Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

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2010-10-09 8:52 AM

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Subject: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Just signed up today!  Seems like most people are doing 5K.  Who is in for 15K?

2010-10-12 9:42 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

I will be doing the 15k....first time doing a 15k and I am excited. The big motivator for me is all the chocolate that I will be able to eat at the end of the race

2010-10-12 10:03 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

I am in as well...don't think I have ever done a 15k race either...

I am VERY excited about the food and the swag! Good stuff!!

Would be nice if it stays on the mild side...with how nice it's been, it makes me worried that all of a sudden, on November 1st, it's going to be 20 below...eeeek!

2010-10-12 7:20 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
NOOOOOO Miami dont say that, I'm hoping for a cool morning also!  My first 5k was a turkey trot and it was 30 degrees with 30 mph winds.  That sucked lol

I have never done a 15 k either, should be fun, not going to run it either like a tri or marathon, just a casual run with some friends.  We should find an area for us BT'ers to meet up after or before the race.
2010-10-13 1:54 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I'm doing the 15k but after what I've read and heard about this race, I'm changing my attitude from "setting a PR" to "doing a long run with a lot of people". Someone said (maybe it was here?) that it took him 4 miles to get any room to run, so it is what it is. Hopefully it will be a great late-fall day - sunny and cool. I'll take anything above freezing with no rain or wind. Perfect.
2010-10-13 4:24 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I'm doing the 15k as well.  The one good thing is that they moved the course to downtown.  Hopefully there is more space and they go off in waves, if not it will be crowded.  

Just be prepared for a very unorganized race.  I ran the 15k the first year and I waited in line to get my packet longer than it took me to run it and I never got Hot Chocolate, I gave up after being in line for 30 minutes (I ran around a 1:13 for the race).  

I ran the 5k last year and I waited in line at gear check to pick up my stuff longer than it took me to run it.  Hopefully, they have fixed all of those issues.  They at least moved the packet pick up from their store to Union Station, maybe that will help.  Have patience with this race.    

2010-10-13 11:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I have heard about them being unorgainzed.  Hopefully they have fixed those with the race location change and packet pick up at Union Station.  I did the Big Foot triathlon by them this summer and had zero issues.  They really do have the best swag - all the triathlons they give nice cycling jerseys.
2010-10-14 7:17 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

I've never done this race, mostly because of the awful stories of crowding, disorganization and difficulty finding parking.  Since they moved the venue to a more-oft used one for large races, I'm hoping for fewer issues.  And the packet pickup sounds like a regular expo this year (at Union Station... which is at least more convenient than the north side for me), which should make it more efficient as well.

I'm going in with low expectations and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

And plus, never having done a 15K, it'll automatically be a PR for me.  

2010-10-15 2:37 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

StartingToTri - 2010-10-14 7:17 AM

I've never done this race, mostly because of the awful stories of crowding, disorganization and difficulty finding parking.  Since they moved the venue to a more-oft used one for large races, I'm hoping for fewer issues.  And the packet pickup sounds like a regular expo this year (at Union Station... which is at least more convenient than the north side for me), which should make it more efficient as well.

I'm going in with low expectations and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

And plus, never having done a 15K, it'll automatically be a PR for me.  

I am TOTALLY with you Laura...GOOD outlook on it all.  Hope to see you there...it's been so long!

2010-10-15 3:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I'm still on the fence for this one.
$55 is that norm for a run race?
I'm not a run only racer, never done one, only S/B/R races.
2010-10-17 7:51 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I think the 5K is $45 which is pretty standard.  Never ran a 15K so not sure about price but a 1/2 marathon usually runs around $75-$95 so I would think it is fairly reasonable.  Plus the jacket is much better than a t-shirt.

alex jb - 2010-10-15 3:09 PM I'm still on the fence for this one. $55 is that norm for a run race? I'm not a run only racer, never done one, only S/B/R races.


2010-10-27 11:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

So......any talk about a get together after?

And by after, I mean after all the chocolate is consumed of course.

Or most people might have to head back, how about meeting for some chocolate???

2010-10-27 7:59 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I'm up for meeting afterwards.
2010-11-01 10:15 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Did everybody get their bib numbers?  I'm curious as to how they decided who goes into what corrals. 
2010-11-01 10:59 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
I am in for a BT get-together too
2010-11-01 6:55 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
A get together sounds like fun.  Who is good at organizing? Smile  Also, what day is everyone going to pick up there packets?  I am bib #3406

2010-11-02 10:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

I have never done this race, so I am not sure where a good spot to meet would be??? But I will have another BT'er staying with me...a donk no less! PJ Grande is this donk I speak of!

So...I am sure she would love to see some other BT'ers....

 

2010-11-02 10:57 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Seems it's sold out other than Charity spaces.

Ah well, I was not prepared anyway.

You guys have fun.
2010-11-02 3:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
miami9296 - 2010-11-02 10:44 AM

I have never done this race, so I am not sure where a good spot to meet would be??? But I will have another BT'er staying with me...a donk no less! PJ Grande is this donk I speak of!

So...I am sure she would love to see some other BT'ers....

What day are you going for your packet pick up?  I am off work both days and Saturday.  

2010-11-02 4:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
2010-11-03 9:33 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Hi all! I'm in for the 15K on this race. Did the 15K last year and it was a bit crowded at the beginning but not so much after. They ran out of chocolate and had horrible hot chocolate, so I'm hoping this year is much better. Location is better, for sure with ample parking but I'm miffed about the down town only pickup location. I work in the burbs so getting to union station during the week is imposible.

2010-11-04 4:46 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Picked up my packet - bib 5792 and I expect to be dog slow, btw.

The organization left a little to be desired but being in the Great Hall at Union Station, I think they did ok.  It took about 10 min total to get my bib, check the chip, and get my swag.  Not too shabby.  I'm just happy that I work downtown.
2010-11-06 7:17 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
robburkett - 2010-11-04 4:46 PM Picked up my packet - bib 5792 and I expect to be dog slow, btw.

The organization left a little to be desired but being in the Great Hall at Union Station, I think they did ok.  It took about 10 min total to get my bib, check the chip, and get my swag.  Not too shabby.  I'm just happy that I work downtown.


I went to packet pick up around 1:00pm and it was quiet, took about 3 minutes to pick up packet and gear bag.  Walked around for a bit.  It was a bit hard to find the Great Hall, but had some guys wearing Hot Chocolat t-shirts telling people where to go.
Now about the race....I have never done this race, but it seemed very organized.  Of course the start was going to be overly crowded.....30,000 people, 15 per race it is going to be crowded.  After the race, no problems with getting fondue or hot chocolate, very short lines and seemed organized.
2010-11-08 11:08 AM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread

I heard running in the 5k really sucked due to overcrowding.  Any thoughts on this?

I ran the 15k in less than stellar tie but it was the first time in a year that I've run over 8 miles, so I am not going to complain too much.

The race left me a little underwhelmed, so I don't think I'll be jumping at it as a close-of-season race going forward.

2010-11-08 1:40 PM
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Subject: RE: Hot Chocolate 15K : Official Thread
Our family of 4 ran the 5k.  We seeded ourselves at 10:00 pace in order to stay together.  The available running lanes narrowed quickly and we were forced to walk from congestion at various parts along the course. 

I was pleasantly surprised though by the other aspects of the event.  Packet pick-up was fine.  Lines for fondue and hot chocolate were short.  Maggie Speaks was excelent and the weather was fantastic (for November).

I missed the bagels and bananas at the finish though.  They seemed more concerned with finisher pictures.  Will probably run it again next year- but hope they either space out the corrals or further limit the number of participants.
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