Seeing runners out along the streets of Baltimore, pounding the pavement with purpose and drive, shirtless in the blazing heat of the summer and bundled up against the freezing cold of winter, is not a common occurrence. Honestly. I see very few runners on a day-to-day basis, and any time I go for a run I get perturbed looks from passersby, and more often than not am on the receiving end of some shockingly lewd comments that all female runners have had to endure at one point or another. Baltimore is not much of a running town. It’s sad, but true.
Which is why it is SO ALARMING when you show up to a local race downtown and are met with a SWARM of runners, most actually donning proper running footwear, and many CLEARLY in fantastic shape. Where do these people hide out? How do I find them? And does it involve getting up super early? Because if so, forget it.
The St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock 5k is a precursor to the lively St. Patrick’s Day parade that has been winding its way through Federal Hill and the Inner Harbor for over 60 years. Because of this, you really have to expect more than just normal race-day crowds. The streets are packed with spectators covered head-to-toe in green, as well as thousands (yes, thousands) of runners in leprechaun hats and bright emerald tutus.
This 5k is the first of three races all tying into Baltimore’s B3 Challenge, the city’s first distance series consisting of a 5k in March, a 10k in April, and a 12 mile run in September. Upon completion of the series, you get a big B3 medal, some dope Under Armour swag, and the satisfaction of a job well done. I have signed up for this series for several years, but have yet to be able to complete all three races due to a new injury EVERY DAMN TIME I TURN AROUND.
Course
The course is end-to-end, beginning at the intersection of Charles and Mulberry, continuing down around the harbor through Federal Hill and towards Locust Point, and then circling back around to finish at PowerPlant Live! With the exceptions of a few small uphills, the course is mostly downhill. And it is all road racing, if it wasn’t obvious enough.
Unfortunately, because it is an end-to-end course, the logistics are a little more of a pain in the ass. My mom and I parked down near the harbor, but because we were already running late, we found ourselves sprinting the mile uphill to the start line. As someone who had not even attempted to run since a knee injury flare up back in EARLY JANUARY, this was a painful and unpleasant start to the race. I was out of breath before I even took my first steps on the course. CURSES!
Pro-tip: don’t pull up to the parking garage a mile away from the start at 1:10 when the race starts at 1:15. It seems like a no-brainer, but I don’t think we realized just how stressful the consequences of being late would be.
Race
Eventually we did reach the start, immediately turned around to pass over the mat, and we were off! The first mile or so is entirely downhill, and it is almost surreal how massive and imposing the sea of green is on that hill. This year, the race had nearly 5,000 participants, making it one of Baltimore’s largest (and most festive) 5ks. It is by far the largest race in the B3 race series, which is no surprise, as it is also the shortest.
The weather for this race is a hit or miss. This year I wore a t-shirt with running tights, and found myself getting really warm during the race. I saw people wearing fleeces, gloves, and knit hats, and was confused as hell as to how they weren’t literally in flames. I thought that human bodies heat up with exercise, but I’m no scientist so what do I know? I felt very luck to have gotten such beautiful weather on an afternoon in mid-March, and thankful that I wasn’t dressed for the tundra.
The mile markers are all clearly visible on the course, and there is one water station about halfway through. Because of the impending parade, there are also more spectators than usual, making the race feel very relaxed and fun and friendly. As much as I love getting serious about racing, I am also all for making races into festive celebrations, because ultimately, running is supposed to be fun.
Post-Race Party
Okay, so I hate to take a dump on Charm City Run, because they put on some excellent races and I am a big, big fan of them. However, this post-race party was entirely not party-like and threw me headfirst into a nauseating wave of anxiety. PowerPlant Live! is a frequently utilized spot for Baltimore’s post-race parties, and it is a cozy spot with places to sit and eat and listen to the local live band that they always get to play. I agree that it is great in theory.
However, the space had a bit of trouble accommodating the huge numbers of runners for this particular race; the food line blended into the beer line, hordes of people shoved their way up to the food table without even realizing that there was a long line beside it, and it ultimately took about 20 minutes to procure a banana and a bag of chips.
The food selection wasn’t too extravagant: bananas, chips, pretzels, and Chewy bars, but you’d think it was a porterhouse steak topped with caviar the way people were jostling to get to it. A woman in front of us resorted to throwing the food into the crowd as eager hands thrashed out to grab them in mid-air. It was intense and it was far too crowded. Avoid if claustrophobic, prone to anxiety attacks, or if you just don’t enjoy getting shoved by sweaty runners in general.
Swag
This year was the first year to provide finisher’s medals to those who were able to make it over the finish line. The medal is great quality, green, and clover-shaped, and I am happy to add it to my collection. The t-shirt is similar to the t-shirt from previous years: Under Armour, light, and incredibly comfortable. As weird as it may sound, this race’s shirts are actually some of my favorites. Maybe it’s that scoop neck. It’s nice to feel feminine sometimes, even if it is rare.
The Bottom Line
This race is a lot of fun. I have a couple complaints (like always, some of them my own doing), but I certainly enjoyed myself, don’t get me wrong. It is fun seeing how all-out participants are willing to go to show their St. Patrick’s Day spirit, and I love seeing spectators get excited as well. The course is easy and fast, you get to sleep in on race day, and you get some pretty decent swag. I’d still really like to know where all these runners come from, though. Please. I’d love some running friends in Baltimore.
