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California > Shamrock'n Half Marathon
Sacramento, CA • Sunday, March 17, 2013 • Course Map
More than 5,300 runners and walkers turned out and crossed the finish line at the spring 2012 running of Sacramento's Shamrock'n Half Marathon, which is organized by Fleet Feet Sports-Sacramento and is one of a series of 14 running events in the local Buzz Oates Run Sac Race Series, which features local running events from February through November.
Fast and flat and run along what is roughly a counter-clockwise, out-and-back loop course through the streets of Sacramento and through Discovery Park along the river, the Shamrock'n road race is a relatively new event -- 2012 was just its 8th annual running -- but is already the city's largest half marathon event.
Open to both runners and walkers, the race starts at 8:00 AM at the city's Raley Field, home of the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics. From there, the course follows a winding path with a number of twists and turns, crossing the Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River from West Sacramento into the city of Sacramento for the race's first couple of miles. The route on the Sacramento side takes runners along Front Street and Broadway before turning down for a stretch along the Sacramento Marina, and then back up along bike trail along the river, passing the city's Miller Park along the way.
After the stretch along the riverside trail, it's back over the Tower Bridge into West Sacramento, for a stretch of the course that gives runners plenty of views of the city's skyline across the river as well as a run through the neighborhood known as "The Rivers." In the last few miles of the race, runners follow the course along Fountain Drive and then back along River Crest Drive all the way back toward the finish line at Raley Field, where finishers can see themselves and hear their name called as they watch themselves on the big Diamond Vision screen inside the baseball park.
The race route was modified in 2008 (and again for 2011) to handle the race's increasingly large field of participants, thanks to its growth over the years, and as mentioned above is both runner- and walker-friendly -- which means walkers will need to complete the race with a pace of at most 16 minutes per mile. For 2013, the race will be limited to 7,500 entrants, so runners are encouraged to sign up early.
Race Weather & Climate
Located in the inland valley of Northern California, about 88 miles northeast of San Francisco, the city of Sacramento tends to see cool, wet winter seasons and hot, dry summers. In March, average monthly area temperatures range between 65°F and 45°F, while rainfall totals average about 2.75 inches for the month.
On the day of the race (March 17), the average high is 67°F and the average low is 47°F.
Course Map
View the race route map for the Shamrock'n Half Marathon
Fees
N/A
Registration
To reserve your spot in the late winter/early spring 2013 running of Sacramento's Shamrock'n Half Marathon, register online at the event website.
Official Race Website
www.shamrocknhalf.com
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