The Virginia Beach Boardwalk turns into a sea of green every third weekend in March as runners from near and far cross the finish line for J&A Racing’s annual Yuengling Shamrock Marathon.
The St. Patrick’s Day tradition includes a 26.2-mile marathon and a half-marathon, an 8K, kids’ one-mile race, fitness expo and a host of activities for runners and onlookers. More than 20,000 runners and spectators from all 50 states and 16 countries came out to the 52nd annual event March 15-17, bringing in $22 million in economic impact to the city, the organizers said.
“We’re so blessed to have the communities that come out to cheer on the runners — the entire city gets behind it,” organizer Amy Frostick said of the Shamrock. “I feel like everybody deserves a medal that weekend.”
Nancy Helman, director of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in a news release that the city is grateful for J&A Racing’s partnership.
“They produce events throughout the year that boost not only the city’s economy, but spirit, too,” she said.
The Shamrock is just one of many running events organized in Hampton Roads by Jerry and Amy Frostick — the J&A behind the name of the Virginia Beach-based race management company. They hired Scott Minto, director of the Sports Master of Business Administration program at San Diego State University, to study the race’s economic impact.
The couple, who met through their shared love of running, have put in years of blood, sweat and tears to propel their business’s continued growth since its founding in 2003 — the same year they took over the Shamrock.
Their race portfolio has also grown to include eight other events: ADP Corporate 5K; Getem Services Big Blue 5K; Crawlin’ Crab Half Marathon and 5K; Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K; Chartway Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon, 10K and 5K; BayPort Credit Union Surf-N-Santa 5 Miler; Sun Up to Sun Down 50K; and the new Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler and 5K.
Each one of these races brings participants and their families and friends to the area who spend money at local hotels, restaurants and stores. For instance, the business said more than 14,700 hotel room nights were booked at the Oceanfront for this year’s Shamrock.
“We are proud to host an event that not only brings the community together but also supports our local businesses and economy,” the Frosticks said.
And they’re delighted that things have returned to pre-pandemic numbers and normalcy. Specializing in mass gatherings, the Frosticks said they did their best during the pandemic to focus on the positive and connect runners via virtual challenges uploaded online.
“The Shamrock was actually one of the first events in the country that had to be canceled,” Amy Frostick said.
In 2021, they organized a hybrid Shamrock, and by that fall, race events returned in full glory.
“We’re happy that chapter’s closed,” she said.
“But, it kind of recharged and recommitted us,” Jerry Frostick added.
They saw that new runners became attracted to the sport and were excited that people were looking for new ways to get and stay healthy — both physically and mentally. Celebration parties have become more of a festival than the typical medal at the finish line.
“Since we’ve been back, we’ve been focusing on creating experiences more than putting on ‘on your mark, get set, go’ races,” he said.
As for expanding beyond Hampton Roads, Jerry Frostick said they have been approached multiple times to create races in other regions of the country.
“We love where we live and I think what makes us special is the passion we have for where we live,” he said. “I don’t know that we could share that passion in other locations.”
He said they started out 23 years ago striving to be the best — not the biggest. He stressed that putting on running events in Hampton Roads is not work but rather what they love to do.
“The hugs, smiling faces, high-fives and tears at the finish line are what still drives us,” Jerry Frostick said.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
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By the numbers
2024 Shamrock stats:
- 160,186 miles run
- 262 kegs tapped
- 1,500-plus volunteers
- 1 marriage proposal
- 50 states represented
- 16 countries represented
- 16,000 Uncrustables eaten
- Oldest participant: 89 years (TowneBank Shamrock 8K)
- Youngest participant: 9 months (Leprechaun Dash)
(Source: J&A Racing)
