Hot Chocolate 15k - Run15k

Coming into this run, I knew I was under trained due to the injury setbacks from the last couple of months. I had finally gotten my long run to 9 miles just last weekend. However, my last 15K race was about 18 months ago and I have a lot more miles under my belt since then so I knew that I was likely to do better than my 1:13 PR (about 7:54/mile pace). My race plan was to run around 7:15-7:20/mile and then figure it out from there.

I started in the first corral, in the middle since I knew all the fast people needed to be up front (yup - those that were wearing singlets and running shorts in sub-freezing temps). I made myself slow down the first mile since I didn't really warm up and clicked off a 7:20 pace. I started ramping up the pace and seemed comfortable right at 7:10 so I just kept it around there until the end of the first 5K. They had a clock running at every mile (which was great!). 1st 5K Split: 22:19

The middle 5K of the race was where I was doing just great. I kept my HR pretty even but the speed started to build. Perhaps it was a mistake and I may have gone a bit faster than I should've (Mile 5 was a blistering 6:37 pace but it was probably mostly downhill) but my HR was still the same as Mile 3 so I thought it was just fine. Around Mile 4, I was getting hot so off came the beanie cap, then right around 10K, I took off my balaclava also as I was starting to get too warm. I think I took a quick 3-4 second break by walking the water station at Mile 6 which made the 10K split PR even more amazing.2nd 5K split: 21:27 (my 10K time for this race was actually a 10K PR by a few seconds - 43:46).

On the last 3rd of the race, my lack of long run training started showing up as everything was still going fine until about 7.5 miles through, then then I felt a very slight strain/tightness near my quad/IT-band area and I started to lack confidence that I can really push. I tried focusing on my form, and started to tell myself to be happy that I am definitely going to PR and just finish without injury. I tried to run smoother and see whether that would help but I can almost hear my right leg telling me "I'm just at the edge of getting hurt so don't get greedy!". I backed of the pace after 7.5 to around 7:15 for the next mile and a half. With just about 300m or so left, I thought that the race deserved at least a decent finish so ramped up to 6:30 at the finish straight as I started chasing down my 1:07 "awesome race" goal. Final 5K Split: 21:59

I was definitely happy with this race as my official time was 1:05:47. This is the first race where I beat my McMillan predicted time since that 5K on Dec 2010 so I get to reset all my training paces now!

15 months ago, I ran my first (and only until today) 15K race: 1:13:13. After continuing to be a triathlete (which means I spread my training between swim/bike/run), I now have a new PR of 1:05:47 - a 7 1/2 minute improvement! I ran well enough that a sub 1:35 half-marathon was there today so this was definitely one of my best races yet!




Get more volume in. My long run prior to this race was just 9 miles. Another 3 weeks to train and get it up to 12 miles or so would've made a difference with durability and not fading after 7.5 miles.

Walked after the finish, grabbed a bottle of water and then jogged to the heated indoor post-race area. Picked up my bag at check-in, downed a recovery shake and then enjoyed the chocolate fondue and hot chocolate available at the end!


Lack of long runs as I was coming back from injury.


I think RAM racing did a great job with this first Hot Chocolate race in Dallas. Granted it was expensive, the course was well marked, they had a lot of volunteers, a water station every 2 miles or so, and great post-race food. The crowds were pretty thin though so you didn't get as much of an adrenaline boost like the White Rock or Rock'n'Roll half-marathon that I ran early last year. I would definitely do this race again!