Shamrock-ing Fun Weekend
My fun time at the 2025 Shamrock Marathon Weekend
The best moments in running aren’t always about crossing the finish line—they’re about the unexpected connections, the small acts of encouragement, and the way a simple cheer can change someone’s race. Shamrock Weekend has always been one of my favorite events, but this year, it wasn’t my own race that stuck with me the most. It was the joy of showing up for others, the power of community, and one small moment—a sweaty, mid-race hug—that reminded me just how much our presence can mean.
A couple of months back, as I started my return-to-run, I recognized very quickly that the 8k would be the smart race to run. I knew a half marathon was not going to be in the cards for me, so I went ahead and dropped my registration to only run the 8k.
When your race weekend begins with making a smart decision that you know won’t involve PR’s and frees you up for more cheering, you know things could be interesting. And truly reflecting on the weekend, I reflect less on my 8k effort and more on the insane amount of fun I had cheering on Sunday.
Saturday saw me surprise myself and run the 8k in 46:21. My plans going into the race were to be closer to the 52–55:00 mark and take walk/run intervals to not pressure my ankle too much. However, after crossing the two-mile mark and feeling really good, I decided I would push to run the final half of the race without stopping. Mentally, I told myself as long as there was no pain (well, no detrimental pain), I would aim to keep going. The nice even pace over the back half of the race and the not-so-bad weather kept me feeling good. While I began to feel fatigued in the final 200 meters, it was the kind of fatigue that you fight through to get to the finish line. I felt great, which was the number 1 goal of the weekend, and I knew that having fun was the theme of Saturday, then especially going into Sunday!
As I prepared for Sunday morning, I felt more nervous in a sense than I normally did for race day.
What kind of energy would I bring?
How interactive would our cheer zone be?
I hadn’t personally brought a ton to cheer with, and neither had RunSomeMo. We had had less than desirable experiences in the past trying to wrangle tents, tables, and all sorts of other things, so we kept it light and I told myself, we were bringing the energy.
And boy did we!!!!
We started at the start, sending the first few corrals out with big cheers and then moved to Run Club Alley to begin cheering, and as the runners came through, for 3 hours we were out cheering, yelling, high-fiving, and all sorts of motivational things as other clubs were blaring music and pumping up runners. From the first to the last we were there to support the runners, and I have to say I relished every minute. Even when I got overheated, had to run into the 7-11 for a hydration drink, and sat down for five minutes; we were still out there hyping.
Every runner there got the hype and especially as runners had been out there for a while and we got to the end of the field, you could tell how grateful they were for our presence. You never quite know what every runner is going through when they pass you as you’re cheering. You want to hype them up and let them know that no matter what is happening, they are doing awesome by simply being out there.
I know I am always the guy who lauds the fact that at a race like Shamrock (or any race) has as many stories as participants. However, cheering reminded me that it is not just the story of how they get to the start, but it then extends to how that story continues to develop until they get to the finish line.
Even as every runner passed I had hoped they were having a good race, though some faces told a different story. You hope that through it all the support you give can help get them through.
This thought really hit me when I was waiting for one of my RunSomeMo friends, Chris, to come past our cheer zone. For reference, our cheer zone was right past the 20k (about 12.5 miles) mark on the course. I knew he should have been coming by sooner than he did, and we were there waiting for him.
Chris and I always give each other hugs, and no matter how sweaty we are, we don’t leave run club every Tuesday without a big hug. Knowing that Chris was trying to go for a big PR, I didn’t think I would give him a hug during the race, but you better believe I was going to hype him like nobody’s business. However, as time passed, I was going to throw caution to the wind and give him a big-sweaty hug as a hype. A seemingly innocent move, that as I found in the aftermath, was probably the most motivational thing I could have done.
I truly believe that you often never know the extent of the actions you take until much later on, and this was one of those instances. I unfortunately had to leave before Chris finished, but he ended up having nowhere near the race he had wanted. When Chris crossed the finish line, his time was almost 6 hours, far from his PR, but quicker than the first marathon he ever ran—still an amazing accomplishment.
It was in the aftermath though that I found out how bad the race was for him, and how much my simple gesture of cheering meant to his race. In the finishing tent, I caught up with his girlfriend and she mentioned he wasn’t feeling well, and his back was hurt—much of this I could tell as well, looking at his timing. Then in the coming days, he and I would be chatting and I would find out how bad of shape he was in. He began feeling bad a mile 10 and started walking at that point too. He had considered dropping out of the race when he got to the cheer zone near mile 13— the halfway point for his marathon, which also is near where the finish actually is. However, he labeled the hug I gave him at the cheer zone as a point that kept him going. He said it didn’t turn around his race, but it gave him the push to know he could finish his marathon. He ended up also getting paced by his girlfriend for the last mile—to get him through that last mental hurdle and get to the finish.
Again, you never realize how much a simple cheer, hype, or even hug can help those around you. It was such a joy to cheer, to hear from folks how much cheering and being there meant for them. Hearing the impact it had on those who are close to me.
As I look back on Shamrock Weekend, I’m reminded that running isn’t just about the miles we log or the times we chase—it’s about the connections we make along the way. Whether it’s the rush of crossing a finish line, the unexpected strength found in a tough race, or the simple act of showing up for someone else, every moment adds to the bigger story.
This weekend, I set out to have fun, to celebrate movement, and to cheer on my friends. But what I walked away with was something even greater—a reminder that community is what carries us forward. A hug at mile 13, a high-five on the course, a few words of encouragement at just the right moment—these small gestures matter more than we realize. They remind us that we’re never running alone.
So, whether you’re racing, cheering, or just out for a run, don’t underestimate the power of showing up. You never know when your presence might be the reason someone keeps going.
And how! Everything you said and the energy you bring, and brought, that day and every single day is a beacon for so many! That race wouldn’t have been finished for me as it did without you and Lisa! I knew I couldn’t quit, and your faces, hug and actions lit a fire in me that I know meant I couldn’t stop…no matter what my body was telling me! I really can’t thank you enough!