Hot Chocolate Archives

Philadelphia Hot Chocolate 5k Race Info

August 27, 2020February 4, 2019

Date: 4/6/2019

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Start Time: 7:15am

Avg Temps (f): 60/41

Time Limit: ~15 minute miles

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Weather can be all over the place with this time of year in Philly, so be prepared for cold, rain, and/or snow
Bring layers for clothing, knowing it can be quite cold at the start
Be careful of potholes on the road, especially at the crowded start
These races tend to be crowded, especially with other races going on that day, so expect crowds at the expo and the event, before, throughout and after
Allow plenty of time for parking with so many participants in both the 5k and 15k
The course feels fairly flat, but you will notice the small hill before the finish
With it being such a big race, they use start corrals, so if you’re near the back, know that it will take a bit of time to reach the starting line even after the race has started.

Course

Type: Lollipop with an out and back and loop at one end

Start/Finish Info: Different locations but still very close, walkable distances

Hills: Small elevation changes of about 10-20 feet, with the biggest changes being a loss of ~50 feet early on, which runners then gain back near the end, and some smaller gains in the middle of 10-20 feet.

Course Map/Elevation (see Participant Guide)

Aid stations

Locations of water/electrolyte stations: Both water and Nuun offered; specific locations not noted, other than that there will be plenty available.

Spectator access

Access Locations: Best at the start/finish since it’s mainly an out and back course. You could also see runners just before the 1 mile mark and after the 2 mile mark, before and after they complete the loop part of the course.

Race reports

https://www.bibrave.com/races/allstate-hot-chocolate-philadelphia-reviews#.XFg5VlxKg2w

https://run-856.com/2017/04/03/race-philadelphia-hot-chocolate-15k/

https://cbalbi85.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/race-recap-the-philly-hot-chocolate-15k/

https://notyouraveragerunner.com/hot-chocolate-5k-race-report/

Race Website

https://www.hotchocolate15k.com/philadelphia

Participant Guide

Hot Chocolate 15k Seattle Race Report – Abi H

August 11, 2020March 8, 2018

Race: Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k Seattle

Runner: Abi H

Date: 3/04/2018

Location: Seattle, WA

Results: 1:21:07

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1436735689/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

My hometown is Kirkland, so race in Seattle is very convenient as I don’t have to travel. Street parking is usually available for early birds, and they are free on a Sunday. They have great swags. I like this year’s stretchy zippered long shirt, and love their medal design too!

For after race party, they have a bowl of goodies filled with hot chocolate (duh!), ginormous sized melted chocolate for dipping, pretzels, cookies and banana. I usually only consume the banana, hot chocolate and pretzels.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Since the race is in early March, Seattle weather is a crapshoot (well, that probably holds true for the rest of the 11 months in Seattle). Rain can very well be part of the festivity. We lucked out on the weather this time, it was cold (but not that cold) and dry.

Hills! The constant endless rolling hills could be bothersome if not prepared.

You have to bring your own fueling packets, unless you’re into sweet treats. They have marshmallows, chocolate and tootsie rolls for fueling. Really?

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The chocolate galore! There are variety of different pace time pacers on all corrals from D on, so after turning around you’ll see all kind of pace numbers behind you.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I did really well running the downhills to make up some time lost going uphills. I had absolutely no cramps during the race and after the race, which is a first for a medium range race with rolling hills. I had 3 official true PRs in this race: 5k, 10k and 15k, which is good and bad.

Lessons Learned – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner or yourself on the next time around

There are a lot of buildings in downtown Seattle, plus a fairly long tunnel. So GPS isn’t that accurate. I brought foot pod as well with me for pace display, and used GPS for distance. Both sensors were not accurate at all, so I was going blind in the beginning of the race. I ran way too fast in the beginning – which is where the 5k & 10k PRs came from. I think if I had paced myself correctly in the beginning, I could’ve really used the energy to plow through long downhills in the second half.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Gotta train for the hills and know where to slow down and push through.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

The race was very well organized with lots of goodies and nice swag. Event was on time.

Logistics – Anything special regarding getting to/from the race, hotels around the course, registration…?

This was a local race for me, so everything was within reach. But there are plenty of hotels around.

Weather and typical race conditions

It’s usually cold with about 50% chance of rain.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It is spectators friendly.

How’s the swag?

I’ve got really nice stretchy long sleeves shirt with zipper this year. Very nice color and material. Much better than last year’s cotton sweater jacket.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I highly recommend this race (*****). My wife and my daughter also ran this race and we’re registering for next year’s again.

Hot Chocolate 15k Seattle Race Info

August 26, 2020January 21, 2018

Date: 3/4/18

Location: Seattle, WA (Seattle Center)

Start Time: 7:55am

Avg Temps (f): 52/38

Time Limit: ~15 minute miles, so ~2.5 hours

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Race is very hilly, hands down the one thing everyone comments on. And the hill up Aurora and over the bridge feels fairly never-ending.
The 5k race starts before the 15k and there are lots of waves of 5k runners, so be ready for it to take nearly the entire time leading up to the 15k run for the 5k runners to start
Good race swag
Good post-race chocolate (as you would hope with a race that has Chocolate in the name)
Start corrals in the past haven’t been super crowded, so it’s easier to start out at a goal race pace and not have tons of people to maneuver around
Again, it’s hilly throughout the entire race

Course

Type: 2 out and backs, first a small one around downtown, and another out and back on Aurora Ave N (99), turning around just before N 50th St.

Start/Finish Info: Both at Seattle Center. Garage parking around Seattle Center, or park downtown and take the Monorail in. Info here.

Hills: 1189 feet of gain. 6 significant hills varying from 75-300 feet of gain. See course elevation below.

Link to Course Map

Link to Course Elevation

Aid stations

Locations of water stations: 4 spots with both water and electrolytes, at approximately miles 2.5, 4.5, 6.5, and 8.5

Spectator access

Access Locations: Start/finish, from the Start, you can walk to mile 3, or skip the start and see them downtown and then again after they come back down Aurora, either on Mercer St, or at the finish.