Thousands gather in Cleveland for 47th St. Malachi Church Run and Walk, supporting local ministries

A long-running Cleveland tradition returns

Thousands of runners and walkers gathered on Cleveland’s near West Side on Saturday, March 14, 2026, for the 47th annual St. Malachi Church Run and Walk, a St. Patrick’s season tradition that blends road racing with fundraising for local outreach. The event has built a reputation as one of the region’s most visible early-spring races, drawing competitive runners, neighborhood teams and families for both run and walk distances.

What happened on race day

This year’s event centered on a start-and-finish area on the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway adjacent to St. Malachi Church, near West 25th Street and Washington Avenue. Participants could choose from two primary in-person distances — a 2-mile and a 5-mile — with a virtual participation option also offered. Packet pickup and volunteer logistics were scheduled in the days leading up to the race to manage crowd flow and ensure course operations.

• In-person distances: 2 miles and 5 miles
• Location: near West 25th Street/Washington Avenue, with race operations tied to the Shoreway corridor
• Additional option: virtual participation for those unable to attend

Fundraising focus: Malachi Ministries and basic-needs services

The run and walk functions as a fundraising anchor for St. Malachi’s charitable work in Cleveland, with proceeds directed to Malachi Ministries. The parish’s outreach is oriented toward serving vulnerable residents on the near West Side, including efforts connected to food access and other basic-needs support. Event materials describe a meal program serving roughly 100 to 150 people per day, totaling about 33,000 meals annually, and outline broader assistance initiatives linked to the parish’s longstanding community role.

The event’s fundraising model ties participation directly to services designed to meet immediate needs, including food assistance, while also supporting ongoing operations connected to the church’s outreach footprint.

Guinness record attempt adds a measurable goal

Organizers also promoted a Guinness World Records attempt connected to kilts — framing race-day participation as part of a bid to set a mark for the “world’s largest sport kilt race.” Guinness’ public record listings show the benchmark for the largest traditional-kilt race is 3,670 participants, set in 2016 in Perth, Ontario. Race materials indicated kilts were included with registration for 2026, making the record attempt dependent on turnout and compliance with Guinness verification requirements.

Why it matters for Cleveland

Beyond its festive branding, the St. Malachi run and walk has become a recurring civic moment that links downtown-adjacent streets, neighborhood identity and charitable fundraising. The 2026 edition continued that pattern: a mass-participation event designed to be accessible for walkers and runners while channeling attention and resources toward local service programs operating year-round.