This is my third or fourth hot chocolate race, so it's always one I look forward to running. This year I leveled down to run it with a non-experienced new runner friend. The expo was great, as always. Many vendors, all very kind and all selling some really cool swag. Two thumbs up.

Race day was great as well - plentiful parking, everything marked well regarding start line, etc... the after-race party was fun too. Always delicious food etc.

I had two issues with this year's race that made me frown. First - no medal for the 5k finishers. I never realized that because, having always run the 15k race, I always received a medal. I tweeted to the race and they did respond, confirming that in fact, 5k finishers don't get a medal. Bummer. That's a lot of money for a snug-fitting jacket. Which leads me to this comment - this year's jackets seemed to run even smaller than normal. They typically DO run small, and I haven't gained weight since last year, so I know nothing has changed there - the size medium barely fit me, and normally it does. Quite a few people were complaining at the 'exchange' tent, where I tried to exchange mine, only to be told they had no sz L to exchange, and they couldn't give me a men's jacket, despite having a huge pile of extra size Med mens jackets (which would have fit me). Very disappointing to have paid the hefty race fee and get no medal and not have a jacket I can wear.

The other issue I had with this year's race is the photos. I've always gotten great images - this year there were two images with me in them - and I had to search by my friend's bib number, because the bib number pics they gave me are complete strangers. Very odd and I'm left wondering if maybe this year they switched photographers. Very, very disappointing.

All in all a great race but these hiccups left me with a small sour taste in my mouth.