Running for Chocolate

For the last run of 2012 I decided to do the Chicago Hot Chocolate 15k

With this run I got a pretty nifty pullover to add to my cold months runs. Instead of a medal you receive a finishers mug with hot chocolate, chocolate sauce and stuff to dip.

The expo needed improvements. We had to wait in a really long line just to pick up my bib. It was like a line you would wait at an amusement park. Once I got my bib we checked out the booths. I ended up getting an ear warmer wrap, which is orange, that said “Would Run for Chocolate”

With daylight savings time we had to fall backward, so it was hard to fall asleep. But usually the night before I have a hard time sleeping already, I don’t know if it is nerves or excitement. Got up at 5 to do my pre-race routine.

I was hoping to see some people I know that was also running, but we got to the start area a little late. I was assigned corral Q, we waited almost an hour to start. With the cold I kept on moving and stretching so my muscles don’t tense up. One we started I started getting warm.

I do like running in the streets of downtown Chicago. We ran for quite a bit inherent streets, it once we left Michigan ave we went on Lake Shore Drive and then the lakefront. I was a nice course and was pretty level, just a couple of inclines. But overall I liked the course.

I finished in 1hr. 54min. 20sec. After the race we headed to the post race area to get my chocolate. The chocolate was so so. They said that there were about 40,000 runners plus some New York marathoners. So my thought of finding people I know was impossible.

I would do this race agin, but I would prepare better net year for the cold weather.