St. Patrick’s Day Annual 5K Run/Walk

It’s nice to start out a holiday that typically involves a lot of beer and pizza with a run! The 2014 Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K in Southie had about 1500 – 2000 runners, almost exclusively dressed in green and all willing to face the frigid temps before the start of the parade.
Number pickup was very easy and it was really great that runners could hang out inside the Boys and Girls Club before the race to keep warm. I was upset that as a late registrant I wasn’t guaranteed a t-​shirt, but was happy to see they had some cheap (long sleeve) race shirts on sale before the race.
The course itself was a quick there and back down East Broadway. If you know Broadway you know it’s fairly hilly, but not too terrible. As the streets are already set for the parade, there were a surprising amount of spectators along the course cheering on runners. There was a lot of police detail, a water stop half way, and the wide street allowed for runners to have a decent amount of space to spread out.
Before and after the race they had some treats to give away: pop chips, granola bars, coconut water and shakes. The finish line seemed a little unorganized though — by the time I finished running they were supposedly out of both regular water and coconut water, but a stranger had a few bottles and passed one to me.
Communication from the race organizers was great. They sent a few pre race emails with instructions, kept the website updated, and posted photos and times the following afternoon.
One thing to note: while the race was casual and fun, there were not many walkers on the course. I know if I had signed up as a walker I would have felt lonely!

This says run/​walk but I jogged this thing and only 50 people came in behind me so just be prepared that there are a lot of serious runners at this event. This year it was a pretty decent day weather wise and there were about 2,000 runners. The course is extremely hilly. You basically go up and down three hills and turn around and do it all again.
The run happens right before the parade so there are also a lot of spectators standing on the side.
Lockers and bathrooms are available so you can bring everything you need for the day and lock it up in the boys and girls club while you run.
It was a challenge for my sad out of shape winter emerging self. It was fun though, and for a good cause.
Oh also sad was by the time I finished (about 40 minutes) there was no water or snacks left. Damn you fast runners!

Every year, thousands of Boston area locals gather at the South Boston Boys and Girls Club to register and run one of the most fun 5K events in the city in support of the Boys and Girls Club and in support of a healthy lifestyle (or as I like to think of it: a way to justify a day long of drinking at the southie st. patty’s day parade).
Bring your sweats, your good attitude, your St. Patty’s gear, and your green … even if you don’t finish, you’ll be glad you tried.
The real deal — This year’s 70^th Annual 5k was welcomed by mother nature’s brutal and rare 25-​year storm/monsoon/cats&dogs and surprisingly motivated hordes of locals dressed in real running gear or St Patty’s gear. Half were hungover and a good handful were really seriously fast. Volunteers handed out water at the turning point of the race (the windiest, rainiest portion of the race by far) and drunk 20-​something year olds yelled at us from their windows. And they could have been throwing beer on us for all I know…
This event is fairly well organized and this was the first year I raced. Typically, I find that races this large will try to split up the runners by pace, but they didn’t really do that this time. The chaos may have been intensified due to the battering El Nino/Nor’easter rain.
If you haven’t done it. Do it. $ 20 to pre-​register.