This is my second year running the HC Phoenix 15k and is one of the race weekends I look forward to the most every year. Starting with the expo, you immediately get into the festive spirit as everyone is in a great mood, most likely because they are handing out as much free chocolate as you can eat! The chocolate fondue with marshmallow dippers and delectable hot chocolate are the perfect way to get a kick-start on carb loading! The streak of awesome finisher swag continued this year with a super comfy hoodie that has two separate zipper pockets, which is super handy to store pre-run items! There were plenty of port-a-potties at the start line, so you didn't have to worry about standing in long lines and missing the start. This is a mostly flat course that winds through the streets of downtown Phoenix before the 15k splits off for an up and over on a bridge around mile 6.5. It can be an unexpected surprise for first timers, but thankfully I remembered what to expect from last year. There is another uphill right at mile 9, uphill finishes are not my fave but this one isn’t bad as long as you keep some gas in the tank. After crossing the finish line you get to collect a sweet medal and the prized chocolate fondue and dippers- yum! The hot chocolate is seriously some of the best I’ve had, I could drink mugs of it! They have a DJ playing to keep the vibe up and plenty of backdrops to snap a quick picture. Special call out to the spectators and volunteers, they are all super friendly and energized. I will definitely be back in 2023!

The start and finish was in the Vacation Isle in Mission Bay park along the water. There were plenty of port-a-potties and they actually had park restrooms, which I opted to use. The race was staged by how fast runners anticipated they would be, which was nice. I opted for the “fit 8-9/min mile” group and after a couple waves we were off to the races! We wrapped underneath a bridge and made our first climb up the bridge, which was one of only a few inclines on the course. Most of the race was relatively flat and followed the inlet bay, winding through some neighborhoods and a few different parks. Crowd support was mostly concentrated at the start/finish line, including the final push up the bridge at mile 12.

After crossing the finish line, I received my medal and some light recovery snacks and drinks. There was a classic rock cover band performing, which I loved! If I had more time, I would have definitely stayed around for a bit to listen to them, but I had a long drive back to Vegas ahead of me. The bay was a beautiful backdrop for the start/finish line and provided a wonderful photo-opt for the important finish line and medal pics. If you are a serious competitor (which I am not!) this race also provides prize money to the top finishers, a nice extra incentive! My prize for the race was the half marathon medal, which is hefty and has a beautiful design. While the prize money and medals are wonderful, perhaps the best part of this specific race is the fact that it benefits Make-A-Wish San Diego while also promoting an active, healthy lifestyle.

If you are looking for a quick and flat course that gives back to the community in Southern California, this is your race!

The expo was great, the buzz was palpable in person.
The process of boarding and being shuttled to the start was incredibly well organized and very smooth. Upon being dropped off at the Big Sur Lodge there was hot coffee, which at 3:30am is a godsend because it was cold!!! The organizers did a good job of prepping us that we should wear layers, but even so, a recommendation would be space heaters because I lost a lot of energy and had tight muscle from shivering for 2 hours before the start.
All of that shivering turned to excitement as we lined up in our corrals as the sun was rising. It was neat to overhear the legacy runners chat about the course and their experience, I soaked it all up! Around 6:45am my corral started on a steady downhill for the first couple miles through beautiful redwoods. The course then opened to the first sight of the Pacific Ocean as we began a steady climb, some perplexed cows were, what I’d like to think, cheering us on.
I had read so many reviews from past runners, which helped me pace myself on this new course. I kept gas in the tank as I knew the infamous Hurricane Point climb was approaching from miles 10-12. This hill is no joke, however I kept the mindset of one foot in front of the other to keep pushing through and refrain from walking. The views of the Pacific Ocean were absolutely stunning, this also helped keep my mind off of the climb. The drummers were a huge help to push through the last bit!
After Hurricane Point we began a decline towards Bixby Bridge, however the slant in the road along Hwy 1 definitely made it more challenging to take advantage of the downhills. My ankles were definitely starting to feel the strain, but again, it was mind over matter. Mile 15 is when I really started to feel the lack of training hit, however the scenery and knowing I was fortunate to be able to run this marathon helped me push through.
The rest of the course was a combination of flat and rolling hills with beautiful scenery throughout. The aid stations were well stocked and the volunteers were all incredibly friendly. I loved the touch of having locally grown strawberries at the last aid station, I definitely took advantage of the sugar boost to push through. Thankfully I had been forewarned about the hill at mile 25, so I was prepared to make a final climb before the finish. Coming down the last half mile took every ounce of energy in my body, but when I crossed that finish line I felt like part of a special group of runners. My finish time was 4:45:12, which while not “fast” to many, was fast for me. The hand painted medal now rests on my desk as a reminder to be brave and never say no to opportunities.
I’ve never had luck at running lotteries and felt for everyone that wanted to run but were not selected. My finish was as much for me as it was for them! I am not over exaggerating when I say every single person I talked to, or read comments from, said the exact same thing- Big Sur was the most challenging and beautiful marathon they’ve ran. The word “brutiful” was used many times, which sums it up perfectly!
Overall I feel incredibly blessed to have been granted the opportunity to run the iconic Big Sur Marathon. It actually ignited my excitement to push myself and find another marathon to run. I mean, if I can come within 72 seconds of my marathon PR on this super challenging course with minimal training, why not do another? I’d highly recommend the Big Sur Marathon to any runner looking to challenge themselves and enjoy unparalleled beauty. Definitely add this race to your bucket list!

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.