Summary:

The Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K/5K in San Francisco is a simple, flat & beautiful out-and-back course that takes you through Golden Gate Park & along the California coast.

Packet PickUp:

Packet PickUp at any #HC15K race is a sight to behold - it's so efficient & technology forward! First, when you register - you receive a pass that you can add to your Apple Wallet. When you arrive at Packet PickUp, you take this same pass & scan it at your designated table. Bib Numbers are given to you at this time & a small little sticker prints out with your name & Corral letter designation - Cool right? The next station is where you grab your swag & then you head on to the Expo booths. Every #HC15K I've even gone to, I can be in & out in less than 10 minutes!

Swag/Extras:

The swag at this event is unbelievable! Nuun is one of the sponsors, so you can always grab a few free packets or a tube. This year, we received hoodies. The women's color is wine & the men's color is black. These hoodies are so comfy & perfect to run in! There are zippered pockets on each side & thumbholes at the end of the sleeve. While I didn't wear it during the race, I wore it home & I've worn it on my daily runs - I love it!

During the race, the aid stations are fully stocked - but there are also Sweet Stations where you can grab a few chocolate chips or M&Ms.

And of course after the race, you receive your iconic blue Hot Chocolate Finisher's Mug, filled with yummy treats: Snyder's Mini Pretzels, a Rice Crispy Treat, 2 biscottis, a Marshmallow, a scoop of hot fudge & a cup of hot cocoa. They also provided plastic bags to keep your mug in for transit. The fudge will eventually cool & harden - so you may want to put it in another container or cup. I used the bottom of our paper cups at the hotel to make fudge cups :).

More Swag: Free Photos, Free Personal Video, Legacy Status.

Course Route/Elevation:

For the run to be in San Francisco, I was expecting outrageous hills - but this course was actually pretty flat considering the locale. There were a few hilly parts, but nothing out of the ordinary. The best part of the course is when you are running along the Pacific Ocean. Words cannot describe it!

Medal:

This year, the medals got an upgrade! Each medal will be specific to the city you are running in. The San Francisco Medal is the full #HC15K candy bar with bite and the Golden Gate Bridge at the bottom. The ribbon for the medal was double sided.

Conclusion:

The #HC15K is a great race for the money. Its fairly priced so that all can participate & for what you receive - its an awesome value. You are guaranteed to make some new friends, get some cool swag & all the chocolate you can eat!