Customer Snapshot
- Location: Cleveland, OH
- Participants: 2,000+
- Achievement: Official Guinness World Record – Largest Sport Kilt Race (set on Sunday, March 17, 2019)
About the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run
The Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run is a festive road race organized by Hermes Sports & Events that celebrates Irish culture and community spirit. What started as a calendar-filling event in 2018 with over 1,000 participants quickly transformed into something much more ambitious—a Guinness World Record attempt that would put Cleveland on the global stage.
What started with a .25 mile kilt run inspired a Guinness World Record attempt, the 5K race is now held annually on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, drawing thousands of participants eager to be part of Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day tradition.
The Goal
After a successful inaugural year in 2018, Race Director Nick Swingos saw an opportunity to elevate the event by attempting to break a Guinness World Record for participants racing in kilts. The objectives were ambitious:
- Break the existing Guinness World Record for Sport Kilt racing (1,800 participants)
- Target over 2,000 participants to safely surpass the record
- Ensure full compliance with strict Guinness World Record standards
- Execute flawless race day operations to validate the attempt
- Create a lasting promotional asset for the event
The Challenge
Breaking a Guinness World Record isn’t just about showing up with participants—it requires meticulous planning, strict adherence to rules, and bulletproof documentation. The team faced several complex challenges:
Record Category Selection: Initial research revealed that the record for traditional kilts (heavy wool, difficult to source) was 3,200 people in Perth, Australia—an unrealistic target. However, the record for non-traditional Sport kilts was a more achievable 1,800 participants.
Equipment Logistics: Hermes needed to source over 2,000 Sport kilts for participants. Race sponsor Jameson paid for the entries, making the kilt run accessible to all.
Guinness Compliance Requirements:
- Approved Sport kilts meeting Guinness specifications
- Special bibs designating record attempt participants
- Separate corral with volunteer verification
- Proof that all participants completed at least 120 meters of the race
- On-site adjudicator validation
Race Day Complexity: Managing two simultaneous operations—the regular road race and the record attempt—required careful coordination, clear participant tracking, and real-time data verification.
The Solution
Led by Adam Petrovic and Nick Swingos, Hermes developed a comprehensive plan:
Strategic Participant Management
When race day arrived with 2,800 participants but only 2,040 kilts available, the team implemented a smart solution using bib and participant tracking features. Participants who received kilts were designated as official record attempt participants with special bibs, while others received different bibs and could still participate in the festive race.
Dedicated Record Attempt Corral
Record attempt participants were placed in their own corral where volunteers verified that everyone met Guinness expectations:
- Wearing approved Sport kilts
- Proper bib designation
- Understanding of the 120-meter requirement
Real-Time Verification System
Hermes strategically placed a timing split just after the 120-meter mark required by Guinness. Using timing and reporting capabilities, they ran a verification check ensuring all kilted participants who started the race completed at least this critical distance. This report became essential documentation for Guinness verification.
On-Site Adjudicator and Documentation
So confident were they in their preparation and data accuracy, the team:
- Hired a Guinness adjudicator to validate the record on-site
- Pre-printed commemorative shirts to sell to record participants
- Had Adam Petrovic wearing a shirt claiming the record under his jacket—ready to reveal once verified
The Results
The Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run didn’t just break the Guinness World Record for Largest Sport Kilt Race—they shattered it:
- 2,040 verified participants in Sport kilts (surpassing the 1,800 record by 240 participants)
- 2,800 total participants across all race categories
- On-site record verification by Guinness adjudicator
- Immediate commemorative shirt sales to record-breaking participants
- Official Guinness World Record certificate now prominently displayed at the race
The framed certificate serves as both a permanent symbol of achievement and a lasting promotional tool. A banner highlighting the record hangs on the race arch, immediately visible to all participants and spectators.
Sustained Growth with RunSignup
Since the record-breaking 2019 event, the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run has continued to grow and thrive:
Event Evolution: The race moved to the afternoon on the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, optimizing participation and celebration (2026’s event is scheduled for March 14th).
Operational Excellence: RunSignup’s tools continue to support the event’s growth:
- RaceDay CheckIn App: Streamlines packet pickup and race day operations
- Clean, Professional Website: Highlights the race’s identity and Guinness World Record achievement, prominently featuring the record banner on the homepage
- Participant Management: Handles growing registration numbers with ease
Strategic Focus: While Hermes hasn’t attempted to verify a new record each year, the infrastructure and confidence built through that 2019 experience—and RunSignup’s reliable platform—position them perfectly should they decide to set another record in the future.
Why It Worked
The Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run’s success came down to three critical factors:
- Meticulous Planning: Every detail of the Guinness requirements was mapped out and executed flawlessly by the Hermes team.
- Reliable Technology: RunSignup’s timing, participant tracking, and reporting capabilities provided the bulletproof data verification needed for Guinness validation.
- Confident Execution: The team’s confidence in their preparation—and in RunSignup’s accuracy—allowed them to take bold moves like hiring the on-site adjudicator and pre-printing commemorative materials.
“Adam was so confident in their preparation that he had on a shirt claiming the record under his jacket—needless to say he got to show it off.”
Looking Ahead
The Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Run stands as a testament to what’s possible when ambitious vision meets reliable race technology. The event continues to draw thousands of participants eager to be part of Cleveland’s unique St. Patrick’s Day tradition, and the Guinness World Record banner serves as a permanent reminder that this race dared to dream big—and had the tools to make it happen.
Whether Hermes Sports & Events decides to pursue another record attempt in the future or continues to build on their established success, RunSignup’s platform provides the foundation for whatever comes next.
