Northwest Running Season Opens With Some Strong Shamrock Numbers

Not all the news is glum these days.

The 31st annual Shamrock Run this Sunday is experiencing an 18 percent jump this year in participants with more than 19,000 expected to attend. And race officials say the increase comes on top of last year's 45 percent jump.

Run coordinator Steve Hamilton has been involved in the event since its beginning and attributes the “burst of growth” over the past few years partially to the addition of the Widmer beer garden. “Despite the beer garden it is a family event,” he added, “it has become a Portland tradition.”

Along with the runners, more than 600 volunteers will be donating their time. And part of the net proceeds from the March 15 event will benefit the Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation.