 While St. Patrick's Day may be Friday, but that didn't keep people from getting an early start on the festivities, our Josh Peterson shows us how Bemidji residents got into the holiday spirit by taking part in the annual Shamrock Shuffle. With the sound of the horn, over 200 runners hit the pavement of Bemidji's trail system. Bemidji's Parks and Recreation Department's annual Shamrock Shuffle provides the opportunity for residents that may have the late winter blues a chance to get outside and replace those blues with some greens. It's a nice, like, halfway point between the polar run that we had, any of the summer runs, so it's just kind of getting people warmed up for all those runs that are coming up. For some of the Shuffle's participants, it's more than a fun run. The Shamrock Shuffle provided an opportunity to make a lifestyle change. It was a weightless journey for me, and so I started it with my own journey in November and then started running and worked up to this with the Coach to 5K. With Minnesota weather being extremely unpredictable in March, when it comes to the Shuffle, you need to be prepared for anything. This year's extremely cold temps just meant participants had to plan accordingly. Outside, it's just, you do it. I mean, my nine-year-old son is running with me today, and you just, you just get out and do it. You're Minnesota. While taking part in the Shuffle is a healthy choice, for some of the Shuffle's first timers, it's all about being bold and getting an early start on celebrating the St. Patrick's Day holiday. I've been to a couple of races before where people have worn two-two, so I just thought it would be fun to get all spirited. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. The Shamrock Shuffle is just one of many events the Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department offers. If you want information on more events, we have a link on our website at lptv.org slash news. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.