The Tale of the Founding of the Shamrock Run

The annual Shamrock Run in Kingston, New York stands as one of the Hudson Valley's most beloved traditions, drawing thousands of participants each year. Over the 37 years since its founding, this event has become what organizers believe is the largest foot race between New York City and Albany and for the City of Kingston, the embodiment of the spirit of community.

Team Ireland

The Shamrock Run was founded in 1988 by three visionaries who collectively called themselves "Team Ireland." Jim Kelley Smith, Bob Nanz, and Bob Ryan came together with the idea of creating a fun run that would precede Kingston's St. Patrick's Day Parade. They envisioned the event as a way to encourage community involvement, promote physical activity, and establish what they called the "unofficial First Day of Spring" in Kingston4.

The trio imagined a "flat, fast and first-class race" that would motivate people to emerge from winter hibernation and participate in a community-centered sporting event. Their initial projections were modest, hoping to attract between 100 and 150 runners the first year. But community response vastly exceeded their expectations, with 297 runners participating in the first Shamrock Run.

Bob Ryan's Enduring Leadership

Among the three founders, Bob Ryan took on a particularly significant role in the event's development and sustenance. Ryan served as the race director for its first 25 years, providing consistent leadership that helped the event grow into the celebrated institution it is today. Under his stewardship, the Shamrock Run evolved from a small local event into a major regional attraction.

Beyond his organizational role, Ryan maintained a financial commitment to the run through his insurance business. Every year since the run's inception, Ryan & Ryan Insurance has sponsored the race. In 2018, to acknowledge his three decades of service to the Shamrock Run, as well as the 60th anniversary of his family insurance business, Ryan was honored at the starting line of that year's run by Bob Carey, the executive director of the Irish Cultural Center of the Hudson Valley. 

A Community Institution

What began as a simple fun run has become part of the cultural fabric of Kingston. Building on its early successes, the Shamrock Run transformed into a fundraising vehicle for local charitable organizations, particularly those serving children. Each year, the Shamrock Run Committee selects a different local charity to receive a portion of the proceeds, demonstrating the founders' commitment to community service1.

The Shamrock Run officially contributes the "first float" in Kingston's St. Patrick's Day parade, sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, further weaving the Shamrock Run into Kingston's identity.

Still Fun After All These Years

The Shamrock Run Committee, which grew from the original Team Ireland, now works diligently for months prior to each annual run. The committee relies heavily on dedicated volunteers who return year after year to assist with registration, the finish line, the post-race party, and numerous behind-the-scenes tasks essential to the run's success.

Through this organizational structure, the run has grown to accommodate over 4,500 runners and their families, while maintaining its essential character as a "fun run" that doesn't officially time participants. The founders’ emphasis on community participation over competitive achievement continues to prevail.

Jim Kelley Smith, Bob Nanz, and Bob Ryan—the three founders of Team Ireland—created more than just a race when they established the Shamrock Run in 1988. They initiated a community tradition that has stood the test of time, growing from a modest spring activity into one of the region's most significant annual events. Their vision of bringing people together through physical activity, community spirit, and charitable giving continues to resonate with Kingston residents and visitors more than three decades later. The Shamrock Run stands as a testament to how three individuals with a shared vision can create an enduring community institution that enriches the lives of thousands of people year after year.