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.

I arrived in Santa Rosa on Friday to give myself plenty of time to get settled in and explore the area. After checking into my hotel I went to packet pick-up which was quick and well organized. What swag did I receive for running the 5k and half marathon, you ask? Get ready, because it's pretty awesome! For the 5k I received a 1/4 zip pullover in a beautiful burgundy color, an insulated tumbler (for my wine of course!), and a beautiful medal. On top of that awesome swag I also received a performance running jacket, bottle of wine, and another beautiful medal for the half marathon. I made the mistake of taking a small carry-on only, it was a tight squeeze getting all of that swag home!

Saturday morning was a little toasty with temps in the 70's and there was a slight haze in the air from the surrounding wildfires, although thankfully I don't think that impacted me too much. Upon arriving at the start line in downtown Santa Rosa, the excitement of the other runners was palpable. For many, this was their first in person race in nearly a year and a half! Everyone was smiling as they were stretching and warming up for the 5k. The 10k race started two hours prior and it was fun to cheer on some of the finishers as we were waiting to start our race. The 5k started promptly at 9am and curved through downtown for about a quarter mile before jumping on the Santa Rosa Creek Trail. It was a quick out and back and there was amazing support both from the volunteers and spectators cheering us on. After finishing the 5k, there was an after-party with a DJ playing some fun, upbeat music and every runner over 21 received a complimentary drink from Hen House Brewing.

Sunday morning had a nice crisp, chill in the air which is perfect running weather in my opinion. The race was held in the same location in downtown Santa Rosa and the same excitement was in the air. The course ran a bit further through downtown before merging onto the Santa Rosa Creek Trail again. The first part of the course was partially shaded, which provided a much needed reprieve from the sun. It was beautiful running along the trial and the Prince Memorial Greenway, especially around the halfway point as the scenery changed to vineyards and cows grazing in pastures (I love cows!). At the halfway point we crossed over a bridge and made our way back towards downtown. It was definitely starting to heat up at that point and the sun was breaking through a bit more. It was apparent that the race organizers are well versed in taking care of their runners as they had kiddy pools with cold water and washcloths setup at some of the aid stations to handout. That was such a lifesaver for me as I've been extra sensitive to heat this year, so being able to have a cold washcloth to place on my forehead, neck, and wrists for a few minutes helped immensely! Again, not only were the volunteers absolutely amazing, the spectator support along the course and at the finish line was much appreciated! While I wasn't able to break 2 hours on this race, I finished with 2:05:46 which I was happy with. This is a Boston Marathon qualifying race and I definitely think it's a great race for those chasing Boston as it is a relatively flat, fast course. There was another after-party held and I had an opportunity to meet a few other runners. I also received a bonus bottle of wine, which was a plus!

Overall I had a great time exploring the Santa Rosa area, including Bodega Bay on the coast, and running both races. For anyone looking for a flat, fast course in California I highly recommend this race!

Disclaimer: I received an entry to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. I was super impressed with the entire experience for this virtual race. I loved the fact that there was a chapter for most major cities and was pleasantly surprised there was a Spokane chapter. Knowing that a portion of the proceeds from this race went to help the LGBTQ+ organizations in my community was a huge plus! The swag was awesome- rainbow lense sunglasses, rainbow flag, comfy pullover, fabulous medal, super useful wristbands with zipper, and a fanny pack...what else can you ask for?!?! I look forward to running this race, hopefully in person, with my community in solidarity next year as well.