I attended the expo on Saturday, prepped to pick up my packet and snack on some chocolate (see a theme here?). While the expo was a bit smaller than previous years (so I heard from other runners there), it definitely still had a buzz about it with super friendly volunteers and eager runners. A definite unique perk was the booth in the middle where volunteers were handing out chocolate fondue with a marshmallow and Oreo dipper, along with some super delicious hot chocolate. They even had little squares of chocolate and the volunteers were urging runners to take as many of the goodies as we wanted (I may have had a second helping of the goodies- shhhh!).
Fast forward to race morning, it was an absolutely picture perfect day for a race- beautiful sun and cooler temps (for Phoenix), They had corral starts based on your expected finish time, which I really appreciated because while I totally understand people wanting to walk the race, it is frustrating when they position themselves at the front only to walk, forcing runners to weave around them. There was great crowd and volunteer support along the course, their cheers and encouragement definitely helped!
Now, let's talk about what we've all been waiting for, the finisher food and medal! After crossing the finish line, I was bestowed an awesome medal that makes me crave a warm cup of hot chocolate every time I look at it- it's that vivid! I then ventured over to the tent to grab my yummy finisher food, which consisted of that amazing hot chocolate from the expo, a banana, and hot chocolate fondue with marshmallow, Oreo, pretzel, and Rice Krispies dippers. My appetite takes awhile to kick in after a race, so I drank my hot chocolate and saved the rest for a snack later. After warming up my chocolate, I dove right in with my variety of dippers. I'd like to vote for this at EVERY finish line, please!!! Oh, and I can't forget the finisher jacket! I am always a bit leery about fit, however the XS fits perfectly and is super nice quality. I will for sure be rockin' it around Vegas this winter as it's lighter-weight, but warm, which is perfect for the desert winter.
I can definitely say that I will be back for the Hot Chocolate 15k Phoenix in 2022 and I may even add another destination in beforehand! I highly recommend trying this race if it has a stop anywhere near you, which is a good possibility as they have races all over the country.