I do love a great racecation! When it involves traveling, seeing friends, and chocolate? Sign me up. I was headed to Chicago to visit my daughter last weekend. Luck would have it, I noticed the Hot Chocolate 15K was happening that weekend. I could not let a race go on blocks from my hotel and not jump in. Read on for the sweet details!
Hot Chocolate 15K Chicago
Packet pickup
Packet pick-up was held on both Friday and Saturday at McCormick Place. I headed over on Friday and picked up my packet and Linda’s and Kim’s. Kim opted into the race at the last minute and joined the party. The convention center is huge however pickup was super easy and smooth. The expo itself was so so with the vendors and for the first time, I did not buy anything. I may have sampled the hot chocolate though.
Hot Chocolate races are known for their race swag and medals. We were given a great black full zip jacket that I know I will wear for runs or just around.
Pre Race Prep
I love a theme race! Cupcake leggings were the best I could do. With temps expected to be in the low 40’s with wind, I planned to wear a light jacket that I could take off if need.
Race Morning
My hotel was about 1.5 miles from the start (where I planned to meet Kim). I had thought I would take a taxi to save time. Alas, there were no taxis available at 6 am. After a short panic, I sprinted down Michigan Avenue with Kim’s gear in tow. We arrived at the start at 6:30 giving us plenty of time to check out bags and use the portapotties.
There were about 5500 runners in the 15K and almost 15,000 doing the 5K! I have not been around so many people in years It felt like old times. We lined up in the second corral which put us pretty near the front of the group.
We’re Off
Kim graciously agreed to run the race using my 6:1 intervals. We kept up a really great pace on the run and felt strong throughout. We chatted and laughed our way through the 9.3 miles. The first part of the course took us into some strange tunnels that were a little creepy. After that, we wound down Martin Luther King Boulevard and then finally down by the lake. We were greeted with fantastic views of Chicago.
The weather was just perfect and we both warmed up quite quickly. I had only done 2 races of the 15K distance before this one and knew a PR was likely. We kept up a great pace even with our intervals. Kim helped pace me for a negative split and a huge 13 minute PR. Crossed the finish line at 1:36:00.
We finished the race hand in hand with huge smiles. Running friends are the best friends!
Post Race
This medal is a keeper! Because this was the Hot Chocolate 15K, there was lots of chocolate at the finish area. Each runner was given a bowl of melted chocolate with banana, rice crispy treats, oreo, and pretzels. I did have some hot chocolate with a large marshmallow but I can’t eat that kind of sugar right after a race.
Loved the flat and fast course and of course the company. We also “ran” into a few other friends from Instagram which is always fun. It was a great day all around and a race I would do again. Chicago is a fantastic running town!
Thanks for helping to make the Runners’ Roundup a huge success by visiting all of the hosts: Laura, Me, Debbie, Jen, Lisa
Congratulations on the HUGE PR, Deborah! Well done!
You look so happy in that photo where you cross the line with Kim.
I love your cupcake outfit – so fitting for a Hot Chocolate race. I have never been to Chicago but it’s definitely on my list.
You have great photos – is that with an iPhone 13?
Yes, we did have an amazing time together Yes, I did upgrade to Iphone 13 and the camera is fantastic.
Congrats on the PR.
The photo on the finishing line is too beautiful!
It looks like a perfect race with a scenic route, a rich swag and a nice post-race with delicious chocolate.
thanks it was a really fun time and perfect running weather
Sounds like such a great race! I’m glad you were able to make this work out. I’ve never done a race in Chicago. This sounds like a fun one! Hot chocolate sounds great but not sure how much I could handle right after a race!
It is a fun city to run in. Add it to your list. I also cannot do the chocolate right afterwards
This, indeed, was a great race! Other than the creepy underpass tunnel, the course was very scenic (not that I noticed much because I was talking and laughing so much, LOL). Thanks for a great Chicago race! I’m glad it worked out for us to do the chocolate thing together 😉
me too! Such a fun time. Chatting and smiling the whole time
Congrats on your PR. I wish they would bring this race back to NY. It was so fun.
Love the tights.
We don’t have it in DC either but it is a fun one
A 13 minute PR??? That’s amazing! It sounds like a perfect day. Chicago is such a great city if you can catch a day with beautiful weather.
It looks like you guys had so much fun, and i love the medal and jacket. Seems like a great race!
It was such a fun morning and a great race to do with a friend. Perfect running weather too
Great report, well done on the super PR and I love the jacket and medal! Hooray!
Thanks we had a really great time together!
So wonderful that you guys got to not just meet up, but race together! And congrats on that huge PR!
I once interviewed in Chicago decades ago, and have been a few times because my SIL lived there until she moved to the Seattle area. Of course I didn’t start running until she lived near Seattle — Oy!
Great job to you both.
It is a really fun city to run in and super flat. The weather was perfect and we had a great time together
I absolutely love that finish line photo of you and Kim!
It could be my fave photo ever! 🙂
Congrats on your huge PR, Deborah! It sounds like you and Kim had a great time!
I ran the 2011 Hot Chocolate 15K that one time it was in DC (specifically National Harbor) and I still wear my jacket even though the logo peeled off the back long ago.
Oh yes I was at that race as well in 2011 what a disaster! We did have a great time together
Oh, this looks simply amazing! I always wanted to run one of these races, but it just hasn’t worked out location-wise. This would be a great way to check both the Hot Chocolate and Illinois off my list!
It is a really fun race!
Congrats on that PR! I just love the finish line photo of you and Kim 🙂 I’ve done the Hot Chocolate virtual but would love to run one in person.
Thanks Michelle! We had so much fun together laughing and chatting the whole way
Your cupcake leggings did it for me! That plus the amazing time you and Kim had together. That photo of you and her crossing the Finish Line is one that should be treasured! This made me think of all the races I’ve done with friends – chatting and laughing as the kms tick by. Such good times!
The best times and the best memories!
So fun that you and Kim got to race together!
that was the best part!