Races

Back to all races
Race Details Ratings 20 Reports 28

Race Reports for Hot Chocolate 15K - Chicago 2010

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Coming into this race...I really, really, really wanted to just run pain free. While that didn't happen, I still think I had a WONDERFUL race, and am so proud of myself for being able to work through it at a pace that is more respectable, and more representative of the runner I can be. While this race isn't a 10 mile race, and only a 9.3 mile race, I ran 29 seconds faster per mile today...and I am so happy. It is definately progress, and that's all I can ask for considering how many years, doctors and nonsense I have had to go through to figure out this pain and the solution to keep it under control. I am still running with a heavy heart after Dan passing away last weekend, and I thought of him and PeggySue for a lot of the race. During the National Anthem before the start of the 5k, I got really choked up thinking of Dan, Mom, and everyone else I love that is no longer with us...and it made me so proud...knowing that I was out here, freezing my butt off, hoping to have a good
read full report
[2]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: They need to either restrict the number of entrants into this race or change the course. It was downright dangerous at times -- the course narrowed down to a 6-8 ft path with concrete walls on either side. Not only that, but for most of the race we were stacked shoulder to shoulder -- saw a girl trip and go down and it's incredibly lucky that she wasn't trampled. This race is a lawsuit waiting to happen (except - of course - that we sign away our lives when we pay the registration fee on these things).
read full report
[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?No

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: They TRIPLED the race in size this year, so the start area seemed like utter chaos as 30 000 people milled around and few of them seemed to know where they were supposed to be going. The 15K start was at least 20 minutes later than they'd planned, I think. It all evened out eventually, though. I don't know what the famed chocolate-fest afterwards was like, as I was in no mood to get dangerously chilly to find out. The course was fine-- pretty, even-- but the combination of crowds and cold had me outta there ASAP.
read full report
[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?No

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Last year I was very harsh on this race and RAM in general. I still don't have much respect for RAM races and think there is a lot they can improve on. However, they were fairly organized this year. The biggest issues were the gear check again. They had it too close to the start corrals and it was a massive congestion. I was lucky enough to finish quickly and only had a few people in line to retrieve my gear. I heard it was really bad later on. The other issue is the overall size of this race. The course was too narrow for this many people and they didn't do a good enough job stressing that you need to start in the proper corral for your pace. You shouldn't start in the 8 minute corral if you are going to walk. I'm on the fence if I will do this race again. There is a lot they did improve on from last year, but they have a ways to go. If you are going to do this race, be prepared for the unorganized aspect of it and the crowds. Do not expect a PR in a race like
read full report
[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Besides the over crowding it was great.
read full report
Show Per page
 
 
of 1