Wouldn’t you run for chocolate? Need a minute to think? If the idea of a scenic run followed by a box of Godiva and hot cocoa sounds like a winning combination, join us in beautiful downtown Long Beach this January and kick off the new year with chocolate! The Great …
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Wouldn’t you run for chocolate? Need a minute to think? If the idea of a scenic run followed by a box of Godiva and hot cocoa sounds like a winning combination, join us in beautiful downtown Long Beach this January and kick off the new year with chocolate!
The Great Chocolate Race Long Beach features 10 mile and 5K course options with scenic views of Downtown, the harbor and landmarks including the iconic Queen Mary. While the route is fairly flat, there are some hilly spots, so be prepared! The route is completely on paved roads, and strollers are welcome. The start line is located on Shoreline Drive near Marina Green Park.
Here’s what you get: Chocolate, bling and a great shirt. Those are just a few of the perks you get from running with us in Long Beach!
– 10 mile or 5k Route
– Long sleeve tech shirt in male and female sizes. Plus, you can upgrade to a 1/4 zip or soft shell jacket
– Beautiful Finisher medal. We know, it’s all about the bling, and we will have a medal you’ll be proud to hang on the wall. Design will be revealed in April, so stay tuned!
– Godiva Chocolate gift box and hot cocoa at the finish
– 10 Milers get a commemorative mug
– Live Results and tracking using the Free RaceJoy App
– Chip timing
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GREAT MEDAL
Super cute new race. They offered a 5K and 10 miler. The finish line you received a really fun medal, a packet to make hot coco and a box of … MORE
Super cute new race. They offered a 5K and 10 miler. The finish line you received a really fun medal, a packet to make hot coco and a box of 4 Godiva chocolates! Parking was super easy and close. Great local little race.
Fun, but a few touches could improve it
For an inaugural race, this was pretty good. Positives: The organizers seem nice and well-intentioned. The shirts are really nice: long-sleeve tech shirts with a design that isn't obnoxious, and … MORE
For an inaugural race, this was pretty good.
Positives: The organizers seem nice and well-intentioned. The shirts are really nice: long-sleeve tech shirts with a design that isn’t obnoxious, and the option to buy an additional zip-up shirt in one of several colors. Communication about race details was, in general, good. Parking was also good: There is free street parking in Long Beach on weekends so it was easy to park at a meter and walk to the start without paying $$$. Scenery: seagulls, beaches, waves, nautical theme – nice! And after the race we got a box of Godiva chocolate and a packet of hot chocolate to take home.
Areas for improvement: Basics: It would help to have more restrooms available to runners. Course: There were a lot of U-turns and corners, which isn’t optimal (I messed up my back going around a sharp turn, and the corners slow runners down). The out-and-backs result in the potential for running into oncoming cyclists and runners. At the end, there was water (good) but the only recovery food was bananas (not optimal) and they were green, so no one was grabbing them. The runners ended up going into downtown Long Beach to eat (thankfully there are lots of food options there!)
I’m sure that the organizers will figure these things out and change some things around for next year’s race.
One note – most people who aren’t from Long Beach don’t know where the Grand Prix start line is, so it’s a good idea to give a general