Thousands celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Sacramento with half-marathon
Thousands of people — many in leprechaun costumes, green socks and tutus — showed up to Sutter Health Park Sunday to run in the “Shamrock’n” half-marathon.
Some said the colorful costumes serve as a healthy distraction from the pain of running in the annual fundraising event. Others called them a motivational tool.
Melvin Nyairo, of Sacramento, finished the run in a leprechaun costume. Nyairo, who served as a pace runner on Sunday, has set records for running races dressed as a leprechaun, an elf and a banana.
“You kind of push everybody,” he said. “Nobody wants to be beaten by somebody in a costume, so it sort of creates a fun competition.”
The first waves of runners left Sutter Health Park before 8 a.m. and the first runner crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 6 minutes and 13 seconds.
“It’s a good atmosphere,” said Lindsay Tollefson, of Mammoth Lakes, who finished first in the women’s category. “Lots of happy people, at 7:45 a.m., in the freezing cold and wind.”
About 8,000 people were expected to run over the course of a weekend of events organized by the retailer Fleet Feet.
“It’s only grown every year since we’ve hosted it,” said Sean Garbutt, marketing director for Fleet Feet in Sacramento, Davis and Elk Grove. “We’re thrilled with that number.”
The weekend marked the 20th year of the event, themed on St. Patrick’s Day with a “rock n roll twist,” Garbutt said. Proceeds benefit the Triumph Cancer Foundation.
The event has drawn larger numbers, Garbutt said, as the social culture around running has grown.
“This is a great race for anyone who is starting out with running or with walking,” Garbutt said. “It’s a great tour of West Sacramento, of downtown, and Land Park.”
This story was originally published March 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM.
