Allstate Hot Chocolate Scottsdale

Allstate Hot Chocolate Scottsdale

Allstate Hot Chocolate Scottsdale

( 19 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Phoenix,
    Arizona,
    United States
  • December
  • 3 miles/5K, 9 miles/15K
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

A B

Arizona, United States
28 32
2016
"I'm Chocolate Wasted"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
A B's thoughts:

Pre Race communication
Emails and emails and emails... only the pertinent information... is was great. They even send out a training plan beginning 9 weeks out- I was able to share this with friends joining the running community.

Expo
Packet pickup was simple. I hate that it is so far from me, be so goes it. I'm a Westside guy... When I arrived, parking was clearly marked, and signs pointed me where to go. There were a few vendors and some branded products (I scored some fuzzy pants for under $20). When I went to get my swag bag, I didn't get the visor, so I told them I should have. They were super nice and sent me to the information booth (there was no line... they were just following protocols). The information booth fixed the issue within about two minutes, and I was off to check out the remaining vendors (Ragnar was there and I SOOOOOO with I had a team).

Race day
On race day, I had 16 other people doing the 5k or 15k... Because of the way it is set up, I was able to see everyone and wish them luck. Unfortunately, the 5k people start first, and then obviously end first, so if part of your party is doing one race, and you the other, there is a lot of dead time...
The course cruised the streets of Scottsdale, and there were awesome and energetic volunteers at aid stations... they were so good... screaming out what they had (you knew your cup had marshmallows, not water) so you could continue running if you didn't want the good stuff.

This race was the day my half marathon, so I had set out a goal of 100 minutes. I left most of my group behind, but thought one of my former students was way ahead of me... so after I chugged some Glukos around mile 6, I picked up the pace. The course was nearly flat, so i wasn't hurting like I thought I would be, and with no other races until 2017, I decided to just let it rip...

More energy, more awesome volunteers, and pretty soon we were at the Salt River Fields complex again. I hadn't seen the kid I thought was ahead of during the turnaround between mile 6 and 8, but I did see some of the rest of my party... So I assumed he was THAT far ahead. After I hit mile 9, rounding the final turn I gave everything I had left and crossed at 1:37, beating my goal. Turns out I had beat everyone in my party... but I'm telling you if it wasn't in my head that I had to go faster, I never would have made my goal... so I guess I'm glad I had an ego?

I had time to stretch and relax and there was NO LINE for my chocolate... just a bunch of really friendly volunteers serving up 550 gallons of chocolate.

So- expo... easy (and purchase was placed in last year's draw string bags... sweet)
Jacket/medal... still some of the best swag out there
Organization... serves as a model for larger races (hoping Vegas will be this good in Feb)
I included more photos on my blog, https://sites.google.com/site/running131forfun/hot-chocolate-15k-scottsdale

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