On December 19, I ran the Tampa Hot Chocolate 5K in downtown Tampa, and I'm so glad I did!  

I originally planned to run the 15K and trained for it. But, I transferred to the 5K about 10 days before race day. I didn't want to run in a crowd for 9+ miles (omicron), plus we had obligations later in the day. Running the 5K made more sense.

I've run a 15K and 5K at this event, and recommend them both. It's a flat, fast out and back course that offers lovely views along Bayshore Blvd. 

The big question each year is the weather. Will it be hot or cold? Humid or dry? It's been both over the years, so there's no guarantee.

This year it was 93% humidity which added some challenges, but thankfully there was plenty of cloud cover to keep the temperature down.

REGISTRATION PRICES
Keep an eye on registration dates. You get the best prices when the season opens. I registered in July at the lowest price.

There were three price increases. The price of both races went up on October 3, November 7, and December 5. You can do a late registration during the Expo, but NOT on race morning.

PACKET PICKUP + EXPO
The race expo was at the Tampa Convention Center on Franklin Street. It was open 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, December 18. If you didn't choose the packet mailing option, you had to pick up your packet on Saturday.

The expo was noticeably smaller than pre-covid. But, all the Hot Chocolate Race elements we love were all there: hot chocolate and chocolate samples, picture spots, and HC gear.

Bonus: Since the race is right before the holidays, it's a chance to grab some gear as gifts.

There were samples of the Honey Stinger rapid hydration powder used on the race course, protein bars, and dry ice packs. 

Inside the expo and outside on the plaza there were plenty of picture spots for runners. It was also easy to see where things would be happening the next day.

SWAG 
The Hot Chocolate 15K 5K is known for its SWAG for good reason. This year's jacket is my new fave. It's performance jacket meets lightweight puffer with a full zip front and pockets. It's the perfect weight for Florida. And, since it's a full zip, it's easy to layer over other sweaters and gear.  

Runners pick up their jackets at the expo. Medals and finisher mugs are received after crossing the finish line on race day.

The finisher medals are beautiful. Each city has a city-specific neck ribbon. The finisher mug gives you plenty of goodies to snack on post race. So much better than a banana and a beer!

There were Honey Stinger rapid hydration and water bottles at the finish line. Fluids were offered on the course, but I carried my own water bottle.

RACE COURSE AND FINISH LINE
Due to the staggered starting corrals, it was easy to stay socially distanced while running. I wore my mask for the first quarter mile. I took it off once everyone was spread out.



Photos: www.thisoldrunner.com/race-review-tampa-hot-chocolate-races.html



At the finish line someone handed you a medal, Honey Stinger Rapid Hydration powder and a bottle of water. Then, we walked a short distance back to the convention center where finisher mugs were handed out.



OFFICIAL RACE PHOTOS
There were photographers walking around taking photos before, during and after the races. Runners received a link via email for individual race results and FREE photos on Sunday afternoon. 



WEATHER REPORT
73 degrees. 93% humidity. Clouds and fog throughout the 5K. The air was heavy, but the views were good. 

Whatever the temperature, I recommend this race. It's organized, easy to park, easy to run, and offers some of the best swag around. Read my blog and full review here: http://www.thisoldrunner.com/blog/week-12-hot-chocolate-15k-race-week-and-watercolor-sketchbooking

REGISTER AND RUN YOUR OWN HC RACE
There are still plenty of #HotChocolate races in the 2021-2022 season. Check out the official Hot Chocolate 15K/5K website to find a race near you.

If you can't find a location that works for you, take advantage of the virtual race option. Run when and where you want and still get all the sweet swag! Don't forget to use my code "HC21" to score a free BUFF!

After a year of cancelled in-person races, every runner I know was looking for some extra holiday cheer. I found mine by training for and running the Elf Virtual Run hosted by Ram Races.

Runners were encouraged to post on social media with #RunWithBuddy. It was a nice way to connect everyone so we could see how other runners embraced the theme. There were many creative runners!

RACE SWAG
The race SWAG was based on the holiday movie, ELF. Every participant received a red full-zip hoodie, green beanie, and race bib with the ELF movie logo on it. The finisher's medal was shaped like a snow-globe and matched the theme. Everything was top quality. I'll wear the hoodie and beanie a lot.

RACE MANAGEMENT
Ram Racing did an excellent job of communicating with regular emails. Runners could download a training plan, and enter a contest to win energy gels. The race had it's own Instagram account that provided encouragement, info and updates.

REGISTRATION
Runners could register in November, then run anytime (and anywhere) up until January 31, 2021. There was a 5K or 10K choice for distance. You could upload your results to see how you compared to other participants. Registration stayed open so people could join anytime in December.

HOLIDAY MOOD
As soon as I registered, I started channeling Buddy the Elf. I added an Elf-themed face mask and Caramel Candy flavored energy gels to my workouts. I wore my Ugly Sweater sunnies and holiday socks. I even created an Elf Race Scavenger Hunt.

It was fun to run around my city wearing holiday gear. It was a nice distraction during a holiday season when we didn't travel or see extended family and friends due to Covid-19. It was helpful to focus on a themed race.

VIRTUAL BENEFITS
I love in-person events, but this year the virtual aspect of this race was excellent. I could share the race with friends and family who live far away. I didn't worry about safety precautions beyond my own mask and route. I ran when and where I wanted. I could safely share the experience.

BONUS POINTS
It felt really good to have a reason to run more miles during a season filled with extra carb-loading!

I'd recommend this race to anyone who wants to stay active and enjoy the holidays + score awesome SWAG. You can read more about my race and scavenger hunt at ThisOldRunner.com.

The 2021 Allstate Hot Chocolate Virtual Races have a flat rate of $40. It's the same price if you run a 15K or 5K. That's a GREAT VALUE when you consider everything you get. (Keep reading!)

If you register a couple of weeks before the race, they'll mail your swag to you before race day. It includes a REAL race bib and your finisher's medal, so it's nice to have it early.

My SWAG bag arrived 6 days before my race. Perfect! Check out the contents:

• Super Soft Full-zip Jacket with a Removable Hood and Roomy Pockets
• A REAL Race Bib and Safety Pins
• 2 Packets of #HC15K Hot Chocolate (it's delicious!)
• Dark Chocolate Squares
• Race Sponsor Samples (i.e., Nuun)
• Finishers Medal with Chocolate Inside

The Allstate Hot Chocolate team interacted with runners online to encourage them to keep training. They encouraged everyone to post to social media with the race hashtags. That was a fun way to engage in a virtual race community. (All Hot Chocolate racers can interact on social using #HotChocolate5k and #HC15k.)

There was great communication throughout the training period. There's even a free plan you can download from the website.

Most virtual races have a way for participants to submit their results to see how they compare to the competition.The Hot Chocolate site makes it easy to upload your race results through your race account.

I completed my Hot Chocolate 15K Louisville in one of my favorite local parks instead of downtown Louisville. Yes, I'd love to see the sights and sounds of Louisville during a race, but I had a wonderful time taking in the views on my trail.

While no one will ever mistake a virtual race for a real one, there are plenty of benefits. That's never been truer than during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need a reason to go outside — or if competition, deadlines, and swag motivate you — a virtual Hot Chocolate race is the answer. They have races all across the US.

Until we're able to race safely in person, virtual races offer a fun experience that keeps people engaged and active. Add in some chocolate, a great medal and a jacket, and that's a win-win for me! 

#HCLouisBr #HCVirtualBR #VirtualHotChocolate

One of the UPSIDES to this crazy year is all the virtual race options. I kinda love them because you can run races that were beyond reach in a normal year.

That's why I was all in for the VIRTUAL Air Force Marathon's Fly! Fight! Win! Challenge. My challenge included running a 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon.

Runners could run their race anytime in September. I chose to run all three races on the original race weekend. I wanted to challenge myself and create a real race weekend vibe.

I picked 3 different race routes to keep it interesting. The weather cooperated, and I ran my races as planned. A BIG advantage to virtual races is you can adjust if weather (or life) interferes with your plans.

I took lots of photos and posted my races on social media for accountability and to share the experience with my friends and followers.

It was impressive how interactive the Air Force Marathon social accounts were. They were encouraging throughout my training, and gave enthusiastic congrats when I finished. That was fun. Seeing other people post about their races online made it feel like a community of runners.

Race management for this virtual event was great. There were newsletters, reminders, and updates. I had all the information I needed. Photos of swag and medals were posted online. They'll mail to finishers at the beginning of October. I earned a shirt, quarter zip jacket, and 4 medals for completing the challenge.

The 2020 medals feature the HH-60G PAVE HAWK helicopter. The challenge medal has moving helicopter blades! (See photo)

This was one of the best virtual races I've run. Management was attentive and interactive. There was a Facebook live stream on race morning. The race expo was online and open to the public. Runners could print their race bib and a finisher's certificate.

I hope to run the Air Force Marathon in person sometime. Until then, I'm very happy with my virtual run experience!

#FlyAFM #AirForceMarathon #FlyFightWinChallenge #AFMara

The Pittsburgh Marathon offers runners lots of choices. Full, Half, Relay, and 5K events. The 5K, Toddler Run, and Pet Walk are on Saturday, the Half and Full are on Sunday. The Steel Challenge gets you an extra shirt and medal: run the 5K on Saturday, plus one of the Sunday races.

RACE EXPO and PACKET PICKUP
The expo was at the Pittsburgh Convention Center downtown. Hours were 11 am to 8 pm on Friday; 9 am to 6 pm on Saturday. You looked up your bib number, got your bib, bag, and shirt. Signs were clear and there were plenty of people around to help.

We tried to hit the expo on Friday morning. Parking was tight since city workers and everyone running on Saturday were already parking in town. You could park and walk in to the expo but we didn't have time before a lunch date. We returned early on Saturday morning. Parking was easy, and the expo wasn't crowded. We were in and out in under an hour.

It was a big city expo with samples, vendors, fuel, shoes, and race gear. If you forgot anything you could find it at the expo. Brooks had a black and gold Pittsburgh edition shoe which looked sweet. Price was right, too. More details and photos at ThisOldRunner.com

RACE DAY
I love the way the corrals worked. It was organized and easy. You could find all the info you needed about everything online or in emails. There is an app by P3R that sent notifications on race weekend. I appreciated messages like "Expo is Open" and "Head to Your Corral."

The starting line was organized and moved at a good pace. We opted for the last corral and ran a low pressure, back of the pack race. We started about half an hour after the first wave.

THE COURSE
The course for the half was scenic and fun despite the cloudy, wet day. It was great to see the city on foot. The half had rolling hills — nothing too terrible. I did a lot of hill repeats to train for this race, so either they paid off or the marathon had more challenging hills.

AID STATIONS
Aid stations were about every 2 miles. There was NUUN and water at every station. Plenty of hydration for everyone. On course med tents and EMS and police were plentiful. If you had trouble on course there were plenty of professionals around to help.

SPECTATORS and ENTERTAINMENT
There were pockets of people cheering on the runners. It was a rainy morning, but there were lots of spectators. There were bands playing along the course, people dressed in costumes, and groups of people offering encouraging words.

FINISH LINE
OMG, I love, love, love the way this race ends. There are a couple of turns before you end up back on Liberty Avenue. Since there's a marathon there were still plenty of people lining the street and cheering when half marathoners finished. The tall buildings create an echo chamber. It was thrilling to run to the finish with loud cheers on both sides.

FINISHER CHUTE and FAMILY MEET UP
After crossing the finish you receive a medal, water bottles, banana, bagels, fruit cup, EatnPark Smiley cookies, salty snacks, and a heat sheet. There may have been other things I missed. Point is, there was plenty of post race food.

The chute funneled racers towards Point State Park where you could meet up with friends/family. Take a quick right for the porta potties and gear check. BTW, the full marathon's named sponsor is FedEx. Gear check was in FedEx Trucks parked along Liberty Avenue.

Marathoners received a free beer; $5 for everyone else. The beer tent was a couple of blocks away from Point State Park.

Inside the park were more vendors, free samples, an official merchandise tent, challenge medal pickup, etc. The rain was on and off all morning, so we joined the group huddled under the arch to visit with family. When the skies cleared we made our way back to the ice arena where we parked for free.

SWAG
The race medal is nice -- shows the city reflected in the river, plus highlights the three rivers. The race shirt is black tech long sleeve. It was nice to throw it on after the race. In the swag bag there were some $10 coupons for Dick's Sporting Goods and GNC, plus Honey Stinger Waffle + coupon, NuGo Bar and info on getting your medal engraved.

People in Pittsburgh are always friendly and fun, and so was their race!

Photos and more info here: www.thisoldrunner.com/2019-pittsburgh-half-marathon-review.html