Roughly 20,000 runners as young as 8 put their sneakers on Sunday to run in the first Shamrock Shuffle since 2019 due to COVID-19.
The 41st annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle, which included an 8K run and a 2-mile walk, kicks off the running season.
Each year, the Shamrock Shuffle, the world’s largest timed 8-kilometer race, starts and finishes in Chicago’s Grant Park with a course that is 4.97 miles long.
Tai Dinger, who is a member with the Wisconsin Runner Racing Team, was the first to cross the finish line, in 22 minutes and 56 seconds, according to a news release.
Dinger was among elite runners representing more than 40 U.S. track and field club teams.
“I’ve always wanted to run the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle,” Dinger said. “I’m so happy that we had a great day with beautiful weather in a beautiful city. There was great competition out there.”
For the women, Natasha Rogers was the first to cross the finish line, in 25 minutes and 30 seconds, the release stated.
“I loved the race,” Rogers said. “I’m new to Chicago and dying to come back. It was fun mixing it up with some of the guys out there.”
Michael Panther Mayen and Samantha Schroth were the first to finish the wheelchair competition.
Carey Pinkowski, the executive race director, said Sunday marked a historic moment for the Bank of America Shamrock shuffle and Chicago running community.
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“The energy that runners poured into the streets brought this city to life in a way that we’ve all been missing over the past two years. I am grateful to the Chicago area running community for their endurance, their hope and their everlasting love of this sport and this race,” Pinkowski said.
In 2018, Pinkowski started a new tradition by running an 8K course for charity. Since then, Pinkowski has raised $82,000 for local organizations, according to the release.
His tradition of running for charity continued this year, raising money to support the Chicago Parks Foundation.
The next Shamrock Shuffle will take place on Sunday, March 26, 2023.