St. Patrick's Day 5K Races Archives

St. Patrick’s Day 5K Races Greater Boston 2023

Looking for a St. Patrick’s Day 5K race in the GBA? This updated listing for 2023 has you covered.

Here are the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day 5K races in the Greater Boston area.

St. Patrick’s Day 5K races, like most holiday themed races, take place around the actual holiday.

St. Patrick’s Day falls on Friday March 17th, 2023

This gives you the opportunity to run a St. Patrick’s Day themed race two weekends in a row or twice in a weekend if you want!

To register for a race click the race title or the registration information link.

To order a finisher’s medal for your runner, click HERE.

Shamrock Shuffle 5K

11 March | 9:00 AM | Saturday | Medway – see you in 2024!

Medway Shamrock Shuffle, St Patrick's 5K

Sponsored by the Medway Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, the race raises funds for Medway’s elementary schools.

Supporting creative arts programs, cultural arts programming, teacher appreciation events, and other activities that benefit Medway schools and enhance the children’s education.

The 5K course winds through the scenic back roads of Medway and is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities, including children and families.

Registration was: Adults $30, 17 and under is $20. T-shirts were available through February 1st.

Now in it’s 12th year, this race has cash awards for the top three male and female finishers. Age group medals for first through third place runners will be awarded. This race does not have a finisher’s medal for all runners.

Mick Morgan’s St. Patrick’s 5K

11 March | Noon | Saturday | Sharon – see you in 2024

Registration was: $30, $35 day of race. The first 300 to register receive a long-sleeve tech t-shirt. This race often draws up to 800 runners, so sign up before they hit capacity.

Event location: Mick Morgan\’s Irish Pub, 973 Providence Highway (Route 1), Sharon, Massachusetts 02067

Proceeds support HESSCO programs and services of providing support and services to seniors, individuals living with a disability and their caregivers in South Norfolk County.

HESSCO packages and delivers an average of 130,000 home delivered meals each year and serves an additional 30,000 meals annually in dining room settings. Our drivers not only deliver a hot, nutritious meal, but they provide a wellness check and a friendly visit. For many, this is the difference needed to maintain their dignity and independence at home.

It appears that this race does not provide a finishers medal to all runners. If you are bringing someone to their First 5K, make sure to order a My First 5K medal for them!

St. Patty’s Day 5K/10K & Pub Crawl

11 March | 10:00 AM | Saturday | Portsmouth, NH – see you in 2024

This race is entirely within the Pease Development Authority, on straight paved roads. These races used to be held in Salisbury Beach State Park.

The 5K is a single loop and the 10K is two loops plus a bit.

5k & 10k participants (21+ only) may redeem their Sam Adams beer ticket at Paddy’s American Grille or at Cisco Brewers, Portsmouth.

FREE photos and finish line video will be available at no additional cost! There is also a gear check for these races!

Age group awards start at 19 & under for both the 5K and 10K.

Registration was:

5K – $35 through race day of if available. Ages 12-20 $30 and under 11 is $10. Add $5 for race day registration.
10K – $40 through race day of if available for all age groups.

Age group and top three male and female runners will receive awards.

2023 Event Results

Guinness Celtic 5K

12 March | 11:00 AM | Sunday | Worcester – see you in 2024

Held at the Elm Park at 284 Highland Street in Worcester, this race features an extensive list of bars for post race parties. So you know it’s going to be a good time!

The Guinness Celtic 5k is the first race of Tour de Worcester, a three part race series starting in March.

Registration was $34 through March 11^th.

The post race party takes place at five Worcester bars!

Shamrocks on the Rocks 5K

12 March | 1:00 PM | Sunday | Lunenburg – see you in 2024

This race is organized by the North Medford Running Club and is an out and back 5K Run and Walk around Lake Whalom.

The race is listed on the club site, but there isn’t a link for registration.

Custom designed apparel for the first 150 entrants and a party after the race at On The Rocks!!! with pizza from Embers Pizzeria!

Event location: 96 Lakefront Street, Lunenburg, MA

Prizes: Cash for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Male and Female Runners Overall. First 150 to register receive Custom Gloves – Finisher medals to ALL finishers.

Registration was $20.00 through March 1st and $25 through March 10th and on race day.

Marshfield St. Patrick’s 5K

18 March | 10:00 AM | Saturday | Marshfield

This St. Patrick’s Day 5K is sponsored by the Marshfield Education Foundation and is now in it’s 13^th year. This USATF certified race usually draws over 2,000 runners.

Registration is $35 for adults and $20 for 19 and under. Race day registration is available.

Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at “America’s Most Irish Road Race”! Wear your green and join 4,000 runners, walkers and crawlers at the South Shore’s premier road race!

Flat, fast, USATF certified 5K ocean course with cash prizes ($683,$250,$100) for the top three overall male and female, along with $317 ($1,000 total!) for a new male or female course record! (M-14:39 & F-16:28). Age group awards first through third.

Great finish parties at the pubs and restaurants of Brant Rock! A fun day for all!!

Shamrock Stampede 5K

18 March | 11:00 AM | Saturday | Plymouth

This race is based out of the DCR Pilgrim Memorial State Park. Registration includes one free beer ticket for the post race party.

Proceeds benefit:

Kathy Frank Scholarship Fund – providing a scholarship to a graduate of Silver Lake High School going into the field of nursing in memory of Kathy Frank.

Kathy was a Kingston resident and a nurse at South Shore Hospital who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in April 2011.

On-line registration was $30 for adults, $20 for 11 – 20 and 70+, and $15 for 10 and under. Add $5 for race day registration.

Awards for top 1-3, male and female and 1st place age-group runners.

This race does not have a finisher’s medal for all runners.

Holyoake St Patrick’s Road Race 10K & Walk

18 March | 1PM | Saturday | Holyoke

Registration is still open for the 45th annual running of this race. The 10K is $40 and the walk is $30 through race day.

There is a FREE kid’s race that does not require registration for children 2 to 10 years old.

Rás na hÉireann 5K

19 March | 11:00 AM | Sunday | Somerville

This race has become a tradition among local runners over the past twenty years. The race took a 4-year hiatus between 2018 and 2022, but is back for 2023!

Run from Davis Square, the course is moderately challenging and well marshaled.

Registration includes a quality multi-colored short sleeve tee shirt with Irish theme, finishers medal & great post race party.

The after party is one of the best with most bars in Somerville participating. Check the web site for locations and sign up!

Registration is open at $42 March 1st to 18th.

St. Patrick’s Day Road Race

19 March | 11:00 AM | Sunday | South Boston – Sold out!

boys and girls clubs of Boston, Boston 5K road race

A Southie tradition since 1940, this race takes place just before the famous South Boston St. Patrick Day’s Parade.

The race is hosted and sponsored by Keystone, the Edgerley Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club Teen Leadership Program. Funds raised at the race will help support the Keystone program.

Event location: 230 West Sixth Street Boston, MA

Registration is sold out! It had been only $30.00.

Registration was limited to 650 runners and the race has sold out!

The Connolly Medal is given to the first South Boston resident to finish the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race. It is named for James Brendan Connolly, a son of South Boston, who medaled in the 1896 Olympics in Athens and is considered the first modern Olympic champion.

The Father Lane Medal is awarded each year to the first place Edgerley Family South Boston Club Kid Finisher.

2022 Race Results

2021 Race Results

Mayflower Brewing St. Patrick’s Day 5K

26 March | 9:30 AM | Sunday | Plymouth

Plymouth St. Patrick's Day 5K, Mayflower Brewing

Sponsored by and based out of the Mayflower Brewing Company brewery at 12 Resnik Rd # 3, Plymouth, MA.

Registration is open at $40 through March 24th, then $45 – cash or check only.

Each runner will receive a short sleeve tech shirt and runners over 21 will get one Mayflower brew. So bring your ID. Free finish line photos will be taken for you!

This race does not offer a finisher’s medal for each runner.

VIP Teams
Teams of 20 or more will receive the following perks:
– Reserved tent and table in the heart of the post-race party
– A stock of beer waiting for you at the finish

11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Hibernian 5K

? March 11:00 AM – Sunday | Lynn – no info for 2023

Course: The Hibernian 5K is a loop course starting at Hibernian Hall that goes through some of the residential neighborhoods of West Lynn and finishes at Hibernian Hall. Walkers are welcomed!

Race Amenities: Long-sleeve dri-fit shirts to the first 500 pre-registered runners, race timing, water on the course, post-race raffles and entertainment.

Prizes for the top three male and female adult overall winners, and top male and female under 13 years of age, and top Hibernians.

Event location: Hibernian Hall, 105 Federal St., Lynn, MA

Registration was $30 through race day.

Hyannis Shamrock Shuffle

~~15 March~~ – 11:00 AM – Sunday – Hyannis – cancelled?

This race is based out of the Michael Aselton Memorial Park in Hyannis. Registration includes a beer ticket for the post race party.

Proceeds benefit The Shawn Thornton Foundation. The Shawn Thornton Foundation is dedicated to helping find cures for diseases close to Shawn’s heart, specifically, Parkinson’s and cancer.

Registration was $30 for adults, $20 for 11 to 20 and $15 for 10 and under. Add $5 for race day registration.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, run well and may the wind be at your back!

Andy

Running of the Leprechauns 6

2019 was a challenging year for the Running of the Leprechauns.

The race was originally scheduled for Saturday at the Malden Irish American Club. From what I have heard there was an issue with the permit so the race had to move.

This may have been due to the Malden Half Marathon and 5 Miler that took place the week before. That race had it’s own permitting issues and the half marathon ended up being 5 2.5 mile loops plus a bit more. I liked that format but many did not.

I think that towns are finding that they can only inconvenience their citizens so many times before the phone at city hall starts ringing. I can’t imagine any mayor would not want to encourage healthy activities like road races. Not only do they reflect positively on the community but an influx of runners brings patrons to local businesses.

I saw Medford’s mayor at The Running of The Leprechauns, so I am assuming the race had her support.

I say Malden’s loss is Medford’s gain!

Running of the Leprechauns 6

The race was about 1.75 miles from my house so I ran over with fellow MRC member Marty Hergert. We were using it as our pre-race warm up.

When we got to The American Legion Hall there was a line out the door for bib pickup. I should have picked up on Saturday! After my run across town I was a bit sweaty and the cold began to sink in.

When I got to the table Kelly Catallo checked me in. She looked a little frazzled and said she hate’s it when she’s behind schedule. I didn’t ask what was going on, but I’m guessing they got into the hall late? The hall was all set up and the food was out, so I’m not 100% sure what happened.

She must have a great group of volunteers, because everything else was ready to go.

After I got my bib I wandered around inside the hall and saw Mike and Judy Dolan and a few other people from the club. I saw they had pictures of water on the bar so I headed over to get some pre-raced hydration.

Around 8:00 the hall was still packed with runners and no one knew when the race would start. Kelly came in and apologized for being behind schedule and asked us to start heading outside for the kid’s run.

Kelly had the crowd yell out the “Ready, Set Go!” for the kids.

I was close enough to see about 10 kids of various ages take off. Most toddled along or went a few feet and looked for Mom to pick them up. It was still cute as hell! Kids are still figuring out how to move their bodies so they always look so awkward running, and damned cute too!

After a few minutes they were ready for us to line up.

I made my way through the crowd and a few people with strollers who should have been looking to line up in the back. Why people don’t line up like they should is beyond me.

At 8:15 we got the command to Go!

I was near the front and did my best to keep up with the lead pack. It was a small pack of about 25 people and I knew some of them had gone out too fast. I also knew that there were people behind me who were much younger and in much better shape who would be blowing past me shortly.

By the time we got to Lawrence Road the lead pack had spaced out and a few people passed me. As we headed up our first hill I kicked it into hill gear and kept up with the younger runners I was with.

By the time we passed the driveway for Medford High it was beginning to feel like a race. I felt appropriately dressed for once. It was a little cool, I was sweating a bit and it was about right. My winter running hat also felt like the right choice. Sometimes I get lucky!

I ran mile one at 7:57. Not blazing fast but we did cover 46 feet of elevation gain. I felt okay and told my self that the initial shot of energy was spent and now the real running would begin.

The Long Turn Around

I’ve run this course probably ten times. The Granara-Skerry 5K and Medford Jingle Bell Run 5K have used this USATF certified course. Granara-Skerry used this route for about ten years and paid for the USATF Certification.

I’ve seen the map and know where the turn around is supposed to be. As an out and back course, the turn around point is pretty simple. The map even gives the address of the house the turn around should take place in front of.

Usually the course is close enough. But I ran The Medford Jingle Bell Run at around 2.9 miles once and we ran The Running of The Leprechauns 6 at 3.31 miles.

As we approached the turn around I knew it was too far. Usually I see the lead pack heading back before I am able to see the turn around point, and I wasn’t running an aggressive race. I didn’t even need to look at my watch to know the turn was too far out.

They had placed the cone at the end of the yellow median stripe which was almost in the traffic circle in Winchester. It really bothered me that a cop could not look at a map and find an address. They look for addresses every day don’t they?

Above all else runners want an accurate course and correct timing. Shirts and medals are way down the list, below correct race information, food and water.

But it was what it was.

We were running down hill to the turn and we would be running uphill after the turn. My legs still had enough juice that I knew I could push up the hill and make some time.

I hit mile two at 7:48 while still running up the hill. Mile one was 7:57 so I was warmed up and ready to tackle mile three.

For the first quarter mile or so after the turn we could see everyone still heading out. My glasses were dark and the sun was causing a lot of glare so I couldn’t see people very well. I heard Judy Dolan call my name but I only recognized her by her voice. Someone else called my name but I had no idea who they were!

I also saw Mike Dolan and Sam Bookman.

As we approached 2.5 miles I recognized Marty Hergert’s shirt and realized I was gaining on him. He was about 20 meters in front of me and I wasn’t sure I could continue to close the gap.

How did I miss those socks?

As I caught up to him he said. “You’re going to pass me again” and I didn’t even see him look over his shoulder at me! I did pass him for a bit and then he passed me.

We hit mile three about a third of a mile before the finish line. Way too far out.

Marty and I were running side by side for the most part. I told him to go for it and he took off with little apparent effort. He finished a few meters in front of me.

As I approached the finish line 25 was already on the clock. I knew the course was long but all of my miles had been under 8 minutes, so I should have had a shot at a 24 minute race.

Apre Running of The Leprechauns 6

After I got a water and my finisher’s medal I wandered around the finisher’s area to catch my breath and watch runners come in.

As I walked around a guy said, “How was your race?” Pretty standard thing to say after a race. Then he said “my name is Dave, not sure if you remember me.” I was clueless!

Then he told me that he was the guy who helped me after I fell during the Friends of The Fells 10K trail race in 2017! I was floored. He must have recognized the club singlet or something. We chatted for a bit and headed inside along with Marty to get warm and some food.

I’m horrible with names and this guy remembered me from almost two years ago.

The hall wasn’t too busy yet. The ladies claimed a table before the race so I left my gloves on the table and headed for the coffee.

They had nice 16oz cups and a half gallon of cream. Perfect. They also had donuts and a hot breakfast for us! You can’t beat that on a cold day.

I went down the line and they gave me more food than I needed, but I did manage to clear my plate!

Later at the table someone said they had run out of cream! They went through a half gallon in less than 45 minutes! Wow.

We had a good time talking and sharing stories about the race and our next adventures.

Marty had to get home and his car was parked at my house. He was pretty sure he knew the way back but I finished up my conversation with Mike Dolan and we headed back to my house.

When I turned my watch back on for the run home, somehow it just added the miles to my race.

As we headed down Winthrop Street our legs were a little tight at first, but we loosened up and did okay.

In spite of the issues Kelly had to work through, she made it and we all had a good race.

Here’s looking to next year’s race!

Run well my Friends!

Andy