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The backdrop of Virginia Beach makes for a beautiful race setting for those looking for a great spring Half. The Anthem Shamrock Half Marathon offers a flat, fun, and scenic course, ending on the famous Virginia Beach boardwalk and featuring a post-race party with live music on the beach. There’s even a “post-race” tradition of heading to bars on the boardwalk to continue the celebration past 4 pm.

“Best Post Race party around! 4 Free Beers and Irish Stew!”

The event offers a number of features that make it a weekend to anticipate. The location makes race logistics a breeze for those staying near the boardwalk, with easy access to the race start and finish from nearby hotels. In addition, multiple nominations cited the celebrity runner speakers as a great draw for the weekend, with Kara Goucher, Shalane Flanagan, and Bart Yasso being known to make an appearance.

And if the easy logistics, post-race party, and celebs aren’t enough to get you hooked, they also have super fun swag. Runners raved about the beach towel given to each participant once they cross the finish line, in addition to all the other fun Shamrock-themed swag. With 10,000 runners toeing the line for just the Half, this is a spring tradition to add to your calendar.