I got to meet in-person some of the cool runners I've been following on Twitter. And I kept up with my goal pace, despite an annoyingly drippy nose.
But here's why I'm peeved:
I ran the Hot Chocolate 15K and all I got was this lousy shirt.
So, I ran the second annual Hot Chocolate 15K this morning. And it was glorious. A sunny, crisp fall day in Chicago.
After waiting with my running buddy at gear check (they couldn't find her bag), we made it to the much-hyped chocolate fondue. We got a pretzel rod, a graham cracker, a marshmallow, an apple and a banana for dipping only to find that there was no chocolate. No chocolate. Not a drop.
And the hot cocoa spigots had all run dry, too.
Now, I've got plenty of chocolate and packets of instant cocoa at home, to be sure. But it's the principle of the thing. When you're billing yourself as the Hot Chocolate 15K, "Chicago's Sweetest Race," with "over 200,000 pieces of Hershey's Chocolate - 18,000 oz of chocolate fondue - and a whopping 800 gallons of Hot Chocolate!" there damn well better be some chocolate at the finish line. (Especially considering RAM Racing wouldn't let me enter the race if I told them I "ran out" of my $50 registration fee.)
So, here I sit in my "Will Run For Chocolate" sweatshirt. I feel as if it's taunting me. Guess I need to run to my cupboard for a cup of hot cocoa.
Or maybe RAM Racing will take some of my entry fee and buy me a cup at Starbucks?
8 Comments
Sue G said:
Left the race thirsty and cold. What could have fixed that? Hmmm, hot chocolate! But I do like my sweatshirt, warm and fuzzy. I guess that makes up for it.
Flour Girl said:
Ditto, Sue. But it was great to meet you!
Diana Durkes said:
I like my sweatshirt, too, and think it's a better choice than the brown jackets. But my peeve about the race was the ridiculously long gear check line. I stood in it for 40 minutes to get my bag, because there were only two lines open for the 5K runners. When the line grew and grew up and down the hill, nobody saw the need to come up with a plan B.
Loved the cover band but didn't catch their name. Awesome energy.
Flour Girl said:
I've heard from many -- and saw myself, too -- that gear check was a mess, Diana. I waited forever at the finish with a friend because no one could find her bag and then they essentially left her standing there while they helped others. These folks could definitely learn from CARA and the Chicago Marathon planners about good race organization.
Bob said:
They RAN OUT OF CHOCOLATE? THAT! Is some bullshit.
kls5283 said:
Hi, this is only my 3rd race in Chicago, but I was super surprised at how this race was organized! How about the shuttle??? Or lack thereof? We parked at Lincoln Park Zoo and headed for the shuttle only to find a llooooooong line with 2 buses going back and forth! We got in line at 7:05 and didnt even make it to the race site until 8:05! They had already started the race so as runners, myself and my friends got stuck all the way at the back, BEHIND the walkers and strollers! It took us almost 30 minutes to run 3.2 miles! I was exausted from dodging strollers along with cones, holes and walkers that walked side by side across the width of the path! I dont get it! All in all I had fun and I did really like the goody bag. Since I didn't run the 15k, I did get hot chocolate and fondue and it too was good, but that would have topped it for me had I missed that!
Jen said:
The same thing happened last year! They ran out of chocolate. What a waste of money! Great course but a total debacle! Everything from packet pick up location change to no parking?!?!?! AND, the hot chocolate tasted disgusting! 10 of my friends and I ran it and we all agreed on that. Anyway, does anyone want my medium jacket for their sweatshirt? I need a medium in that probably too. Let me know at jenkov424@yahoo.com!
Pat said:
Liked the jacket but the chocolate was disgusting and the hot chocolate was warm. I looked at the results and I'm not even there. Chip is still on my shoe, correctly. Emailed them but no response yet. I thought this was closed at 10,000 runners. Someone said they had 12,000. Only 8645 combined for the 5k and 15k on the results list. Anybody else get left off the results?
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