Start Corrals

Participants will be divided into two Start Waves (Wave 1 and Wave 2) and six Start Corrals (Elite, Corral A, Corral B, Corral C, Corral D and Open). The Wave Start and Start Corrals help make the race a safer and more enjoyable experience for participants, spectators and volunteers by decreasing the density of runner traffic from start line to finish line. As a result, the Wave Start and Start Corrals ensure that each runner has the best opportunity for a quick, smooth and safe start, and ample room to run once out on the race course.

Wave 1 is comprised of the Elite Start Corral, and Seeded Start Corrals A, B and C. Wave 2 is comprised of Seeded Start Corral D and the Open Start Corral.

Wave 1 will start at 9 a.m. Wave 2 will start approximately 25 minutes after Wave 1, or as soon as the first wave has cleared the start area and runners have been safely moved up to and settled at the start line.

Wave 1: Seeded Start Corrals A, B and C
Wave 2: Seeded Start Corral D and Open Start Corral
Seeded Start Corral Qualifying Standards
Elite Start Corral Qualifying Standards
Frequently Asked Questions 

Wave 1: Seeded Start Corrals A, B and C
Wave 1 will be comprised of the Elite Start Corral and Seeded Start Corrals A, B and C. Most Start Corral qualifiers will automatically be placed in a Start Corral based on their past performance in the 2008-2009 Shamrock Shuffle or Chicago Marathon. However, if a participant achieved the qualifying standard for a Seeded Start Corral at an event other than the 2008-2009 Shamrock Shuffle or Chicago Marathon, he or she must submit proof of their qualifying performance. Please refer to the chart below for Seeded Start Corral qualifying times.

How to Submit Proof of Qualifying:
Proof of qualifying must be submitted in the form of an official finisher's certificate or official race result page, and must be faxed to 312.904.9808 or 312.904.9820. Your qualifying 5K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon time (in a race other than the Shamrock Shuffle or Chicago Marathon) must have been run after January 1, 2009. The deadline to submit proof of a qualifying time is Friday, March 5, 2010.

Please note that stating an estimated finish time at the point of registration does not automatically place you into a Seeded Start Corral. Participants who do not automatically qualify must submit proof of time. Seeded Start Corrals will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Assignment to a Start Corral is not guaranteed and must be confirmed online by the participant.

Questions? Please e-mail startcorrals@shamrockshuffle.com.

Wave 2: Seeded Start Corral D and Open Start Corral
Wave 2 will be comprised of Seeded Start Corral D and the Open Start Corral. Participants in Corral D qualify through their current membership to an Official Running Club and/or affiliation with an Official Charity Program. All other runners will be assigned to the Open Start Corral and will be self-seeded based on their expected pace per mile.

Seeded Start Corral Qualifying Standards:

Elite Start Corral
The Elite Start Corral is positioned at the front of the field and designed to recognize the top entrants in the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle. Participants can qualify for the Elite Start Corral in one of two ways:

1. Based on their performance in the 2008-2009 Shamrock Shuffle
2. Based on a qualifying time from a recent 5K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon or Marathon peformance (run after January 1, 2009)

If participants meet the elite qualifying standard in a race other than the 2008-2009 Shamrock Shuffle, they must submit proof of their qualifying peformance via e-mail to elitecorral@shamrockshuffle.com.

Elite Qualifying Standards:
Men: 16:30 (5K); 27:00 (8K); 34:00 (10K); 1:15:00 (Half Marathon); 2:40:00 (Marathon)
Women: 19:00 (5K); 31:00 (8K); 39:00 (10K); 1:25:00 (Half Marathon); 3:05:00 (Marathon)

Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which Start Corral I have been assigned to?
Once you have registered for the event, you can confirm your Start Corral assignment online. Your Start Corral will be listed next to your name, city, state, age division and event. We encourage all participants to verify their Start Corral assignments online no later than February 15, 2010.

Can I switch from one Start Corral to another?
Participants can move backward, but not forward through the Start Corrals. For example, a runner in Corral A can move back to Corral C, but a runner in Corral C cannot move up to Corral A. Start Corral assignments will be strictly enforced.

My friends have been placed into a different Seeded Start Corral. Can we run together?
Runners in “faster” Start Corrals can move backward to “slower” Start Corrals (e.g. a runner in Corral A can move back to Corral C, but a runner in Corral C cannot move up to Corral A). Members of groups or friends who would like to run together, but not all members qualified for a Wave 1 start, can start together in the Open Start Corral in Wave 2.

I have been automatically assigned to a Seeded Start Corral. How did this happen?
Some participants are automatically assigned to a Seeded Start Corral by virtue of their qualifying performance at the 2008 or 2009 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. Other participants are automatically assigned to a Seeded Start Corral by virtue of running a qualifying time in one of several 2009 Chicago-area races that were compiled into our race result database.

If you were automatically assigned to a Seeded Start Corral but qualify for a "faster" corral, you can be moved up by submitting a "faster" qualifying performance prior to the deadline. If you were automatically assigned to a Seeded Start Corral but do not wish to start to that corral, you can move backward to a "slower" Seeded Start Corral or to the Open Corral, however you cannot move up to a "faster" corral without providing proof of performance.

Other Questions?
Please e-mail startcorrals@shamrockshuffle.com.