This Saturday is the Hot Chocolate 5k & 15k in Dallas. I’m running the 15k. I’ve never run this race series before, but I hope it will be fun!
Since the race is on a Saturday, they had the expo on Thurs-Fri. Not very convenient since I typically work on those days. Not to mention it was a pretty long drive from the burbs to the expo site. And get this…they charged us for parking. What the frisbee?!?
But, of course I still had some fun with it…
Me n my new bestie – Marsha M. And look, I got a free hat!
I didn’t realize how big this race is – they say there’s 13,000 runners running! So I went on the first day of the expo to avoid the crowds.
I got my swag bag and bib and then tried to take another silly selfie with an inflatable, but some gal ran up to me and insisted on taking the pic for me. It totally threw me off my goof game…
I was too shocked to do anything but give the shaka sign.
For such a big race, the expo itself was pretty small. Maybe 15-20 vendors, I think. But they tried to fun it up with a DJ, bounce houses, and chocolate. I made a quick 6 second video to try and capture the moment.
Anyway, as for the race itself, it starts/ends at Fair Park in Dallas. It’s a historical part of town, home to the Cotton Bowl, concerts, State Fair, performances, festivals and such. It’s not located in the best part of town, but I do enjoy going there. I’ve actually done several races in that area.
After a race in Fair Park with some friends and a giant ferris buehler wheel.
I’ve taken a look at the course and I’m familiar with a few of the sections. One stretch that sticks out to me is Gaston Rd. We ran that same road during the Mich Ultra 13.1 back in October. It stood out because of the long rolling hills. Hopefully it’s gotten flatter since then.
Stay the course, my friends.
And while I haven’t run this race before, plenty of friends have. I was glad to get the scoop from them about the driving/parking/traffic nightmare that it is. I guess 13,000 folks can block up the roads. So some friends and I are going to take the train down. Choo Choo Chew Chocolate.
I’m in corral “I”. Usually I’m in corral 1 or 2. But they told me how it works is the 5k is A-H, and they start first. Corral I is actually the first corral for the 15k. Whew, I didn’t want to be doing too much dodging and weaving!
Once the race starts, I’m not really sure how to pace it. I’ve only done one other 15k – like a year and a half ago. All I remember is that I went out too fast, and that it was wicked hot/humid. You can read the recap HERE.
The only pic I took that day. Say ahhhhhh!
Anyway, I look forward to the race! I hope it all goes smoothly and we have some fun! And I can’t wait to get this medal around my neck!
It’s a metal chocolate bar. That’s one way to get iron in your system.
If you want to follow along during the race, my Twitter is set up for runner tracking to post my splits. You can follow me HERE.
Come back in a few days for the race recap!!!
How bout you? Ever run a Hot Chocolate race? Anyone running this race with me that I should look for? Ever run a 15k before?
-Scott
Piratebobcat 
Have a great race!
Thank you, I did!
Good luck! I’ve never run a Hot Chocolate race but I have heard good things about them and their swag.
Thank you! The swag was nice – jacket, medal, hat, bag & chocolate!
Have a great race! I’ve ran the SF and San Diego 15Ks. They’re fun!
Thank you, I did! Glad to hear you enjoyed your SF and SD 15ks!
Never run this before, first 15k for me and the fetus. I’m 32 weeks pregnant and my goal is to finish. Happy running!!
Yay! Way to go, I hope you had a good race (i.e. finish)!
See, Dallas got an expo and everything. In Austin we had packet pickup at a running store across the street from where I work. No expo, no local volunteers, even. And definitely no chocolate stations. Hope yours was a fun one!
Haha, sorry to hear that. I actually would’ve preferred a local run store pick up as opposed to fighting the traffic of a weekday expo. I hope your version gets better! Or come to Dallas next time!
Well, I already saw on IG that you PRed, so congratulations!
Ooh- looks like a tasty expo! Hope you got to enjoy some sweet treats post-race, too.
Not sure why they don’t bring the hot chocolate series up to Canada. Seems like after a winter race, hot chocolate would taste good to any runner 🙂
Haha, yeah IG spoils the surprise! Thank you!!!!
Too be honest, I don’t really like sugary things. Too sweet for me. I did have a little though 😉
IDK why they don’t have it in Canada?!? I gotta admit, the hot chocolate tasted great on a chilly morning!
This race has been on my list to try out. Hope it was a good one!
It was a tough race, but I still PR’d!!!! Thank you!
That medal looks delicious!
It actually didn’t taste as good as it looked 😉
Hope it went well! I ran the hot chocolate 5k last year in Philly and it was a great time! I wanted to do the 15k but last winter was so brutal it was better to shorten the training to nothing and just do the 5k. My favorite part was all the chocolate at the end 😛
Thank you, it did!! That’s smart of you to avoid the longer distance in the brutal weather y’all get up there! I feel for ya. Hope it warms soon.
I haven’t done a Hot Chocolate race yet. They had one here in DC but it went terribly wrong from what I’ve heard and they haven’t come back. But I’d be lured by the chocolate no doubt! Sounds like a fun race! Love the medal!
Oh really? They were one and done? Yeah, this is the 3rd year I think for Dallas, I waited until now so they could work out the kinks. Yes, the medal is actually pretty cool looking!
I haven’t run a hot chocolate race before, I haven’t seen any around me which is ridiculous, I’d LOVE to run one! Who doesn’t love hot cocoa after a cold run (at least in MA!) It sounds like you had a great time and I love the medal!!
Awww, bummer! You should write them to come to you! Yes, hot chocolate tasted great after the chilly race! The medal is very colorful!
All I can say is that it looks so warm there. Sigh, I don’t know what warm is anymore.
Never ran a Hot Chocolate race but it looks like a lot of fun!
It was pretty fun! Not a lot of crowd support, but still a good time!