From Montana to Minnesota and from California to Connecticut, the call is going out for Irish Americans to lace up their trainers and join a global run celebrating the Feast of St Patrick.
The Global Craic 10K, born out of the Belfast SPAR Craic 10K (itself the offspring of the St Louis, MO St Patrick's Day 5K fun run), will unite joggers, walkers and wannabe runners around the world to celebrate the Saint's Day.
Sponsored by global fintech company Options Technology, which boasts offices in New York as well as Toronto, Dubai, Belfast and Sydney, the Global Craic 10K will allow participants to cover the 10K distance (6.2 miles) at any time between Saturday 14 March and Sunday 22 March. GOD SPEED, ST PATRICK: The SPAR Craic 10K in Belfast started in 2015, taking the St Louis, MO St Patrick' Day fun run as its inspiration but today the Belfast run, with 6,000 participants, has outgrown its sister event
"This is a unique, healthy, fun-filled way to salute St Patrick," said Craic 10K co-founder Connla McCann. "By going global, we're giving the 70 million in the Irish diaspora, and especially the 35m Irish of America, a chance to unite as one for the most important day in the Irish calendar."
Participants in the Global Craic 10K can run the race at their own pace and from any place in the world. Runners — or walkers — can sign up online for $9.99 with $1 from every registration going to the all-Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. Participants have a nine-day window to complete the 10K — from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 March — in recognition of the fact that not every country has a vacation on St Patrick's Day.
Once completed, runners will upload proof of completion and receive a Global Craic 10K certificate.
"For a long time, we've been of the opinion that the world would be a better place if the Irish ran it," joked Connla McCann, "and now we have a chance to put that theory to the test. I hope the Irish from across America will put their right foot forward this 17 March to join in this global running gathering."
Full details below or at craic.run. 
