In Photo below, Renee High (24) of Virginia Beach, VA qualifies for the Olympics with a 2:45:28 victory in 2006.

Runners will need a little more than luck of the Irish to compete in one of the most challenging physical tests of strength and endurance. This St. Patrick's Day weekend, the 35th Annual Yuengling Shamrock Sportsfest in Virginia Beach challenges race enthusiasts to participate in a nationally- recognized and leprechaun-spirited physical challenge.

From March 16-18, 2007, the Yuengling Shamrock Sportsfest will feature the traditional annual marathon, half-marathon, 8K, ShoreBreak one-mile run, and children's marathon. Leprechauns and cheering fans will line the trail as 3,000 runners race to the finish line in the 26.2 mile marathon. The half-marathon will begin at the same time and location as the full marathon, and will complete a fast flat loop course starting at the historic Cavalier hotel on 42nd street and ending on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 31st Street. The half-marathon registration is limited to 6000 runners. The 8K is geared toward shorter distance participants and runs through the beautiful Virginia Beach oceanfront and along the paved boardwalk. All races welcome walkers in addition to runners.

The ShoreBreak One Mile Run is open to young runners ages 7-13. Children ages 6 months to 6-years-old are invited to make the mad dash to the official finish line in the Shamrock Children's Marathon, which is limited to the first 300 participants. The 2007 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Run is a qualifier for the 2008 Boston Marathon and was recently named by Blue Ridge Outdoors as the #9 in the Top Ten Marathons. The 2006 Shamrock Sportfest races awarded more than $25,000. The 2007 prize money will be announced at a later date.

After the races, participants can cool down and receive their due recognition at the Murphy's Finish Line Celebrations, held on both days.

Three World Records have been set at the Shamrock Sportsfest, two of which still stand. In 2003, Tatyana Pozdnyakova set the Female Masters 8K World Record by finishing the course in 25:56. Nick Rose of England holds the Masters 8K record of 23:13 set in 1992. In 1986, Grete Waitz set the Female World 8K record with a time of 25:03. Three Olympic Trial qualifiers have also competed in the Shamrock Marathon - Renee High (2006), Stacie Alboucrek (2003) and Jerry Lawson (2000).

The Shamrock Sportsfest kicks off Friday, March 16 at the Yuengling Shamrock Sportsfest Expo. Held in the new $202.5 million Virginia Beach Convention Center, the Sportsfest Expo is one of the largest on the East Coast. Venders at the Expo will offer a wide variety of equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories for the whole family. In addition, the race store will feature official Yeungling Shamrock Sportsfest gear, including hats, backpacks, coffee mugs, posters, and commemorative pins. The Expo is free and open to everyone on March 16 from 1:00-9:00 PM and March 18 from 10:00 AM. - 6:00 PM. Those interested in exhibiting, can contact the race organizers. Those interested in participating in the races can register online or get a registration form. Mailed entries must be postmarked by March 9. If runners miss this date, they can still register at the Sports and Fitness Expo on March 17.

For more information, please visit www.shamrockmarathon.com.

The Shamrock Sportsfest is a proud supporter of Preston's March for Energy and the Mitochondrial Disease Foundation and encourages race participants to collect donations in the form of pledges for research, education, treatment and cure for those who have mitochondrial disorders. For more information, visit www.shamrockmarathon.com/preston-march.php.