Shamrock 10k – Shamrock 5k – Asheville, North Carolina – March 13, 2010
PART OF THE 2010 ASHEVILLE TRACK CLUB GRAND PRIX SERIES
There’s an all new pair of courses for the 2010 Shamrock Races (The Shamrock 10k and Shamrock 5k). The start and finish is at Asheville Catholic School in North Asheville. If you’re familiar with the former 10k course it included an uphill climb early in the race to Sunset, followed by some gradual uphill along Sunset and featured a screaming downhill section on North Griffing to the Rose Garden. In the new 10k course, that uphill climb doesn’t hit until a couple of miles into the race. But both of these courses look great and I’m glad to see things shaken up a bit. The race website says these courses are still pending approval by the City of Asheville (Yikes!).
The 5k course is generally flat to downhill in the first half and near mile number two there’s an uphill pull (involving an elevation increase of about 100 feet). This is at the top of Country Club turning onto Griffing (and up around the Rose Garden). Then you’re rewarded with a downhill glide back to Kimberly and a few more short hills to wrestle with.
The races are Saturday, March 13, 2010. Start/finish is Asheville Catholic School, 12 Culvern St., Asheville, NC 28804. The 1k fun run starts at 9 AM. The 10k starts at 9:15 AM. The 5k starts at 9:15 AM also.
Asheville Catholic School on a map – www.tinyurl.com/ycmka6u
Registration is at Active.com – www.tinyurl.com/y8jgdcw
Here is the map of the 10k course (click on the image to access the interactive map at the USATF website) …
And the 10k elevation change (note the scale – this does not start at zero) …
Here is the map of the 5k course (click on the image to access the interactive map at the USATF website) …
And the 5k elevation change (note the scale – this does not start at zero) …
The race website is www.ashevilleshamrock.com
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I thought you had missed this race, but I just hadn’t looked far enough back. The Kimberly/Country Club area should make for pleasant environs. Just hope it doesn’t rain. Or at least much.
Last year it was cold and rainy. I’m hoping for better this year. But I’m happy about the new course. On the 10k we have almost 2 miles to loosen up before attacking the hills.
The new course ROCKS – I think this may be one of Asheville’s best races. The race has been a popular one over the years, and I think this year’s race may be the best yet. The new host location, ACS, will have a warm, dry area to congregate pre-race, which is a real plus compared to the previous start/finish. Clean, indoor bathrooms similarly add to the comfort factor. There is going to be a delicious and inexpensive pasta dinner at packet pick-up Friday night. I like that there is a 5K option, and a 1K kids fun-run too; this way, there is something for everyone. The best part though, is the involvment of the students and families of Asheville Catholic School. This event really matters to the people involved, and it shows. Turn out to wear the green, and contribute to this worthwhile fund-raiser for ACS’ Sports and Drama programs. MM
I’ve run this 10k twice. I want to run it this year, but I may end up going to basketball and/or soccer games instead. It’s a fun one!
It’s quite a coincidence that the Sunset/Griffing loop fits into a 10K with the ACCS building just like it did with the former start/finish site on Central Ave. (does that make sense?)
I suppose that race organizers were looking for another place to host the race, and they were able to move it to the best place of all– their school. AND they were able to retain that loop, which is what makes this race interesting. And the route is still a 10K distance.
It should be a fun one! I’d like the chance to improve on my two slowest 10K times, but I’m not sure I can make it.