Shamrock Run

Many of my friends are running in a “race” today.   Today is the “Shamrock Run” in Portland.   It’s really a terrible race, as races go.   There are far too many people for the course.   Once the starting gun goes off, people at my level of running usually have to wait up 5 minutes to actually get to the starting line.   The course is so crowded that in many cases you can’t pass people but instead run slower than you would like until you can find a spot to dart out and around them.   About 2 or 3 miles in, it finally opens up enough to be able to run, but then jams up again as you approach the end.   Some years you even have to walk across the finish line because of the crowds.  

You also have to consider the weather.   It’s March, in Portland, which means that it’s always cold and raining.   The lines to check clothes are horrendous; they are far too long for me to stand in.   This means that I have to leave my warm clothes in the car and stand around shivering waiting for the start of the race.  God help me if I need to use the bathroom before race time, because those lines stretch for miles as well.   What a miserable idea this whole “Shamrock Run” is.  

I’m not running this year.   It’s not because of any of the reasons above.   I’m not running because an ankle injury has me sidelined.   I’m going to walk down and watch my friends run by.  I will cheer them on with everything I have.   I’ll meet them at the end and go out for breakfast.   I’ll be very sad though.   I love this event and it breaks my heart not to be running today.