Will Run For Chocolate: Dallas Hot Chocolate 5K
For the past 3 years my family and I have endured the cold weather and challenging routes all for a cup of hot chocolate at the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k.
It all starts at the expo for packet pick up, you’re greeted at the door by volunteers who quickly places several chocolate squares in your hand. As you move through the expo there are more volunteers waiting to take your picture with the chocolate inflatables. Which is a plus because outside of a good selfie, expo photos with your race bib and swag is a must. Volunteers are very important at the expo and on race day. On race day the volunteers are those who stand with a smile and encouraging words to hand you water, and electrolytes (Nuun) alone the race course. They also pull you in at the finish line and place that well deserved metal around your neck. During my 3 years of participation I have had the privilege of having current and former students assist me at the expo with packet up, but this year was extra special because my niece Kyndell was a volunteer at the finish line so she cheered me in and placed my metal around my neck.
There is a selected group of vendors at the expo which range from race fuel (Nuun) to race belts, visors, caps, jackets and of course Hot Chocolate paraphernalia. Nuun is the official hydrate for this race. When I first tried Nuun about a year ago, I was not impressed with it at all, now, I’m on the Nunn bandwagon. Nuun has a great new line of vitamin tablets which comes in several flavors including Ginger Lemonade which happens to be one of my favorites because it’s great as hot tea. Not only does it provide me with energy it seems to also help my digestive system (added bonus). An additional plus about Nuun is how it is packaged, it comes in a tablet form which makes it very easy to snap in half and drop into your water bottle, because who has time to make sure that you accurately pour loose powder.
So, let’s talk about the swag. On a scale of 1-10, It’s definitely a 10. Instead of a dry fit T-shirt, this race offers a fleece pull over jacket, which is perfect for the cool weather on race day. The race day metal is an unique chocolate candy bar design. This year there was an added bonus of a legacy metal for all runners who had participated in the race 3 or 5 consecutive years, with an additional legacy bib. “The more the better” is my philosophy where bling is concerned. There is one twist with the bling for the Allstate Hot Chocolate you must run the 15K to receive a medal.
To quote the words of Forrest Gump “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” This race was definitely a box of chocolates. The course included flat surfaces, inclines and hills. But knowing that a cup of hot chocolate, along with a bowl of chocolate, marshmallows and banana were waiting at the finish line made it all worth it. See you next year, for more “CHOCOLATE”
XOXO
OnTheRunwithKrista
P.S. Don’t forget to hashtag #ontherunwithkrista when you hit the pavement, I’ll be looking for you. See you on the pavement.