses (including sub-3). My best run here (low 3) came a few years ago when I settled in with a group of 15-20 and we took turns shielding each other on a very windy day. This year I didn't locate the pace group I wanted at the start line (my fault), so I ended up running solo for much of the day. The course turned back into the wind at the 18.4 mile checkpoint (out of the N/NE at what felt like 8-15 mph), which made for a long slog on the homeward stretch. Running along the beachfront on the boardwalk is visually pleasant and relaxing, but the surface is concrete, which beats up the legs (for about 4-5 total miles of the back half) and you're obviously completely exposed to the wind. (I also regretted not choosing shoes with a 'traditional' stack height for this course.) So, in short, if it's windy I highly recommend finding a pace group and sharing pulls, even if the pace group is 5 minutes slower than you want, unless you're at or near your top fitness and prepared to push the final miles in a solo effort. The water and gel stops were sufficient and most of the volunteers were extremely encouraging and helpful. All in all, great event. J&A knows what they're doing. You can run a good time here, just remember to tuck in on a windy day.

I am not usually a fan of larger races, but this marathon won my heart. The organization and volunteers made participation simple and easy. Days b4 the race J A Racing told us what to expect and made it happen. Great swag and a good sized expo. The course is close to perfectly flat with lovely scenery. Stretches through the woods with lots of shade; plenty of beach views; the boardwalk; and a fun stretch through the resort shops and restaurants. Since it's not an urban race, there aren't tons of people cheering you on. So, if you need to hear a lot of people telling you that you're doing great and looking good, this may not be the race for you. That being said, the support from our soldiers moved me and there were a lot of people lining the roads in the last few miles.

Came from out of town to run this and was highly impressed. Weather was great, course, volunteers, organization is top notch. VA Beach folks are very welcoming for this event. Highly recommend running this race. Had to downgrade myself from full to half last minute but really wish I was in the full. After party was best I've ever been. Great time!!

The weather was miserable. A massive headwind when running north (about 13 miles starting at mile 6) with the rain stinging your face. I wear glasses and wear a hat in the rain, but I couldn't keep the hat on my head and lost it at about mile 8. On a clear day, the course would have been great. This is the most flat marathon I've ever run, and I'd imagine most years would be a wind from the side The half marathoners started on the back half before we started on the full, so we didn't have that depressing moment when the half people all peel off. Expo had Olympian Shalane Flanagan, I like the shirt and finishers medal, and great music at the after party.

First of all let me start by saying that this race had added meaning to me. I was supposed to run it 7 years ago (it was to be my first marathon) and had signed up and was training when a malignant tumor was found on my spine. I emailed the marathon coordinators about my situation and that I just did not want my name in the 'Did Not Finish' list. They went above that and refunded my money. I had surgery to remove part of my spine so was out of running for awhile. I always said I would come back one day and run this marathon. It has taken 7 years as we live 10 hours away, but I finally ran and finished this marathon (my 4th marathon). The weather was miserable, but that cannot be controlled. I loved the course and despite the cold, wind, sleet, and rain was only a minute or so off my PR and still BQ'ed again. I thought spectators were decent considering conditions and felt everything ran smoothly. I wish I could've run it on a beautiful day to really enjoy it. I can't say much for after party because I was so cold and shivering that I had to find heat, coffee, and a change of clothes as fast as possible. It looked fun! Everyone in the VA Beach area was very friendly and helpful. My husband was able to take my kids to the Aquarium during the race and then see me finish. So happy to have come back for this one! Hope to do it again one day!

Very well organized with plenty of volunteers and super loyal fans along the route. Course seemed about .2 longer than my GPS but that's not unusual given the number of zig zags and turns (FYI, cut that nonsense out, there's plenty of real estate to squeeze in 26 miles without that many turns). Weather was a real challenge with 15-20 knot headwinds for the middle 10 mile portion of the course. It was cold too, upper 30's low 40's with sleet/rain. A real test of character. I would love to do this race again on a 60F overcast day with no wind but then again, who wouldn't. Huge thanks to the many volunteers and organizers who braved the cold and rain to cheer us crazy folks on.

We ran the marathon on a blustery and wet morning. The expo was very organized and large. We ran the 8K the day before and it was a beautiful morning. I enjoyed the loop around Camp Pendleton and especially around Fort Story, but the out and back on Atlantic was a bit daunting. The finish line festival was so fun - FOUR BEERS per person, and it was good beer too. The Irish stew was delicious and perfect for the conditions, and the band was quite good. It was nice that the tent was so large considering that it wasn't warm enough to stand outside. The medals were neat, and the medal for completing both races was especially enviable. We stayed at the Holiday Inn which was within walking distance of the start and REALLY close to the start of the half. I don't have any complaints except for the weather, and you can't control that. Getting to Virginia Beach is a little costly, but that would be the only downside.

This was a well organized event. I ran the marathon. The course was an out and back for the first half and then a looping out and back in the second half. The finish on the boardwalk was nice and the after party in the tent was a lot of fun. They gave you a banana, bag, towel, honey and oat bar, water, and running cap at the end. The only negative comment I have about the race is that they didn't distribute mylar heat blankets at the end. I saw a lot of people wearing the towels they distributed. This is the first marathon out of the thirteen that I've run that didn't have the heat sheets at the end. The temps, wind, and rain were tough enough during the race and not having the heat sheet made it extremely cold at the end. The second half of the marathon follows the half marathon course. There was also no rhyme or reason to the way gatorade and water were handed out at the stations. Sometimes, gatorade was first and water second. Other times, it alternated. The expo was very good, I enjoyed the added pot of gold and other Shamrock things around the pavilion. I also liked the Irish jokes along the course around mile sixteen/seventeen. The wind was really brutal from miles 10 through sixteen and again from mile 18 through 20. The race organizers can't control the weather. The weather most likely kept the spectators away. It seemed that only the families of people running the races were there to cheer people on. The run through Camp Pendleton was depressing, it would have been better if there were some spectators around. Other than that, this is a well organized race and I would recommend it.

This was a well organized marathon. Good course, flat, though a little windy, fantastic volunteers, great party afterwards. And the 5:00 hr pace group guy Chris did a wonderful job. I would recommend this marathon!

4th year attending, 3rd year running. My first race and the only one I continually run each year. Great shirts, finisher items (although the beach towel is a little cheap feeling and they gave a towel last year. the blankets and sweatshirts from the years before were awesome). The post race parties (we did the 8k the day before) have plenty of beer and is a great party atmosphere. Packet pick up was organized. I recommend this for first timers. This race will always be a better experience for the half marathon runners, but the nice flat course makes it a great marathon choice, too.

The course is flat and fast. The temperature was perfect and for a small race, there were fans pretty much the whole way. The expo was really well run and easy to get to. There was plenty of parking on race day. The towel at the finish was a nice change from the mylar sheets. I look forward to 2016.

Very well organized and is usually well represented by the regional running community. The course isn't spectacularly beautiful, but it's nice to run a bit along the beach boardwalk and through a few of the local military bases. Not a bad crowd for a small city, and they are so supportive! The course is Very well organized and is usually well represented by the regional running community. The course isn't spectacularly beautiful, but it's nice to run a bit along the beach boardwalk and through a few of the local military bases. Not a bad crowd for a small city, and they are so supportive! The course is jam packed with volunteer stations, cheer stations, DJ's, and bands. It's impressive. The beer tent and after party also get great reviews although I didn't really participate in that. I've run 8 marathons, including 2 shamrocks, and I have to say it's a first class event. The race organization is totally on par with the Marine Corp Marathon in my opinion. It's a great spring marathon, and the regional marathon community really turns out for this race. The weekend is a true running celebration in which the whole town is overrun with runners. It's just awesome. I totally recommend this marathon. jam packed with volunteer stations, cheer stations, DJ's, and Bands. It's impressive. The beer tent and after party also gets great reviews although I didn't really participate in that. I've run 8 marathons, including 2 shamrocks, and I have to say it's a first class event. The race organization is totally on par with the Marine Corp Marathon in my opinion. It's a great spring marathon, and the regional marathon community really turns out for this race. The weekend is a true running celebration in which the whole town is overrun with runners. It's just awesome. I totally recommend this marathon.

Perfect for me. Scenic, minimal spectators (I'm slower), big enough to feel the energy, great post-race (band, stew, beer), great volunteers and aid stations (thank you volunteers  it got so cold and windy as the day went on!), very well organized, great website. I stayed at the Royal Clipper  4 blocks from start/finish; $85; no 2-night minimum; late checkout. Expo closes at 5 p.m. night before (very hard for people flying in) but will deliver your packet to beach hotel for $30.

Marathon number 30 for me. Very well run marathon and worth running. The weather: Non-issue with me, because we all have to deal with it, so there is sense in commenting on it. It's a: ' you get what you get, and plan on race morning' The Expo. : Very spacious and everything you could ask for. Accommodations: Very nice. We stayed at the Cutty Sark Motel. A little historic kind of place with stove, fridge, microwave, dishes, the works. All surrounded by high rise mega hotels, AND You still had a view of the ocean. Little did I know, that every race that weekend went right by the place. All my wife had to do is go out onto the balcony and watch. Also the place was about .4 miles from the start and finish which was nice. Great room rates too. Organization: Top notch !!! Never had to ask any questions, very easy everything ! Easy packet pick-up, course well secured, tons of port-o-lets, the best part ? The volunteers !!! awesome job guys ! EMS everywhere on bike, and stations located on the course. Course: Not too bad ? I'm really not an out and back fan, but the long run out around the base near the bay, is a lot better than just running around a cone. It was nice to see the leaders flash on by. It reminds me of how fast I am.. in my dreams ! As for elevation change ? Everyone joked about the hill& it's a waterway canal bridge crossing. This is one flat course !!!! OH did I mention the volunteers ? Everything super stocked, very friendly, and I was a 4:55 finisher, and they were all out there cheering us on ! Finish and post party: Only thing I can say is: OUTSTANDING ! Talk about huge party with an even bigger tent ? WOW !!! If you're looking for a flat fast course, while having a good time for the weekend ? This is a great marathon to do. I recommend it to anyone. One last note: We all know it can happen, and sadly this time it happened at the Shamrock. We lost a running family member. Rest in peace sweet angel. Our thoughts are with you always. Show us the good running trails up there, when we all meet again !

I thought the race had a lot of energy!!! The spectators were fabulous! The course was rather crowded at times and it was annoying when you were getting bumped but other than that-I loved it!!! I am already thinking about doing it again next year! Virginia Beach had an upbeat atmosphere and the weather just made it more pleasurable.

Good marathon with a nice view of the ocean during parts of the race. Windy in 2014 but wind is to be expected in March and on the Atlantic coast. Flat course with good aid stations and great volunteers. Nice 'bottle opener' medal. Put this one on your to-do list.

I just ran this Shamrock Marathon yesterday and it was a great experience! The course is mainly flat with the exception of the out and back going on the bridge/ramp during the first half of the course. Great to see plenty of DJ's and spectators along the way in Virginia Beach, especially along Atlantic Ave., the boardwalk, and en route/inside Camp Pendleton. The Shore Drive portion of the race was quiet, but nice and wide open. Hardest part by far was the 3-mile stretch inside Joint Expeditionary Base East. The wind really started whipping there and not as much support (which would have been nice considering that's miles 19-22). All that said, it's a great flat course, a fun and run and definitely one where you can PR. Post-run party was great! The Irish Stew hit the spot for post-run fuel and always refreshing to get a post-run beer in your system! Plenty of hotels in the area close to the start and expo and all are reasonably priced too. I'd definitely consider coming back to Va. Beach again for Shamrock!

Overall: This is a well organized race, with a great expo, great bling, flat course and decent crowd support. Course: Flat, ocean front for about 5m. Crowd support was in spurts, but when they were there - they were loud! VA Beach is a windy place, but they did a good job of altering the direction of the course so there is not any extended periods with a head wind. Plenty of tail wind also! Race Org: Great expo. Plenty of water stops and more food/gu handouts than I am used to. Great bling ... race medal is very nice as is the long-sleeve tech shirt, plus I got a hat & bath towel. At the finish, Yuengling and plenty of food. Race start was 8:30am, which I felt was nice. Constructive feedback: Parking is an issue in VA Beach ... not enough of it and expensive. I arrived 1.5 hours before the start and had to park 1m away (and pay $20). Implementing a shuttle system would help.

Can't say much more than what's already been said. Course was nice, spectators were a little lacking but those that were there were pretty enthusiastic. Plenty of AFFORDABLE hotels within WALKING distance of start/finish. Tremendous organization...great expo/swag. One of the best post race parties!

Great swag (4 free beers, Irish stew, party tent, real blanket), nice race course, great spectators (beer at various locations), scenic route (lighthouses, First Landing), large medal, and post-race party tent on the beach. This is a mostly flat course and very runner friendly. The weather is always an unknown, and although the wind was not friendly, it was only a factor for a portion of the race.

This is only my 2nd Marathon, and therefore I really cannot give a sound opinion on technicalities. However, I must say that it was not difficult to keep a very regular pace, with an average of 5 seconds difference per mile, which I imagine reflects a very flat course. I really enjoyed my 3h46'15' journey.

Excellent organization and great swag. I had no idea that VA would be so cold with wind chill right above freezing. The wind off the beach made an otherwise flat course challenging. On a sunny day the course would be very enjoyable with ocean views. There are plenty of hotels within walking distance too and we walked two miles to the expo. As stated, the finishers blanket was very welcome and that, the shirt and hat are all good quality. The city of VA Beach basically shuts down in the morning on Saturday for the shorter races and most of Sunday for the longer ones do plan accordingly as you won't be able to move your car from most hotels on the beachfront. Shamrock on!

We have run so many beach city marathons in the last few years, I expected this one to be same old stuff, but this one was different. Other than the cool, cloudy weather (good for fast times anyway!), I have nothing negative to say. First, the course was flat (pedestrian bridges in Florida are bigger!); the spectators were more plentiful than most of the marathons I've run; the swag was plentiful (shirt, blanket, medal, calendar, food, beer, bands...); and the post-race party was a blast. We stayed on our feet a couple more hours after the race to enjoy the band and beer. Even though my wife and I both have Virginia now, I will be back. This was a great way to spend St Paddy's Day!

This was a great event and well worth travel to attend. Other race organizers should take notes (I'm talking to you NIke and Rock-n-Roll)! The event is well organized from the start to finish with plenty of well-stocked water stops, gels, and a nice flat course. It also has the best after-party I have ever attended  4 real cups of Yuengling beer, a great band, and terrific beef soup! I had a blast. You also get a finishers hat and this year we got super-useful and cool fleece blankets. Be aware that it can be chilly and the wind is harsh at times, but that is the nature of the location. Fabulous event, fabulous time, would do it again!

I really wished more Canadian race directors came to this marathon. It was great! Here are my comments: 1. The party on the beach afterwards was amazing!! Great food (plenty for late finishers), free beer, great bands and the party atmosphere was a great way to finish the race. 2. The shirt. Long sleeves, good colour pattern. Well done. 3. Race kit pickup - I wish Cdn. architects designed convention centres like the ones in VA. A work of art. 4. The course - I liked running by the Ocean. The strong winds were a problem but I prefer it to the Atlantic City Marathon. Dislikes: More porta potties. Some mile markers had only 1! Also, more toilet paper in them as well. Overall well worth the 13 hour drive from Ottawa (one way!). Sanjay

I recommend this race for a spring marathon on the East Coast. Weather is an uncontrollable factor, and the weather was less than perfect in 2013. J&A Racing puts on a first class event, and you will not be disappointed by chosing this race. Positives: - Flat course - Well stocked drink/aid stations - Family friendly - Finish on boardwalk - Finish festival inside tent on beach (live band and beer available) - Overall value (long sleeve athletic shirt, nice running hat, finishing medal and finishing throw blanket) Negatives: - Carb boom energy gel (personally not a fan of the flavors I recommend carrying your own) - Road conditions on Atlantic Avenue (numerous spots where roads have: potholes and patches) - Little to no fanfare from 16 - 22 miles - Irish Stew at the finish festival(stomach desires something else) - Expo lacked the feel of a top notch event (seemed a little small and did not have a bunch of vendors or other race booths)

The Shamrock Marathon lived up to its reputation as a very well run race. All the information that you needed was available on the website, with additional tidbits, like the shirt design, band lineup or medal preview being posted on Facebook, not to mention receiving your bib number by text and email to facilitate packet pick up. Packet pickup was efficient as was the shirt pickup. They had a table set up to exchange shirt sizes, which I appreciated. The popular race-specific items that my wife and I wanted were sold out when we got there about 1:00 on Saturday, so if you can, get there early to shop if that's important to you. I did notice the long line to purchase race items that I've heard about from past races, but it could be that the line moved very quickly. I didn't have to wait in it so I don't know. The expo vendors themselves had the normal fare. If you needed something last minute, you would be able to procure it easily. The course itself was as advertised, flat and fast. The bridge at mile 3 and 10 was not a challenge that early in the course. There is a noticeable small incline from about mile 16 to mile 20. Again, it's not a hill; I don't want to mislead anyone, but there is a slight incline for at least a 3 to 4 mile stretch. It shows up on the race elevation chart on the race website. However, this is definitely the flattest of the three marathons I've run so far. Even much flatter than Houston. As to the course aesthetics, I'm not one that needs cheering throngs, bands or great scenery, but I understand that those things are important to many and don't begrudge them for it. If that is you, this would not likely have been a great year for you on the course. The weather was not conducive to crowds, and, not surprisingly, there were very few spectators. A portion of those that were on the course were enthusiastic, and that was appreciated, but the majority seemed like they were there to cheer on their particular friend or family member only. I will say that the spectators were more numerous and more enthusiastic in the last mile or so, which is certainly where you need them the most. The situation with the bands was strange, but it could have just been me. I don't know if their volume was required to be kept at a certain lower level, but most every time I didn't even know we were approaching a band until we were right next to them and their music kicked in, and as we passed on, it just as quickly faded out of hearing. This kind of defeated the 'pump you up' aspect of on-course music, but, again, I certainly appreciated that they were out there doing their part to help us on our way. I've heard many refer to the course itself as boring, especially the portion from mile 16 to about mile 23. I enjoyed this portion. From mile 16 to mile 19 you are running on a tree-lined road with the trees limbs extending over the road, creating a sort of tunnel feeling. I found this peaceful. Mile 19 to about 23 is through Fort Story. While not overly scenic, I find running through a military installation kind of cool, and there was at least one stretch where you could get a glimpse of the Atlantic ocean. Frankly, at this point, I wasn't taking in much visually anyway. As to course setup/management, all went well. The race started about 5 minutes late, but that doesn't bother me; I'd rather start a few minutes late knowing that things like timing, course closures, and the like are all worked out than just have the organizer send us on or way. My only complaint was that the mile 24 marker was missing when our pace group went past that point. When you are ticking off the last miles like I am, not mentally being able to check off passing that marker, even though you know you must have reached mile 24, was somewhat mentally challenging. I'm confident that the marker was not there as no one in the pack of about 12 runners that we were in saw a marker. Speaking of pacers, our pacers were great. The first mile was about 20 seconds slow, and they very slowly brought us back on pace. We hit the half marathon mark exactly on pace. They were communicative and encouraging. They brought the group in to the finish on pace and several of us moved ahead in the last mile or so to finish ahead of pace. I earned a BQ with 65 seconds to spare.(Hopefully that proves to be fast enough.) I would not have made it without the pacers. I made a point to thank the pacer that I could find in the finish chute. At the finish, the special item of a finisher's blanket was much appreciated. It was very effective in warding off the cold and bringing my body temperature back up. The finshers' tent was quite impressive. Lot's of energy and people enjoying the music and the food and beer. Overall, a great race. I set a 9 minute PR and got a BQ-worthy time.

This is just great party race. Everything is done well. The course is a little boring at times but overall it is a good run. The big thing for me is the SWAG - other marathons take note! Finishers get: medal finisher cap finisher hoodie 4 free beers unlimited beef stew really good bands at the finish That is really good swag! But the best thing is the party atmosphere going on Also kudos to the race for not running out of stuff - i was taking the race slow as to not mess up Boston but when I crossed near 6 there was still plenty of people, food and beer! Highly recommended!

Pros: - Flat course except for the one bridge that you cross twice, which is a nothing, maybe a 40 incline. - Half marathoners started earlier so they were off the course. - Several stretches with views of the ocean. - Run through the center of town for the halfway stretch, very festive. - I thought the stretch from 16-19 was a nice change of pace, going from a shore resort town to a serene 3 mile run through the woods. - DJ and small crowd support in the middle of nowhere at 19 was nice. - 20  22 was getting rough and lonely but back to the crowds just in time at 23 when I was hurting. - Finish on the boardwalk was fantastic. - Super crowds, very supportive people over most of the course and a few crazies with funny signs. People on the balconies of hotels cheering, locals offering beer around mile 24 (I passed). Soldiers in Camp Pendleton were awesome, high fives for everyone. I hope people realize how much their cheering and support means, its huge. - Well organized, started on time; orderly and non-packed corrals; - plenty of gatorade/water stops and 2 gel stations; no overcrowding anywhere on the course. - Nice and easily accessible expo. Got my race packet in 2 mns. - Nice long sleeve race tee, cap, hoodie and medal. 4 Beers and Irish Stew on the beach at the finish. - Hotels are off season and very reasonable. - Great town. Cons: - None Areas to Improve: - The checkout line at the expo for merchandise was ridiculously long, like an hour wait, which I wasnt doing. A couple of additional registers should fix that. - Itd be nice to start a little earlier, the sun was beginning to beat down on us around 11:00. - Yuengling Light would have been better after 26 miles but I just added water and made mine a light. This is a great spring marathon. The only thing that could have messed it up would have been strong ocean wind, which we didnt have. Highly recommended.

I recommend this race for a spring marathon on the East Coast. Virginia Beach would serve as a nice destination race. Positives: - Flat course - Fair weather - Drink stations - Family friendly - Finish on boardwalk - Finish festival inside tent on beach - Overall value (long sleeve athletic shirt, running hat, finishing medal and finishing hooded sweatshirt) Negatives: - Carb boom energy gel (terrible flavors and taste) - Road conditions (numerous spots where roads are in less than desirable conditions: potholes, patches, construction) - Little to no fanfare from 16 - 22 miles - Need more food than Irish Stew at the finish festival tent (does not sit too well in stomach after running 3 hours) - Expo lacked the feel of a top notch event (seemed a little small and did not have a bunch of vendors or other race booths)

I had alot of concerns approaching this event based upon previous reviews. For example others have previously described taking up to 2 hours for package pickup. The biggest issue was probably getting in and out of the parking lot but overall not a horrible experience. I drove 14 hours to get to Va Beach so I did not want to spend much time browsing but there appeared to be many vendors (the usual suspects). I would have stuck around if there were a guest speaker or two. With an event of this proportion perhaps it is time. Cost of marathon $$$ certainly on the high side but you get alot of swag including long sleeve dry fit shirt, finisher's cap, hooded sweat shirt (same for full and half marathoners), and a draw string bag. Yes and also the medal. Post race food - a bit dismal (green bananas, water, gatorade, cereal bar, sugar cookie, and a bowl of Irish stew). Race course was fairly flat in the first half (only hills were out and back across a bridge) but in second half along the boardwalk wind was stiff at times. There are more gradual rollers in second half. Timing: The half marathon starts an hour and half earlier that the full marathon (8:30 am). This leads to potentially warmer temperatures even for 3:30 finishers. Parking - if you are not from around Virginia Beach finding a parking spot might be a challenge on race morning. I stayed at the Hampton Inn (Norfolk) and there was a complimentaty shuttle to and from the race. This actually was the best part of the entire race experience. Whosoever was responsible for this kudos to them (I suspect it was the Hampton Inn/Holiday Inn folks). The best part of the weekend though was just getting out to the beach. If you are trying to complete 50 states or just looking for a destination marathon this one is worth doing.

I did the half-marathon last year and loved the experience so much I decided to do the full. Lots of reasons why I loved this marathon: 1. Flat and fast marathon. I shaved off my time by 15 minutes and PRed! Course wasn't that scenic, but was a good course nonetheless. 2. The swag bag: you get a long sleeved tech-tee; hat; drawstring bag; medal and sweat shirt (the these are given after you finish). Bang for your buck! 3. Spectators were good for the most part. Some parts were sparse (like Fort Story and Shore Drive), but I can understand that it might be tough to get there. 4. Water stations were good and plentiful! 5. Finishing by the beach and seeing King Neptune: awesome! The only downside was the start time: 8:30pm for the marathoners (half went an hour before) and how hot it was towards the end (this isn't something anyone can control). I wasn't prepared for the heat in March. Would completely do this race again!

This year's Shamrock was fantastic! This was my 9th marathon and second Shamrock. The expo had a lot of vendors and it was super easy to pick up my number and shirt, no waiting at all. There was a very long line to buy extra Shamrock gear.. The race started exactly on time. There was good support with Gatorade, water and gels out on the course. I enjoyed running a relatively smaller marathon since my last two were LA and Boston. There were enough fans to encourage the runners and the support on the military bases was great. The weather was perfect with the only negative was a bit of a head wind during the boardwalk section. The wind was at our backs during the last 5 miles so I am not complaining. Last, the swag was incredible. They gave a long sleeve technical shirt, a bag, hooded sweatshirt and a hat!