TEAM IRELAND presents the 20th ANNUAL
History of the Shamrock Run The Shamrock Run was the brain child of Jim Kelley Smith back in the fall of 1987. Jim was a great local runner and had the idea that a run preceding Kingston’s, then recently launched, St Patrick’s Day Parade, with cheering fans lining the roadside, would be a great way to get folks out in the spring and into running. At that time, Jim had two roommates, Bob Nanz and Bob Ryan. After a short discussion and a little persuading, both agreed to help get the first Annual Shamrock Run off the ground in 1988. Although they had been expecting about 100 to 150 runners that first year, they ended up with 297 and realized they were on to something. Thus, this Trio was the original entity of the mysterious TEAM IRELAND that has been putting on the annual Shamrock Run every year since its inception. Nineteen years later, The Shamrock Run grew to over 3,000 runners, making it what Team Ireland believes to be the largest race between New York City and Albany. Over the past 20 years, Team Ireland has evolved from the original trio into a much larger loosely organized (or not) group of friends (usually), who gather each year to pull off the Shamrock Run and its ever-changing and growing day of fun and festivities. Today, Team Ireland consists of the following guys; Bob Carey, Greg Cherny, Dan Chidester, Joe Deegan (occasionally), Dan Gruner, Rich Gillette, Paul Hakim, Bob Nanz, Bob Ryan, Dave Shahbazian, Greg Riley, and Richard Oliver who they allow to attend meetings via cell phone from Ohio. Although Team Ireland meets and works diligently for months prior to what they call their “unofficial First Day of Spring”, they also rely heavily upon a whole crew of dedicated volunteers who come out race day and ensure the success of the event. Many of these volunteers come back year after year to help with registration, the finish line, the post race party, or many of the other behind the scene items that need to be handled in order to guarantee that the 3000+ runners and their families have a great day. Without this deep sense of commitment and support, the Shamrock Run would be nearly impossible to pull off. After three years of building and organizing the Shamrock Run into a sizable and well established community event, Team Ireland had another idea. With the number of participants rising each year, why not incorporate a way to raise money for local charities into the Shamrock Run? In addition to providing an annual spring “fun run”, they also saw an opportunity to raise a bit of money and give it back to their community. With an emphasis on LOCAL organizations and children, Team Ireland embarked on a new vision. 17 years later, including 9 Memorial Runs and 1 Honorary Run, Team Ireland proudly attributes to having donated over $40,000 to various local organizations on behalf of the numerous Shamrock Run participants. Past beneficiaries include the following:
This year, the 2008, 20th Anniversary, Annual Shamrock Run will be in memory of Doug Maloney and will benefit The Gateway Community Foundation, an organization of which Doug was deeply devoted. A couple of themes that Team Ireland has tried to focus on over the years include keeping the organization of the Shamrock Run as simple as possible, keeping the cost down so that an entire family can afford to run it together, making it a fun and exciting day for all the children who run it, and raising some money for a local charity. An example of trying to keep it simple is that the Shamrock Run no longer “times” the runners. Since the race is so short (only 2 miles), folks do not get a chance to spread out that much on the course. Trying to provide accurate times for each runner proved to be much too challenging, even back when the number of participants was at about 700. In keeping with the theme of a simple “fun run”, the decision was made to provide a clock for runners but insist that they check their own time if they wanted it when they crossed the finish. Additionally, Team Ireland tries very hard to keep the cost of participating in the run down. Anyone who registers by March 1st makes a dollar contribution to a local charity and receives a long sleeve tee shirt (some of the most sought after, year after year), a pre race gift of some sort, a finisher’s medal, and a post race party including Shamrock cookies, green bagels, and juice or beer, depending on your preference, for only $10.00. Surely it’s the best bargain in town! Also, 2 round trip airline tickets to Ireland are given away during a raffle at the post race party. Registration in the run allows your ticket in but you must be present at the post race party to win! Participants also enjoy the festivities, fun, sights, and sounds, of the Ancient Order of Hibernian’s St Patrick’s Day Parade, which makes for a great day. Traditionally, kids have also been at the core focus of the race. From the starting line as they eagerly await the booming cannon, signaling the start of the race, to their laughs and comradery throughout their run down Broadway, to receiving their medals and green ice cream as they cross the finish line, making sure the kids enjoy every aspect of the race has been a major focus point. All in all, the Shamrock Run was started by some local running buddies who hoped of creating a “flat, fast and first class race”. Over the years, with the help of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, numerous volunteers and thousands of participants, it has evolved to become that and much more. |
