Before running a Hot Chocolate race, I had heard so much hype that I hopped on a bus and came to Philly from NYC for one and I'm glad I did! What a great experience! If you're running for bling, this is a CAN'T MISS EVENT.

Pre-Run:
The start and finish line area were stationed right in front of the famous Rocky steps, and if you've been to that part of the city before, there is a LOT of open green space, but not too much in the way of parking. I was carless, so I took an Uber to the start and gave myself plenty of time to do so since the driver wasn't able to get super close. I had to walk about 5-10 minutes from the nearest drop off to the starting area, which wasn't bad at all, but even with the fairly close proximity, don't cut it too close! There was so much space to spread out, shop the pop-up merch stand, mingle with other runners and stretch out!

The Race:
There were definitely a good number of runners there, and everyone was assigned a corral, but that being said, it didn't feel super packed like you'd expect for larger races. We had a snowy start, which was a fun treat for a winter race! The 15k course started by the museum and had a short loop in front before starting a long down and back along the river. The views were nice and featured waterfront pathways that, for a while, felt like you weren't in the middle of a major city!

Post-Race:
WHAT A POST RACE TREAT! Photo ops galore with a HUGE finishers mug filled with hot chocolate! And of course, Hot Chocolate never disappoints with the bling, and this year not only featured a life-sized giant chocolate bar, but each medal in the series featured a city-specific keychain attachment -- a perfect addition for those who run this race every year, or are running multiples races in the same season. It's not only one of my largest medals to date, but it's still one of my favorites!

Tips:
- If you're traveling in or don't have a ton of time on your hands to go to the expo, it's worth the extra price to have your packet shipped to you! It took a TON of stress off my plate to know I had everything I needed to show up on race day.
- If the forecast calls for snow, take it slow out the gate to avoid slipping and sliding if it sticks! We were fortunate to not have that issue, but you never know with winter runs on the East Coast!

Final Thoughts:
This was my first ever Philly race, and what a great experience! Beautiful views, an amazing post-race festival, and MAJOR BLING! This is a great race if you're warming up or working your way up to half!

This was my first half marathon! If you're running in NYC, you simply can't beat Central Park, rain or shine! The elements were very much against us that morning, as not only was it VERY cold, but it was sleeting the entire race! At first this sounds like a horrible running experience, but the less-favorable conditions made me run FASTER which helped me get a better time than I anticipated! The course was 2 loops around central park followed by a final stretch to complete the 13.1 miles (for reference, a loop around CP is pretty much a 10k, or around 6.2 miles). The course has a mix of small hills and dips with a larger more challenging hill toward the north end of the park (but you're rewarded with a longer downhill stretch along the western side!) At the finish, they had plenty of nutrition and foil blankets for everyone to recover. Race support throughout was spot on despite the elements. Registration included a long-sleeve tech shirt and a medal (this year's medal was themed to the Central Park Zoo!) This is not a huge race, but the NYCRUNS community is so welcoming and friendly that I felt like I was running with friends. Would highly recommend and would run again!

Do you like to have fun? Who doesn't? This race is an absolute PARTY! From the amazing pre and post-race parties, running Citi Field, to the color blast stations, you are in for one of the best 5k races of your life!

Pre-Run:
There's only one race to sign up for here and that's the 5k. Online registration allows you to customize your swag bag through levels -- the most basic being a shirt and medal, all the way up to bundles of merchandise from the race store. The mascot of the race is a unicorn, but usually each race has a slightly different theme -- superheroes, flower power, etc. The site highly encourages you to come dressed in clothing you don't mind staining -- I can't speak for all fabrics, but I will say that I've run multiple color runs before, and I've never had anything permanently stain. (Don't come at me in the comments if your shorts are ruined!) This race is located in and around Citi Field, home of the Mets. There's a SUPER convenient subway station that drops off steps from the start/finish, but you can also Uber or drive if you're coming in from outside of NYC. The pre-race party featured various fitness instructors leading dance warm-up stretches, a DJ, and various booths of sponsors and Color Run merch vendors selling products and offering freebies. Love free stuff? THIS IS YOUR RACE.

The Race:
This is an untimed race. There are no official corrals and you line yourself up. The hosts are super energetic and blast music and confetti at the start of each wave of runners. Expect the waves to move pretty quickly. The best part of this course is the start -- beginning INSIDE Citi Field in the main hallway behind the lower stands. The course leads you down the back halls of the stadium and out onto the field, where you run around the outer edge of the field before heading out and doing numerous S turns through the parking lot. Once you get through the stadium, this course really has nothing to look at, but the directors do a great job of placing the color blast zones and bubble machines around so that you aren't constantly reminded you're doing donuts in a parking lot. You WILL get color powder on you. This is unavoidable. But DO NOT OPEN YOUR MOUTH OR SMILE IN THE BLAST ZONE. You will get a mouthful of powder that tastes like chalk and cannot be washed out of your tastebuds for hours. This is literally my most important tip for this entire event. Wear a buff or bandana and you will have a much better time!

Post-Race:
At the end of the race, volunteers give you your medal and a packet of color powder. There's a massive stage set up with a DJ blasting music -- on a countdown cue, you're encouraged to rip open the packet and toss it into the air, creating a giant color powder wave that is SO MUCH FUN! I think this is the longest I've ever stayed at a post-race party!

Tips:
- COVER YOUR MOUTH. COVER YOUR MOUTH. COVER YOUR MOUTH.
- If you're running with your phone, watch out for color powder getting in the tiny cracks too. If you have one, a waterproof case has a great unconventional purpose here!
- Wear clothes you don't mind getting messy in. (If you are all about Instagram photos, wear white and the powder will really stand out.)
- Make time to arrive early and enjoy the pre-race party! It's a great way to get into the spirit!
- Don't rush off after the run! There's always a SUPER fun post-race party!

Final Thoughts:
They aren't kidding when they say it's the "Happiest 5k" -- don't miss this race if you love a good fun run!

Located on Roosevelt Island in NYC, this popular NYC tradition offers great views of Manhattan, a festive race atmosphere, and a race experience perfect for families, novice runners, and speedy racers alike!

Pre-Run:
Registration was simple and offered a race-day packet pickup. This was all pretty standard, but the big thing to watch out for is transportation. To put it plainly, Roosevelt Island a pain in the butt to get to from Manhattan. If you're lucky, a cab or Uber will take you (expect to take longer than anticipated, and to pay more than you'd expect for a normal ride!) We took an Uber and planned to arrive an hour in advance -- instead, our driver got VERY lost and we ended up arriving with about 15 minutes to get our packets and head to the start, which made for a super stressful morning. Lesson learned! The most straightforward way is to take the tram from Manhattan over to the island -- there are a few issues with this, so plan accordingly! 1) Unlike the subway, each tram car holds significantly fewer people and has to cross to the island, swap loading, and return, compounded with 2) Everyone will be using this as a primary mode of transit. So expect a LONG wait. Also, if you're afraid of heights -- SKIP THIS and grab a cab! Upon arrival, check-in was a breeze, and people were spread out everywhere due to the unique layout of Roosevelt Island not having any major roads.

The Race:
Due to the casual nature of the race, we didn't have corrals, and instead, we had general waves -- fast, mid-pack, and walkers/families. All bibs were timed. The 5k course is one giant loop around Roosevelt Island. the first 1.5 miles are where the money shots are at for views -- you can see the entire east side of Manhattan running northbound on the route. As you reach the northern point of the island, there is an aid station with plenty of water. The latter half of the run takes you south back to the start as you run in between multiple industrial buildings. It's a major 180 from the first part of the run. Once you head back south, the course returns to the start for a full loop.

Post-Race:
One of the most beloved traditions of this race is the famous post-race GIANT cinnamon rolls! Definitely a can't-miss treat if you have a sweet tooth! Since it's a family-focused event, expect to see many people sitting out, eating cinnamon rolls, and enjoying the morning! All runners receive medals and sweatshirts. The sweatshirts aren't the most amazing quality compared to other races. (Looking at you, Coney Island Turkey Trot!)

Tips:
- Transportation to this race is no joke. If you're not a NY resident, plan accordingly!
- Our day was sunny and surprisingly warm, but with NYC, a warm November day is rare, so watch the weather and remember layers!
- If the day is nice, take your time after the race and hang out on the island - not only is it an interesting, rarely-explored part of NYC, but it will allow you to kill some time and wait for the tram lines to ease up!
- Northbound route is a bit tight in some spots -- if you're trying to get around a group of people, you may have to cross into the grass or simply wait until there's a wider opening.

Final Thoughts:
I brought my family to this race and they had such a good time it became a family tradition! Love the holiday atmosphere!