There really is no better motivator than chocolate.
My expectations for the Hot Chocolate 15k were not very high because my husband’s company party was the night before (and hello finger foods and open bar!) I’m not a big drinker but because my husband had been out of town for so long (an eternal month!), I wanted to enjoy the night with him and eat, drink, and be merry–not worry about what I ate because of a race the next day.
So I indulged and had two cocktails and paid several lengthy visits to the other bar, the cheese bar 😀
We still made it home early because, well, we’re not much of the party type. Seeing 9 o’clock before my head hit the pillow made me at least feel like I’d get a decent night sleep.
I woke up, er, my son woke us up at our usual 5 a.m. time and I began getting ready. I wasn’t sure whether to go with shorts or leggings as the weather in Arizona is still pretty mild (don’t hate me). I decided capris because I’m a wimp to even the smallest drop in temperature.
I had a ton of friends doing this race so I made sure to get there early with enough time to take pictures and chat. There were 3 running groups that I was meeting up with–2 before the race and 1 after–and two co-workers who were also running. Trying to find everyone proved to be an awesome warm up 🙂
The race had corrals which I liked and was happy that I was in the first one with several friends from my running group. We all run similar paces so when the gun went off, we all stayed together at the beginning.
We were chatting and not really even paying much attention to our pace which was great considering I hadn’t wanted to anyway.
The first mile beeped a 9:00 flat and I was pleasantly surprised as I felt great and had been talking the entire time. We kept running, keeping up our conversation, giggling, and just having fun. The second mile beeped 9:06 and again, we were happy to have maintained our pace talking the way we were. The third mile beeped, 9:07. Now I was starting to get a little competitive with myself and figured if I had been keeping such a steady pace, I might as well try and keep it that way the rest of the way. One of my friends began distancing herself and sped up her pace, another friend began to slow down a bit. I kept it steady.
I checked off miles 4-7 at
8:58
8:53
8:54
8:58
Yes, please congratulate me for those beautiful splits! 😀 I was feeling so good and felt like I was on total cruise control.
Part of the credit does go to my husband though– he had not signed up to run the Hot Chocolate 15k because he thought he’d still be out of town. Since he’d made it, and needed to get some mileage in anyway, he decided to run part of the course with me 🙂
Mile 8 was part of an awful long out and back and I beeped it away at 9:09.
The last mile was all about finishing strong and getting to the chocolate as quick as I could.
8:48!
And the end result was a brand spankin’ new PR!!!!
I was so incredibly thrilled! I wished this would’ve been a half marathon because the way I felt would have earned me a new 1/2 PR lol! I was so happy with my splits and felt that this was by far one of the best races I’ve ran this year. Such a good way to start to close out the season (I do still have one more race, a 1/2, on Sunday!).
Having such little expectation and going into it with purely fun in mind I think allowed me run such a good race. I want to remember all of this for future races! All stressing out does is make me overthink things and lose focus on why I do this in the first place–to have fun!! 🙂
After the race was more socializing. Seriously, this race just had good vibes all around.
One of my friends I’d started with finished just behind me and we met up with some others in our group to pose for pictures.
I was also finally able to meet up with another one of my running groups to take a fun group pic
And then best of all, several co-workers had come to cheer me and two of my fellow teachers at the race.
I must have stayed a good hour post race just hanging out. It was so. much. fun.
I can’t forget that along with an awesome race, the swag is what makes it even better. Along with a sweet jacket, finishers received this awesome medal
and of course, chocolate!!!
If you’ve never done a “fun” race, this would be the one to do. It’s still a race you can be competitive at if that’s your style (the top finisher ran it in 49 minutes!), but it’s also one that’s all about having a good time.
Having done it two years in a row, it’s become a yearly race that I will for sure always have on my calendar 🙂
–Have you ran for chocolate?
–What would be your favorite food to “run for”? (mmm, pizza)
This post was written by me and contains my own honest opinions. I was not compensated in any way by Hot Chocolate 15k organizers. (But if you guys wanna hook me up next year, I’m all for it!! 😉 )
You look so cute! Love the outfit.
Great medal and very appropriate for a hot chocolate race.
Thank you and I lOVE that medal 🙂
You clean up so well! 😉 the HotChocolate race is one on my wish list. They have great swag! Congrats on the great race!
Thank you!! The race has pretty amazing swag that helps justify the price. Plus, it’s a def good time!
Yay!! Congrats on a big PR! It sounds like you had a happy, relaxed, super-fun race! I’ll keep an eye out for Hot Chocolate if/when it comes to the Philly area next year.
Yes, see if it comes to your area! It’s so much fun!
I wish they had this race here! I would totally run for chocolate. I am so proud of your PR!!!! ❤
Thank you friend! You would LOVE this race ❤
Nice pace, congrats!! Awesome that you had such a good time and kicked butt. I did a 5k this summer where we had to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at the halfway point…so not exactly running FOR chocolate. It was a silly race I can say I’ve done but not sure I would do it again! Good luck on the 1/2!
That sounds like a pretty amazing race lol! Yeah, they had chocolate stations during this race but I didnt’ eat any–I for sure would’ve gotten sick jaja!!
Congrats on the PR! That race seems like it would be a blast!
It was SO much fun!
Congrats on the PR! The medal is hilarious!! They had the Hot Chocolate run in DC a few years ago, but I think it was disastrous (logistics wise) so they haven’t returned since)
Boo they didn’t get it together in DC! That just means you need to come to Phoenix and run it 😉
The Austin version of this race was held the first week of September, with a “frozen chocolate” theme. It was, not surprisingly, hot. At least Arizona had the sense to schedule it in December. And was your whole course on paved roads? Half of my 10K was on gravel road. Every time I read someone’s race report from a Hot Chocolate race where things were great, I become more convinced that the organizers just totally dropped the ball in Austin.
I run for coffee and tacos. 😉
Well Austin by itself is awesome so your Hot Chocolate race gets a pass 😉
Our whole course was paved and I would most definitely run for the same things as you!!
Congrats on the new PR and damn you clean up nice! I did a “Chocolate Chase 5k” when I was in undergrad, but there was general lack of chocolate involved. It was sorely disappointed.
Boooo! How can you being chasing chocolate with no chocolate?? 😦
Mmmmm, chocolate. One of my main reasons for living. Right after the Wonder Mutt, Moose Tracks ice cream, and margaritas. Awesome time!!!
Thank you!!
Congratulations on the new PR! And how smoking do you look at that party?!
You’re so sweet! T hank you!
I have never done a hot chocolate race. I think they came to DC once and it had terrible reviews. Congrats on a great race!!
Bummer the DC one isn’t fun 😦 It’s become such a popular race here
Those splits are excellent–congrats! I’ve never done a Hot Chocolate run, but I’m trying to convince my bestie to do the 5k in Philly with me next year.
She neeeeeeds to do it!!! 🙂
Woohoo- congrats on your PR! Maybe the cocktails & cheese helped more than you thought 😉
I totally believe that not stressing out on race morning helps lead to PRs. If we’re not wasting energy stressing about it, that’s more energy we can use to run, right? & your splits were seriously amazing!
I’m so glad you had an awesome race experience all around! It’s so much fun to be involved with more than one run club come race day.
As for what I’d run for? Peanut butter, hands down!
Why am I not surprised? 😉 lol!
Thank you! It was such a fun race and I hope I can use/keep that mentality for future races
Yay! Congrats on the PR! And it looks like it was so much fun too! Your splits are amazing! I have to second you on the pizza. That would probably be my choice too:)
Thank you!! Good luck on Sunday!! We need to plan a meet up spot!
Congrats on the PR!!!!! I’ve ran the Hot Chocolate races in San Diego and San Francisco. They’re a blast!!!
Wow!!! Congrats on those amazing splits and an awesome race!!
Congrats! You totally nailed those splits! I would run for chocolate, pizza, burritos…….
Congrats on your new PR! I ran this race in Philly last year, but chose the 5k option because it was a week after a half marathon. It was awesome and the chocolate was so good!
How fun! I love the hot chocolate race series! I did the 5k in Philly last April and will probably do it again this year! It’s still too early in the year for me to feel prepared for a 15k.. I think but maybe this year will be less snowy and I will be able to run more frequently. Regardless, chocolate is absolutely a great motivation along with the awesome sweatshirts they gave out! I heard next year’s is great too!
You look gorgeous as usual for B’s holiday party!! And congrats on a great race, running and chocolate..sounds like a perfect race. I have to see if we have any of those kinds of races around me, it would be fun!!