Shamrock Shuffle 8k Race + Potbelly Sandwich Shop

This weekend I ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8k race in downtown Chicago and had lunch at Potbelly Sandwich Shop to refuel afterwards. Read below for a brief race recap and details on using the Potbelly app.

How did you spend the first weekend of April? I ran my first race of the year and the first race since baby C was born – the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k. This was my sixth time running the Shamrock Shuffle race. The weather was perfect for a spring run on Sunday – temperatures in the 50s and sun at the finish line.

My friend P and I ran the race together. We started in wave 2 at 9:00 am – the later start time was much appreciated. The Shuffle was P’s first road race event and she did an amazing job! I am not back to a consistent running routine yet but I felt good during the race. My legs are still sore today though – second day soreness is no joke when you’re not used to running 5 miles.

Many people consider the Shamrock Shuffle the start of racing season in Chicago. More than 20,000 people participated in the race this year. Even though we are a few weeks past St. Patrick’s Day most people were decked out in green. P and I missed the green shirt memo. 😉

After the race, I was starving and ready for an early lunch. I was given the opportunity to check out the Potbelly Sandwich Shop app this weekend so K and baby C met me in Lincoln Square at Potbelly.

Potbelly is one of my favorite stops for a quick lunch. The shop has an app where you can pre-order a meal. On my way to Potbelly I placed our order on the app, which is linked to my credit card. The app gives you all of Potbelly’s meal options, including sandwiches, salads, sides, desserts, and drinks. Here is what a meal selection looks like:

I think it’s great that the Potbelly app includes nutrition information as well as detailed food options. I’m always wondering what days specific soups are available and now I can figure that out easily. If you use the app and order your meal in advance, you can jump the line and head straight to the counter to pick up your order. After I placed an order, the app said our meal would be ready in 10 minutes.

Another benefit of using the Potbelly app is access to Potbelly Perks. For every $2 spent, you earn “smiles” that go towards future perks like free treats.

I frequently eat lunch at Potbelly, especially while working downtown. I appreciate that they use fresh ingredients and have a large menu of options. For lunch this weekend, I had the Classic Tomato soup {my favorite} and Powerhouse Salad. The salad came with grilled chicken, avocado, hummus, hard-boiled egg, cucumber, grape tomatoes, and spinach.

K ordered a toasted chicken salad sandwich with a side of chips. If you’re a fan of chicken salad, the Potbelly version is my favorite. While I was pregnant with baby C I had a chicken salad flatbread sandwich from Potbelly several times a week. I think he’s made up of at least 30% chicken salad!

Click here to download the Potbelly Sandwich Shop app. Using the app is an easy way to customize your meal order and jump the line to save time. You can also order delivery through the app, which I definitely plan on using in the future.

Check out my Shamrock Shuffle race posts from previous years:

• Interview with Elite Runner Alexi Pappas
• 8 Weeks to 8k
• 2016 Shamrock Shuffle Race + Weekly Workouts
• 4 Weeks to Shamrock Shuffle