Concerts were canceled. University classes went exclusively online. Hospitals banned “non-essential” visitors. The NBA suspended its season.

But the Shamrock Run wouldn’t fold up its tent. This week, as Oregon and much of the nation increasingly pursued significant measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, race organizers continued to say the Portland event was going forward.

“Currently, all Shamrock weekend activities are scheduled as planned,” the event’s Facebook page stated.

But the Shamrock Run is not going to happen after all -- because Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday night that no gatherings of 250 people or more would be allowed in Oregon for the next four weeks.

Some 20,000 runners participated in last year’s Shamrock Run.

Thursday morning, Shamrock Run organizers sent out an email that said the event would not take place this weekend. “While it is extremely difficult to postpone an event at this late of date,” the email stated, “we fully support the Governor’s decisions in the interest of the public’s health and safety.”

Race officials latter announced that, while they won’t issue refunds, they were giving runners two options to “keep the Shamrock Spirit alive and well in RIP City.” Runners could transfer their current registration into a 2020 Virtual Run, receiving a t-shirt and medal in the mail; or they could defer their registration to next year’s race, which will be held on March 14, 2021.

The deferral and virtual-run options mark a shift from Wednesday, when the Shamrock Run team was outright denying requests for refunds, insisting the date for them had passed.

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.