World’s shortest race, Saturday, in downtown La Crosse — the St. Patty’s Day .01K

For anyone looking to say they got back out there, sneakers to the pavement and participated in a race, downtown La Crosse Saturday is the perfect event to do so.

It’s unofficially the world’s shortest race: The St. Patty’s Day .01K on Pearl Street, downtown.

“On site registration at 2 o’clock,” Puck, from 95.7 the Rock in La Crosse, said of the 16th-and-a-half annual race. “The run-walk starts at 4, and it’s over at about 4:01.”

WHAT: St. Patty’s Day .01K
WHEN: 4-4:01 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Pearl Street, downtown La Crosse
Signup begins at 2 p.m. inside Brothers Bar, otherwise online here.
Proceeds go to the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse.

It’s the perfect distance — 32.8 feet — for those coming out of hibernation, not to mention two years of a pandemic.

It’s also for the perfect cause, with proceeds going to the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse — the only food bank between Madison and Rochester, which provides food for 118 pantries, meal sites and youth groups in the area.

“We were working with the Hunger Task Force and looking for a fun way to help raise some funds and raise some awareness, and we cam up with, ‘Well, why don’t we do a run-walk?'” Puck said. “But we’re like, ‘Wait a minute, what makes that fun? Well, why don’t we do the shortest run-walk ever?'”

Participants are encouraged to dress up, dress down or do anything else that’s creative.

“We’ve had people do it on one of those bouncy, hippity-hops,” Puck said. “We’ve had people do it on their hands. I mean, we’ve had some pretty elaborate things over the years, and looking forward to a few this year, as well.”

On top of everything else, there will also be an “Official Pace Car” from Sleepy Hollow Automotive to … well, whatever it is a pace car can do? Isn’t a car about 32 feet long?

Registration gets you one of those sought after free “Look everyone, I ran in a race” shirts, with a pretty funny phrase this year (see below). It also gets that coveted beer everyone deserves after running a race.

Signup online or just inside Brothers Bar on Pearl Street. Cost is $25-$28.