Hot Chocolate Philadelphia

Hot Chocolate Philadelphia

Hot Chocolate Philadelphia

( 43 reviews )
100% of reviewers recommend this race
  • Philadelphia,
    Pennsylvania,
    United States
  • April
  • 3 miles/5K, 6 miles/10K, 9 miles/15K, Virtual Race
  • Road Race
  • Event Website

Lisa Ponti

Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States
5 8
2019
"More Hometown Running!!"
Overall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
Lisa Ponti's thoughts:

I hadn't run this race in several years but after I got the flu for the 2018 Philly Half I was determined to get back to my hometown for another race and I hadn't heard back from the BSR lottery by the time I registered (got into that too so I'll review that eventually as well). Hubs had never run the race so we both registered in hopes of improving on our undertrained performance in Charleston in January!
Because the race was a Saturday and we'd be heading down after work we opted out of the expo and had our bibs etc. mailed to us. I must say that the HCR really does the attire up right, very excited by our swag, the zip up jacket. It was very hard not to wear it before the race (b/c that's bad juju!).
Because we stay in town the night before we don't have to deal with parking or anything but just walk up to the starting line. It seemed to me that the first time I ran this we started earlier (I could be wrong) but I liked the 8:00 start time. The weather cooperated for the most part and it was nice not to have to be up at some ungodly hour. Found our corral easily enough as we saw the 5K participants finishing up.
The course is a bit different from the BSR and the Philly Half in that only part of it is in town, down the parkway and then most of it is along the Schuykill and up into the park. Seeing Boathouse Row etc. is nice, although you get more spectators on the city streets. But everyone's energy was so great that we just cheered each other along.
Post race snacks of dipping chocolate, hot chocolate (which wasn't too hot to pretty much swill down!) and things to dip in the chocolate were pretty good. I think a soft pretzel would have been good for dipping....just saying...there were vendor tents and music etc. and the sun was out but we didn't hang out for too long. Walked back to our hotel for post race showers and then ventured out for post race adult beverages and lunch. Philly has no shortage of good places to eat and drink, that's for sure.
Liked the race, had a good day, and it fit well into our training plan for May's BSR. Have to say that I'll be considering this again next year if my work travel schedule allows.

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