Media guide
Table of contents
Media information..............................................................................................................................................................................................2 Schedule of events.............................................................................................................................................................................................4 Top storylines........................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Participant demographics..............................................................................................................................................................................6 By the numbers....................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Race day street closures................................................................................................................................................................................9 Media access map..............................................................................................................................................................................................10 Course map.............................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Athletes to watch................................................................................................................................................................................................13 Top athlete roster...............................................................................................................................................................................................17 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K past individual champions......................................................................................25 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K past Club Competition champions....................................................................26 8K World bests.....................................................................................................................................................................................................28 8K American records.........................................................................................................................................................................................29 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K top 15 fastest performances...............................................................................30 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K course record progression.....................................................................................31 Key moments in event history....................................................................................................................................................................32
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Media information
Media information
Media information
Start line
A photo/video riser with sightlines to the start line will be located at the northeast corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street. This is located within a secure area and will only be accessible to media with event-issued credentials.
Media contacts
- Lily Homstad
- Diane Wagner
TeamWorks Media 847.845.8992 [email protected]
Bank of America 312.992.2370 [email protected]
On race morning, approved TV trucks will be permitted to park on Monroe Street east of Columbus Drive beginning at 6:30 a.m. Outlets must obtain official event parking placards for their vehicles from event staff in advance of race day. To access parking, enter Monroe Street off of Lake Shore Drive (access will not be permitted off of Michigan Avenue). Vehicles must be removed from Monroe Street once all participants have cleared the start area as the roadway will be re-opened to resume regular traffic flow.
Media credentials and event access
Members of the media are invited to attend all events associated with the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. To request media credentials or TV truck parking placards, please contact Lily Homstad (information above). Media credentials will be required to access the designated media areas at the start and finish lines on race day.
To request a parking placard, contact Lily Homstad (information on page 2).
Finish line
A photo/video corral with sightlines to the finish line will be located on the west side of Columbus Drive just south of Balbo Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 9:05 a.m. to capture the race champion finishes. This corral is located within a secure area and will only be accessible to media with event-issued credentials.
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Health & Fitness Expo
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Health & Fitness Expo features more than 80 health and fitness industry exhibitors offering the latest in running footwear, apparel, nutrition and technology. The Health & Fitness Expo is free and open to the public. It is also where participants pick up their race packets. Media credentials are not required to gain access during regular hours of operation. If you would like to film at the Expo or schedule an interview with a race official, sponsor, vendor or race participant at the Expo, please contact Lily Homstad (information above) in advance to coordinate.
Please note that the event does not offer media parking at or near the finish line. The best option for parking near the finish line is public street parking west of Michigan Avenue, on or between 8th Street and 11th Street.
Also, be advised that media planning to cover the start of the race will most likely be unable to reach the finish line in time to cover the finish of the race champions, so plan accordingly.
Discount parking is available to all Expo attendees. Vouchers for a flat parking rate of $10 are available near the Expo hall entrance.
Refer to the media access maps on pages 10 and 11 for more detailed information on how to access the designated media areas at the start and finish lines.
Health & Fitness Expo location and hours
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center, Hall D1 Friday, March 27, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Race day media access
Grant Park and the course sidelines are open to the public and accessible to media on race day. Media are not allowed on the designated race course or in participant-only areas within Grant Park including the start line, start corrals and finish line.
Approved and credentialed media will have access to a photo/video riser adjacent to the start line and a photo/video corral adjacent to the finish line. Interviews with event officials and athletes will be made available upon request.
Restrictions: Please note that NBC 5 Chicago and nbcchicago.com have a live TV and live streaming partnership with the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. On race day, NBC has exclusive rights to live coverage of the race start and start line from 8 – 9 a.m. and of the finish line from 8 – 11:30 a.m. All broadcast outlets are permitted to go live at the start line before this time, or tape coverage from the designated media areas during these times.
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- Schedule of events
- Top storylines
- Race weekend schedule of events
- Top storylines
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Health & Fitness Expo
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center, Hall D1
Oregon Track Club star Alexi Pappas headlines elite field wearing bib #1
Alexi Pappas, Nike Oregon Track Club elite runner and 3-time All American, will be headlining her first major race at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. Pappas helped lead the 2012 Oregon Ducks to their first NCAA Championship since 1987 and as a professional, has been climbing the ranks on the track and the roads. In 2015, she recorded one of the fastest times for the indoor 3000 and performed well on the roads at the Jacksonville Gate River run, finishing 4th in a field led by Shalane Flanagan. Off the roads and the track, Pappas is a creative force to be reckoned with. Her debut film, “Tall as a Baobab Tree,” which she co-wrote, earned strong reviews at international film fests. She co-wrote and stars in her current film, “Tracktown USA” which revolves around growing up in the world of running. “Tracktown USA” is in postproduction in Eugene, Oregon.
Friday, March 27
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.........................................Expo hours/participant packet pick-up
Saturday, March 28
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. .........................................Expo hours/ participant packet pick-up
Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Grant Park
Elite Club Competition draws 56 teams from nine states
Sunday, March 29
8:22 a.m........................................................National Anthem
The Elite Club Competition draws a record 56 teams from nine states, including several local clubs. Featuring nationally recognized teams like California’s Asics Aggies, Michigan’s Hansons-Brooks Original Distance Project and Playmakers Elite/New Balance, the Elite Club Competition invites USATF-club teams to compete against one another for a $20,000 prize purse. The Elite Club Competition offers clubs a unique opportunity to race on the roads and kick-start their running season on the fast and flat streets of Chicago.
8:28 a.m........................................................Wheelchair start 8:30 a.m. ......................................................8K Race start (Wave 1)
(Columbus Drive at Monroe Street)
For the third year in a row in 2014, runners from the Michigan based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project won both the men’s and women’s elite individual titles, but the Playmakers Elite from Lansing, Mich., stole the show on the men’s side, outpacing a competitive field and winning the team title. The Hansons-Brooks Distance project captured the women’s title, led by overall first place finisher, Katie Kellner.
8:53 a.m........................................................Approximate men’s champion finish
(Columbus Drive south of Balbo Drive)
- 8:56 a.m........................................................Approximate women’s champion finish
- 2014 men’s champion, Jacob Riley, is back to defend his title. He will face stiff competition from 2013
champion, Phillip Reid. Riley and Reid battled for the win down the homestretch in 2013. Kellner is not back to defend her 2014 title, but Dot McMahon leads a tough group of Hanson’s women who look hard to beat on paper.
(Columbus Drive south of Balbo Drive)
9:15 a.m........................................................Wave 2 start
(Columbus Drive at Monroe Street)
The Green Guys return to the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K
9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ..................................Post-Race Party
Featuring live music by Chancey Brothers
(Buckingham Fountain)
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K is widely recognized as Chicago’s classic kickoff to a new spring running season, and a way to keep the St. Patrick’s Day spirit alive. One group of runners, known as the “Green Guys,” embrace the fun and festive spirit of the race by not only lacing up their running shoes but also by painting themselves green. The “Green Guys” debuted at the Shamrock Shuffle in 2008. The original two members, John Atchison and Ryan Giuliano, painted themselves green from head to toe, donning fancy green wigs and a pair of race shorts. Spectators and runners repeatedly referred to them as the “green guys” and the name stuck. Over the past seven years, they have become synonymous with the Shamrock Shuffle, and this year’s crew will consist of one original member, John Atchison, Atchison’s fiancée – the first ever “green girl” – Brittany Sorensen, and Oscar Muñoz and R.J. Puoci. On race day, they won’t be running for a personal record, but to get people cheering and find the fun in running.
2 p.m. – 1 a.m............................................Race after party
The Scout Waterhouse & Kitchen
(1301 S. Wabash Street)
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- Participant demographics
- Participant demographics
Top 10 Chicago suburbs
Suburb
Participant demographics
(as of March 16, 2015)
Registered participants % of total field
1. Naperville.................................................321......................................................1.27% 2. Oak Park....................................................267......................................................1.05% 3. Aurora.........................................................241......................................................0.95% 4. Evanston...................................................235......................................................0.93% 5. Orland Park..............................................221......................................................0.87% 6. Schaumburg...........................................220......................................................0.87% 7. Plainfield...................................................219......................................................0.86% 8. Arlington Heights................................205......................................................0.81% 9. Palatine ....................................................175......................................................0.69% 10. Downers Grove.....................................165......................................................0.65%
Men vs. women
Gender
Female...................................57.9....................................................34.3 Male.........................................42.1....................................................36.2
- % of total field
- Average age (years)
Age groups
- Gender
- Age group (years)
- % of overall participants
Female...................................14 and under ................................0.6% Female...................................15 to 19 Years.............................0.9% Female...................................20 to 24 Years.............................4.7% Female...................................25 to 29 Years.............................13.2% Female...................................30 to 34 Years.............................12.5% Female...................................35 to 39 Years.............................9.4% Female...................................40 to 44 Years.............................6.8% Female...................................45 to 49 Years.............................4.1% Female...................................50 to 54 Years.............................3.0% Female...................................55 to 59 Years.............................1.9% Female...................................60 to 64 Years.............................0.7% Female...................................65 to 69 Years.............................0.0% Female...................................70 to 74 Years.............................0.1% Female...................................75 to 79 Years.............................0.0% Female...................................80 Years and Over.....................0.0%
Top 10 states
(47 states represented)
- State
- Registered participants % of total field
1. Illinois.........................................................23212................................................91.49% 2. Indiana.......................................................798......................................................3.15% 3. Wisconsin.................................................375......................................................1.48% 4. Michigan...................................................200......................................................0.79% 5. Ohio.............................................................131......................................................0.52% 6. Iowa.............................................................79.........................................................0.31% 7. Minnesota................................................66.........................................................0.26% 8. California..................................................48.........................................................0.19% 9. Missouri....................................................48.........................................................0.19% 10. Texas...........................................................39.........................................................0.15%
- Gender
- Age group (years)
- % of overall participants
Male.........................................14 and under ................................0.5% Male.........................................15 to 19 Years.............................0.7% Male.........................................20 to 24 Years.............................2.4% Male.........................................25 to 29 Years.............................7.7% Male.........................................30 to 34 Years.............................8.6% Male.........................................35 to 39 Years.............................7.2% Male.........................................40 to 44 Years.............................5.4% Male.........................................45 to 49 Years.............................4.0% Male.........................................50 to 54 Years.............................3.2% Male.........................................55 to 59 Years.............................2.1% Male.........................................60 to 64 Years.............................0.4% Male.........................................65 to 69 Years.............................0.1% Male.........................................70 to 74 Years.............................0.0% Male.........................................75 to 79 Years.............................0.0% Male.........................................80 Years and Over.....................0.0%
City vs. suburbs
- Area
- % of total field
City of Chicago residents.........................47.1% Chicago suburban residents...................44.3% Chicago area....................................................91.4% Outside of Illinois..........................................8.5%
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- By the numbers
- Race day street closures
- Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K by the numbers
- Race day street closures
2014 Finishers......................................................................................................................30,000 Health & Fitness Expo attendees .............................................................................60,000 Medical personnel...............................................................................................................150 Course marshals..................................................................................................................100 Teams in the Elite Club Competition......................................................................56 Teams in the Open Division..........................................................................................122 Teams in the Corporate Division...............................................................................44 Runners taking part in the team competition (all divisions).....................1,734 Running club members....................................................................................................2,845 Wheelchair athletes...........................................................................................................3 Volunteers................................................................................................................................3,000
The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K reaches out to community residents, property managers, businesses and other organizations with details about street closures and other event day information.
Course route street closures
The following streets are part of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K course route and will be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday, March 29:
Columbus Dr. from Roosevelt Rd. to Grand Ave. Grand Ave. from Columbus Dr. to State St. State St. from Grand Ave. to Jackson Blvd. Jackson Blvd. from State St. to La Salle St. La Salle St. from Jackson Blvd. to Randolph St. Randolph St. from La Salle St. to Franklin St. Franklin St. from Randolph St. to Harrison St. Harrison St. from Franklin St. to Michigan Ave. S. Michigan Ave. (northbound lanes)
8:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 8:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Food and beverages
Water..........................................................................................................................................20,518 gallons Gatorade...................................................................................................................................6,270 gallons Granola bars...........................................................................................................................30,000 Bananas.....................................................................................................................................30,000 Apple sauce.............................................................................................................................30,000 Sun chips..................................................................................................................................30,000 from Harrison St. to Roosevelt Rd. Roosevelt Rd. (westbound lanes) from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr.
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Other numbers