PROS: - High-energy atmosphere - Giant marshmallow balloon thing is cute - Organized into heats based on run time - Pacers - Plenty of extra restrooms (portapotties) at start - … MORE
PROS:
– High-energy atmosphere
– Giant marshmallow balloon thing is cute
– Organized into heats based on run time
– Pacers
– Plenty of extra restrooms (portapotties) at start
– Very organized bag-drop and packet pickup
– Course was well marked with volunteers and multiple drink stops
– Seattle Center is a fun place to start/end
– Respect, because things were shakey as we were emerging from Covid, and they canceled the longer race due to logistical issues with keeping the 15k route safe. Good on them for prioritizing safety.
– Chip-timed and a few photo spots to capture the fun
– The swag jackets are actually really comfy and mine held up for about a year of wearing pretty consistently around the house/on dog walks. Then my zipper broke, sadly.
– Individual snack/chocolate trays were turned out to participants like clockwork, making for many happy campers.
CONS:
– I wasn’t a fan of the hot chocolate. Haha. I think it was an allergen-free thing, so the goal wasn’t necessarily good taste. I think other folks did like it, so it could just be me.
– Being used to more locally-run PNW races with an eco-conscious bent, it felt like there was more waste than there needed to be (looking at you, swag bags).
– Promoted as raising money for St. Judes, but it’s not wrapped into the registration fee. It’s an opt-in thing where you put a tab on your bib in bins carried around by a handful of volunteers at the end of the race to donate $2 of your fee. So, they are basically banking on people not going through the trouble/noticing the volunteers to maximize race profits and minimize donations.
– Not really their fault, but my pacer did not pace themselves. Haha. I wanted to try to see how long I could keep up an 8-minute mile pace, but the pacer left me in the dust in the first .5 mile, and I never saw them again. When I checked Strava, I was running MUCH faster than a 8-min mile pace trying to keep up with them at the beginning, so… bummer.
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Fun for families, plenty chocolate-y
PROS: - High-energy atmosphere - Giant marshmallow balloon thing is cute - Organized into heats based on run time - Pacers - Plenty of extra restrooms (portapotties) at start - … MORE
PROS:
– High-energy atmosphere
– Giant marshmallow balloon thing is cute
– Organized into heats based on run time
– Pacers
– Plenty of extra restrooms (portapotties) at start
– Very organized bag-drop and packet pickup
– Course was well marked with volunteers and multiple drink stops
– Seattle Center is a fun place to start/end
– Respect, because things were shakey as we were emerging from Covid, and they canceled the longer race due to logistical issues with keeping the 15k route safe. Good on them for prioritizing safety.
– Chip-timed and a few photo spots to capture the fun
– The swag jackets are actually really comfy and mine held up for about a year of wearing pretty consistently around the house/on dog walks. Then my zipper broke, sadly.
– Individual snack/chocolate trays were turned out to participants like clockwork, making for many happy campers.
CONS:
– I wasn’t a fan of the hot chocolate. Haha. I think it was an allergen-free thing, so the goal wasn’t necessarily good taste. I think other folks did like it, so it could just be me.
– Being used to more locally-run PNW races with an eco-conscious bent, it felt like there was more waste than there needed to be (looking at you, swag bags).
– Promoted as raising money for St. Judes, but it’s not wrapped into the registration fee. It’s an opt-in thing where you put a tab on your bib in bins carried around by a handful of volunteers at the end of the race to donate $2 of your fee. So, they are basically banking on people not going through the trouble/noticing the volunteers to maximize race profits and minimize donations.
– Not really their fault, but my pacer did not pace themselves. Haha. I wanted to try to see how long I could keep up an 8-minute mile pace, but the pacer left me in the dust in the first .5 mile, and I never saw them again. When I checked Strava, I was running MUCH faster than a 8-min mile pace trying to keep up with them at the beginning, so… bummer.
COUPON: $5 off 2022 5K with this code
This referral code gets you $5 off your registration in 2022. KCUEIVJAAC Great run, right in the heart of Downtown. Nice production, too! MORE
This referral code gets you $5 off your registration in 2022.
KCUEIVJAAC
Great run, right in the heart of Downtown.
Nice production, too!
Chocolate Thunder
This was a great run; the hoodie was really comfortable and warm. The hot chocolate at the end was tasty and the fondu was a nice touch. I have to … MORE
This was a great run; the hoodie was really comfortable and warm. The hot chocolate at the end was tasty and the fondu was a nice touch. I have to admit that because I had slacked some during the winter and because Seattle isn’t flat, my legs were sore the next day. Still, I’m looking forward to doing this again next year.
Great production for the cost
Nice course, well-marked with good views and easy to navigate. The hills weren't too bad (in the comparison to San Fransicso hills or trails), though I clearly didn't train well … MORE
Nice course, well-marked with good views and easy to navigate. The hills weren’t too bad (in the comparison to San Fransicso hills or trails), though I clearly didn’t train well for enough for them! I would have preferred that the course be a little more scenic, but starting and ending at the Space Needle is pretty great.
The race production and swag are usually great at the Hot Chocolate races, and this one was no different. Always love running back for Hot Chocolate and other tasty goodies!
Hot Chocolate will be ran 1st time!
Great experience and I will do it again next year! I ran with my girlfriend and we did stop. I promised her I would stay with her and I did. … MORE
Great experience and I will do it again next year!
I ran with my girlfriend and we did stop. I promised her I would stay with her and I did. Had to be a gentleman.
So much fun. The afterparty and swag was top notch!
Not a great time but next year I will do better!
Hot Chocolate 15K Seattle - AMAZING!
OMG! By far the BEST event in the United States by far! I did it last year with my Girlfriend and this year I did it with my Best FRIEND … MORE
OMG! By far the BEST event in the United States by far!
I did it last year with my Girlfriend and this year I did it with my Best FRIEND Mike Anke and I took 20 minutes off my time. I never STOPPED!
So much fun and so many runners. 15K is not a run most people can do.
Great post party but cheap of the snacks and one of the guys at the packet pick-up was a butt head that was part of Hot Chocolate management.
I enjoyed the race and the after party
Rolling hills, but they weren't too bad. The chocolate bar medal is a favorite of quite a few friends and I liked the chocolate with dipping items that is given … MORE
Rolling hills, but they weren’t too bad. The chocolate bar medal is a favorite of quite a few friends and I liked the chocolate with dipping items that is given out for finishing the race.
Well organized with chocolate on top!
The race itself was well organized, clearly marked, and the volunteers were great. The course is out and back, very hilly, and around mile 6 you climb steadily for 100 … MORE
The race itself was well organized, clearly marked, and the volunteers were great. The course is out and back, very hilly, and around mile 6 you climb steadily for 100 feet. At the end, you receive a shiny new metal and a bowl of chocolate fondue with pretzels, a banana, and other fun things to dip. There was some beautiful urban scenery, but some debris on the roads caused quite a few trip ups to fellow runners.