The Hot Chocolate races are always something I look forward to. I've competed in the Hot Chocolate races in Las Vegas and a few times in Atlanta, but this was my first time competed in the Hot Chocolate Race virtually. But before we get into the race, we have to talk about all the amazing swag that the Hot Chocolate San Diego has to offer. The medal this year is shaped like a candy wrapper which opens up with a piece of chocolate inside. Next up, the yearly hot chocolate jacket! The jacket has a removable hood, side pockets, and is even softer than the jackets of years past. I feel that each year their jackets get better and better. They are very comfortable and fit great, not to mention look great especially after a long run.
For my virtual run I used the sidewalk around my neighborhood to get the distance I needed without having to repeat too much ground to cover. The difficult part for me, is that this area has a lot of elevation changes. On a more positive note racing this time of year means it's the start of spring in Georgia so the weather was perfect for a run. I managed to keep up a good pace for most of the race. Since it was a longer distance than I normally race, I chose to run a slower pace so I could run the entire race. I would highly recommend the hot chocolate race in person or virtually to runners of all levels.