The Shuffle! A staple in the Chicago racing scene, and a great way to explore the city on foot. Plus, the swag isn't too shabby at this race either.

Let's start with the expo. I passionately dislike having to go to McCormick Place for any reason, and that's where pick-up is for this race. I get it, because where else could you have 20,000+ people pick up their bib? This year, pickup became a bit more of an adventure due to C2E2 (Chicago Comic Con) also happening at McCormick. Basically, this made parking a wild ride, since Lot A, where we're supposed to park for the Expo, was full. It's fine, that just meant more walking, and a little more $$$ to pay for my parking. Aka, take public transit if you can.

The expo itself leaves a decent amount to be desired. That being said, I'm not a big expo person anyway. It's super easy to get your bib and packet; you could likely be in and out in under 10 minutes. However, I REALLY liked the photo station. Last year it was the skyline, this year it was a black and white picture of downtown, with the green river. They also had a camera set up to take a picture or boomerang which you could email or text to yourself! No need to hunt down someone to take your picture!

While we're here, let's talk swag. I didn't love the shirt this year. It's not bad, but I wasn't a fan of the logo. Will I still wear it? Duh. Will I wear it as much as the 2018 one which I really liked? No. More importantly, the race went back to giving a pom hat instead of socks (which we got last year). Heck, they wouldn't have to give me a shirt, that hat is more than enough.

Fast forward to race morning. If you've ever been to Chicago, you know that parking can be interesting. If you plan to park in one of the many garages on the course, that's great, but it might be a hassle getting out. This year, I intended to use SpotHero to park, but had some problems with the lot (aka it wasn't open) but was able to find an open lot closer to the start, so it all worked out.

The start area in Grant Park is somewhat chaotic due to the space and volume of people. If you ever plan to run the Chicago Marathon, I would HIGHLY encourage doing the Shamrock Shuffle beforehand because it's a great dry run of what you can expect. All in all, the start area is standard. Lots of places to sit on the ground, plenty of porta-pods that will all still have last minute lines. And an easy to figure out gear check. Simple.

To make a long story (which is on my blog) short, the race takes you entirely through downtown Chicago. You run past all the landmarks and will have the street to yourself and fellow runners. The finish is the same as the marathon, as you go up and over "Mt Roosevelt" as it's known, and a straight shot to the finish from there.

There are two Aid Stations, one at 1 and change miles, and the other right around 4. I don't stop in anything 10k or shorter, so these don't impact me. I actually have no idea where the second AS was because I was zoned in and missed it altogether. I heard, from fellow BRP Mark, that the second AS didn't have Gatorade like normal.

The finish chute is just as long as any major marathon, but after an 8k you aren't (read: shouldn't be) as ruined as after a marathon, so it isn't bad. Standard snacks, gatorade, and water are available. After the finisher's chute is the post race area. Two pro tips here: 1. Make a bee-line for the Advocate Health Care tent to get your FREE hot chocolate and mug. They will run out, so do that ASAP. 2. Pass the beer and go get your gear check bag. You can't leave the post race area with beer, and I learned in 2018 that you'll be freezing if you have to pound your beer in just your race gear.

All in all, this race is run super well, as you would expect. I actually enjoyed my second Shamrock experience significantly more than the first time I ran it. Highly encourage this race as it's a good course and fun atmosphere.