The Sweet Treats 5k is one in a series of 4 located in Marion NC. Small town USA settings give this super fun race a family friendly vibe. Marion is quite hilly so the course is a little hilly but there's also a couple good downhill sections too, which give the course an overall nice balance. The packet
pick-up is offered on Friday evening or race day morning. The shirts are soft and comfy & have a super cute logo on them. After the race Marion offers a Sweet Treats Festival in which you can rock your medal with local vendors selling all their wares.
It's a really fun 5k & the race director is an avid runner herself so she pays attention to detail & knows what runners are looking for in a 5k!
The medals in all 4 of the Mcdowell Series 5ks hook together and are a must have to your bling collection!

The expo for the Charlotte AllstateHot Chocolate 15/5k isn't as big as, say, Atlanta. It's really small. The Nuun tent & a few other small clothing & accessories places are set up as well as all the HC apparel. This was the second year for the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15/5k. Last the year the course was a little different but I really liked both courses a lot. The new course wound around the downtown neighborhoods & was a little hilly but if you run hills in your training you should be just fine. All the aid stations were pretty much the same as in all the HC races. There were tons of volunteers and people out on the course so you never feel alone. There was a tiny uphill finish that got a lot of people but I managed my 15k PR that day. The after party was great like always with the Hot Chocolate Finishers mug & my specific to Charlotte medal hanging around my neck. This year I noticed they had a piping hot time clock that you could scan your bib # and you could stand in front of it & have your picture taken with your time which was pretty awesome! When we got back to the car we were hit with a 17$ parking lot fee which was not awesome lol. All in all its a well oiled machine. The HC races seem to always go off without a hitch. They are my favorite 15ks!!

This is a small town USA 5k. There are actually 4 races in Marion NC put on throughout the year this being the last one. Marion is a family friendly up & coming town. It's so cute! The race starts at 9pm and people are encouraged to dress festive. Lights, tinsel, beads. Anything goes. The course is hilly but has some good downhills to balance it out. There' s lots of support along the course that runs through neighborhoods & around the quaint little town. The finish line is set up near the local brewery where you can cash in your free beer ticket after the race. Afterwards Marion hosts a New Years Eve party so stick around!
It's a really fun nighttime race & the race director is great. She's an avid runner herself and makes sure everything is top notch.
There's tons of parking and the city boast a real bathroom close to the start line so that's nice.
The Resolution Run will be on my families 5ks to run list every year!