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

Sarah Lind

Tucson, Arizona, United States
5 4
2016
"Really fun and SWEET race!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Sarah Lind's thoughts:

Expo/Packet-pickup: Once getting to the Scottsdale area, we headed right over to the Salt River Field where the Expo was being held (also the venue for the race). Easy access off the 101 and lots of parking! Overall, this was a very well run and organized Expo. Bib pick-up was a breeze: no lines, friendly volunteers, technology check-in (just like showing an electronic boarding pass on the smart phone)! Lots of freebie food (some variation of chocolate, of course!) and a number of vendors. The best part was the “swap” of the sweatshirt we received–a separate station were there were sweatshirts to try on and then new ones to exchange for the right size! Really top-notch!

Course: Starting corrals were very well-organized with the corral letter being on my bib. Also lots of high energy at the starting line getting runners pumped to race! Course was FLAT. A possible PR course, if one was in the starting corral, otherwise way too many people to weed through to get a decent race pace. Scenery consisted of human backsides and residential neighborhoods, with a few office complexes thrown in for variety. I suppose that one doesn’t do this race for the scenery though, just the chocolate and the medal! Course support ROCKED! Course was well-marked and had numerous volunteers with flags along the way. A big shout out to the numerous safety officers along the course who were friendly and helpful. Aid stations were approximately 2 miles apart, stocked with friendly, high energy volunteers, water and Nunn sports drink. The best part of the aid stations were the "sweet stations" that accompanied them-- a wonderland of chocolate, marshmallows, and other goodies! It doesn't get much better than this!

Shirt/Swag/Bling: As I mentioned earlier, Hoodies (sweatshirts) were given instead of shirts. I really liked this decision, as the Hoodies were specifically designed for running and made out of quality material. The post race tub of chocolate goodness was also a good move, filled with chocolate, hot chocolate, banana, and other tasty treats. Finally, the medal was absolutely AMAZING! What a beauty (large, solid metal, gold, high quality, with a removable medallion)!!!! This medal was the whole reason for me do to this race and it exceeded my expectations!

Overall, this race was well-managed and organized from the pre-race communication emails, which included a training plan if needed, to the post-race festivities. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the medal and the “Sweet Stations” along the course. Was the chocolate theme and huge blow-up thingys a bit commercial and gimmicky? Maybe a little, but truth be told it hooked me and made the whole experience that much more memorable, enjoyable, and SWEET! I would recommend this race to anyone looking for a fun, flat, large race.

For a detailed recap/review of the Scottsdale Hot Chocolate 15K complete with pictures, please check out my blog:

https://sarahwithanh.org/2016/12/06/scottsdale-hot-chocolate-15k-recapreview/

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