Hot Chocolate Chicago

Hot Chocolate Chicago

Hot Chocolate Chicago

( 64 reviews )
81% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Chicago,
    Illinois,
    United States
  • November
  • 3 miles/5K, 9 miles/15K, Virtual Race
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Removed User

2015
"Way too expensive for me, but nice race"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Removed User's thoughts:

I ran this race as a pacer and did not pay for my entry. That being said, I personally would have NOT paid the $80+ dollar entry fee for the race. This was my first time running the Hot Chocolate 15k. I have heard NOTHING but bad things about it in the past and that it was a complete shit show, but when the pacing opportunity came along I thought I have absolutely nothing to lose. I did not attend the expo, but my husband who picked up my packet said it was "ok, but very inconvenient to get to" being downtown (parking, traffic, etc.) The swag is cool, the jacket you get in lieu of a shirt is very nice, form fitting. I really like it a lot. ended up parking with ParkWhiz for 15 bucks 2 blocks from where us pacers met. The parking was easy with the prepaid voucher and getting out was a breeze. The corrals were out of control. The people in charge of monitoring them were not doing a very good job ( I paced L but there were TONS of back corrals in the staging, corrals went all the way to w!!). This not only crowded the corrals but screwed the runners with all these people doing 5ks, walking, etc. There is a reason for corrals, either don't have them or enforce them. I paced the 10 min/mile group in the L corral, I had no one at the start, but ended up with 5 lovely women at the finish (more on that!). The start was right on time, I crossed the start line at 745am, perfect. We went on columbus to lower wacker...which is nice BUT EVERYONE around me LOST SATELLITE reception!! Shhhhhhiiiittttt!! As a pacer, I need to know my time!! Also, all those people who sneaked in ahead in to different corrals were also WALKING at .75 of a mile!! Grrrrr!!! Waaaayyyy too many people for the start. There were A LOT of people around me complaining about that, hopefully this is resolved for the future. Once out of the tunnel and on to the street, My garmin was a mile behind and I relied solely on the time on my garmin, not the pace. I feel there were plenty of aid stations giving water, gatorade and chocolate treats (I did NOT see any puke along the way which really surprised me!). The volunteers at the aid stations were great, THANK YOU! The course was nice, looped downtown and then south on Michigan to 31st street, looped down and out and back and then to the Lakefront to McCormick Place and the path and to the finish. The course was nice, I am usually used to the North Lakefront path so running this way was a treat to me. The ladies who ended up with me were great, I really enjoyed pacing with Beast Pacing for the first time. We all finished strong, 1:33:06 for the 15k! I did NOT like the long trek after crossing the finish line to get water, though, that is ridiculous. There should be water much sooner. The even LONGER walk to the finish area to get our goodies is also ridiculous. Bobbing and weaving thru spectators and tired runners to get chocolate is hard, but I was happy I did so and got my chocolate. Overall, I had a great time. I would not pay the entry fee (way to much for me, I would rather do a half for this price), but I would def do the race again as a pacer or if i didnt have to pay:) run happy!

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