What a fun way to start the year and kick start your new years fitness goals. The run is through the golden park, down ocean beach and back. I completed the 10k for the first time with friends. I would say the run can be a challenge, there is uphill going back to the park. I run golden gate but if you are used to flat running it can be an adjustment. One critique was the water stations seemed to be poorly stationed out. There were plenty of water during the first few miles but then we couldn't find water for the last end, which is when you need it ! But everyone was friendly and the after hot chocolate was . read more

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A huge race thank goodness they started tying the start lines with the 5K people starting a good 45 minutes to an hour before the 10 and 15 K. There is a cut off for speed with 15 minute mile being the slowest so I'm gonna have to hustle if you're a walker I don't know if it is worth it to do the VIP we did. We just got a little grocery bag with some chocolate and coupons in it at the packet pick up and then on the day we suppose we were to get a hot breakfast and a turkey sausage we wanted to have bananas. Regular people were getting but they ran out. I don't know that I would ever do the VIP again unless it was raining and then it's totally worth it. read more

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The first time I "ran" the Hot Chocolate Run, the mother of all storms hit the City. Got up at some ungawdly hour. My shoes and socks were soaked before I even got into my corral before the race. Saw a corral sign topple over onto a teen volunteer. Heard a tree branch in Golden Gate Park cracking. There were loads of puddles and mud everywhere. Told my friend to be careful on a metal cover and then heard some lady behind us go splat. A buddy called it the Golden Gate Park 5k Slog. But the prize at the end made it all worth it. Plus the run kit always includes a sweatshirt or jacket of some sort. And despite that crazy first time, friends and I sign up for it again and again each year. We've even convinced others to join us. And I was happy this year that their Expo was FINALLY moved into the City. It never made sense that previous ones were held in South San Francisco. South City is NOT the CITY! read more

Who doesn't love Hot Chocolate!?!?! The Hot Chocolate Run is a fun but still timed run in San Francisco in the Golden Gate Park area. Registration is easy and it did not appear to sell out as I registered 2 weeks before the race. We did race pick up in advance which didn't take very long. We arrived early to get street parking, a lot of people ended up parking along the park in the temporary tow-away zone, but I didn't want to risk being towed. Once you drop off any gear it was a short walk to the corrals. The corrals were clearly marked; however they were fenced off, so people randomly pulled fencing apart to enter the corral, I didn't really see clearly marked entrances to the corral. The course was mostly pavement, it had some areas that were flat, but I would say a good part of the course had a slight incline and decline. I actually thought it was a good course overall for a beginner as the incline/decline was not steep and completely runnable. They had water and chocolate stops along the course, that is right, they give you water and CHOCOLATE to snack on mid-course. As if that wasn't enough, when you finish the race you pick up your hot chocolate and melted chocolate fondue with marshmallows and snacks!! The only bummer is that I am dairy-free and they didn't offer any dairy-free hot chocolate. Overall the race was fun and the pricing for the race was very reasonable especially because they give you a jacket, finisher medal, and food!!! read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Races & Competitions Near Me

It was so much fun to participate in this event! We were super excited to finally sign-up for the hot chocolate run this year. Due the recent storms and severe flooding, we weren't sure if this event was going to happen. But Mother Nature made Sunday a dry and not windy day for the event. The 5K started around the Japanese Tea Garden in GG Park. After the race, we got a bowl filled goodies, a cup of hot chocolate and melted chocolate to dip our goodies into. What a sweet treat this was! Parking was pretty easy if you don't mind walking. We parked on Irving around 9th and walked a few blocks into the park. I can't wait to make this event an annual tradition for us. read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Hot chocolate bowl of treats - Races & Competitions Near Me

What a way to kick off the year! Signed up for the Hot Chocolate run back in December thinking why not? First timer for me. Arrived early to find parking around golden gate park. I refused to pay 15.00 for the shuttle. Circled around once and winning. I want to say a good 2 thousand people were out there standing in the cold. It was 30 degrees outside burrrrrrr but the comradery was awesome. You have a choice to either run the 5k, 10k, or 15k. I chose the 5k. Good quick run with the rewards of a fleece jacket, medal, and hot chocolate served with treats. read more

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Sweet run! 1st time doing the Hot Chocolate 15K and really enjoyed it. I was weary about doing a run in SF early to mid-January as the weather could be anywhere from raining or storming to sunny. Although originally predicted to rain, the weather on run day turned out to be beautiful. The course began at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, went through the park, down and back up the Great Highway, and back near the De Young Museum. The views along the Great Highway were absolutely beautiful as the sky was full of gorgeous cloud porn. I couldn't help but stop and take photos. Endlessly. The 5K began at 7:20am and the 15K began at 8:10am. You can petition to be in an earlier start corral by submitting race results from any previous run showing your pace and time. My favorite thing about the Hot Chocolate run is the medal. It is the coolest! Other than Tiffany necklaces from Nike Marathons, it is my favorite. The 2019 medal is a bar of chocolate with pictures of iconic SF...the painted ladies and the Golden Gate Bridge. Only runners that ran the 15K received a medal. Anyone who ran the 5K did not get a medal (unless they stole one :p). I love the running jacket! This year's jacket was merlot colored and fit perfectly. The material is thin, moisture wicking, and stylish. It's not the best quality as after one wash, it started pilling a little. Besides the great fit, one thing I really like about the running gear is that there are not a thousand logos plastered all over the back. There is only one Allstate logo on the front. There were 4 sweet stations along the run. The first served large chocolate chips, marshmallows for the second and third, and M&Ms for the last station. The M&Ms were sweaty and gross, but the others were good. Of course, plenty of water and electrolytes as well. The finishers mug was a great treat. It contained a small cup of hot chocolate, marshmallow, banana, rice krispy treat, pretzels, Stinger honey waffle, Pirouline sticks, and dipping chocolate. All of those items dipped in chocolate were really good. Almost all of the volunteers were young teens and they did a great job! Helpful, encouraging, and friendly...they were pivotal to the success of the run! Both at the expo and on run day, all the volunteers were fantastic! The expo for 2019 was held at the South San Francisco conference center. They had a free parking lot, which was great. The process to pick up the bib was quick and easy. There were not a lot of vendors at the expo (compared to Bay to Breakers), but just some selling their products. Overall, the 2019 Hot Chocolate 15K/5K was a great run with great gear and a great medal! There were plenty of chocolate sweets to make everyone happy and beautiful views along the way. SF is full of gorgeous views so you can't go wrong. As with any run, the earlier you sign up, the better price you will get. read more

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Three years and still counting. By far, this run has some of the best swag and this year was no different. I could not pass up on this year's merlot jacket. It's one of the main reasons why I run this run; that and the chocolate awaiting me at the finish line. It's definitely more of a recreational run based on the type of people who - like me - did not train for a 15K running who are really just running for the chocolate and the medal. I wish they would give out the chocolate medal for those running the 5K, because I don't know how many more 15K's I have left in me. For the 15K, the course starts in Golden Gate Park with a steady decline towards Ocean Beach. At around the 5K mark, you start running alongside the beach, knowing at some point that you're going to be running back the way you came (but hey, at least there's a nice view of the beach!) After running back up along Ocean Beach, you re-enter Golden Gate Park, now at a steady incline. At this point, you're wondering why the heck you signed up for this (oh yes, for the chocolate). It's pretty brutal, but worthwhile. Parking can be tricky. The organizers highly encourage using the parking shuttle, but if you're willing to do street parking outside of Golden Gate Park, that is an option. After running off all the calories, you can allow yourself to gain back the calories if not more with the chocolate goodies, which includes a cup of hot cocoa and a chocolate fondue to dip your marshmallows, bananas, and pretzels into. Until next year! read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - 3 year legacy medal and chocolate bar medal (2019) - Races & Competitions Near Me

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This race is in January, which means that it is cold and there is always a probability of rain each year, so keep that in mind before signing up. This race is not very competitive in nature and people are here to have fun and fun they had. For me, it was not too enjoyable because there are way too many people that register for this race, and I was dodging people left and right pretty much the entire time. I did the 15k run. Race goodies The apparel they give you for signing up is pretty amazing. I really like the design of the quarter zip fleece they provided for participants and the apparel from previous years also look really great. They also provide you with chocolate during the run and a finishers mug at the end, but that is not much chocolate at all. At one of the stations, they were handing out candy corn instead of chocolate, which I was disappointed by. Isn't this supposed to be a chocolate race? Pre Race The 5k runners start earlier in the morning than the 15k runners. You can check in your items before the race begins so that you don't have to carry it throughout the race. Both the check in and check out process for our personal belongings was pretty efficient. Post Race At the end of the race, you get a really cool giant chocolate bar medal if you ran the 15K. Head to the booth to pick up your finisher's cup. The cup this year contained hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, a banana, a marshmallow, Rice Krispie, pretzels, and a cracker. read more

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Had such a fun time kicking off the start of the year with a 5k! This has been the biggest race event I have been to in a while and what a way to start the year. To be honest, I was a bit panicked with the parking situation (coming from Richmond) and we forgot to purchase shuttle tickets - my advice for anyone who gets in this predicament in the city - we parked a couple miles away (in an area we were going to go to lunch) and lyfted to Golden Gate Park. This totally relieved a bunch of stress in regards to potentially find parking. I LOVE big and small race events because everyone is so positive in this community! Whether you are walking for the first time or working on your best time- you can always count on others to pump you up! (Note: If you are looking for a time, this race gets very packed and I suggest you make sure you place yourself in a higher corral if you want to run, otherwise you will be stuck behind loads of walkers) The race was beautiful going through Golden Gate Park and it makes me kick myself for not exploring this area sooner after living in the Bay Area for so long. I definitely will be coming back. The treats at the end were great and the hot chocolate was tastier than I expected. I like how they included a nice little wipe for the mess. If anything, I was a bit disappointed with the medal for the 5k portion, but I did like the jacket so I guess beggars can't be choosers. Cannot wait until next years race! read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Races & Competitions Near Me

Registered way back in November for earlybird pricing, and chose to sign up again since race day 2017 fell on my 31st birthday...did not get the promo code for the free visor this time. Chose to have my packet mailed rather than pickup in person at the race expo, which included the bag, jacket, and bib (mine was missing the safety pins). Jackets could be exchanged at expo or mailed back if the wrong sizing. Women's Small fit me well, as with the 2016 jacket, but 2017 has a hood, thumbholes, and more embroidery. The women's were light grey, while the men's were dark gray. 5Kers only get the jackets; 15Kers receive the jacket and the medal upon finishing the run. Shuttle passes available in advance for several shuttle stops, parking passes as well. We did the same as last year and chose to park at SF State University garage and take the shuttle bus to Golden Gate Park. No one checked our papers which indicated we paid for the passes. Super lame. Due to the crazy storm weather January 8th, 2017, 15Kers were given the option to run the earlier race (shorter distance) with the 5Kers, or do the longer distance at the scheduled time. Turns out, race morning, the 15K course was shortened to exclude the Great Highway coastal portion, which meant the run only totaled 5.9 miles -- less than 10K in all, hilly. About 10,000 people still showed up (both distances combined total) and finished the run, which is still impressive considering the conditions. Race organizers decided not to cancel the race. Not sure what happened to all those who stayed home -- whether they got their jackets/medals or not. No remote/virtual or transfer options. Ponchos, garbage bags, gloves, etc. adorned the field of runners. Pacers, aid stations, volunteers still out there...even an official race photographer out on the concourse near the hot chocolate distribution area. Mile markers and inflatables other than the start/finish were not displayed due to gale force winds though. Eucalyptus tree bark and branches did fall, waterfalls/lake levels high, some mud and puddles. Race bling is still an impressive candybar medal, this year all gold except for the "chocolate" in brown, SF-specific. Hot chocolate was piping hot, with marshmallow, banana, rice krispie, pretzels, biscoff for fondue dipping in the mug. Bag check and store for more HC gear were open but I did not avail. The open-air concourse was quite rainy and exposed, so most sought shelter post-race. Also, finding the shuttles again was a bit confusing/challenging, but we made it. Race results posted very quickly (live runner tracking available too to update via text or Facebook through Chronotrack timing), and official race photos free downloads. read more

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Darn it, I'm not First to Review! Anyways, this was an excellent and challenging 15K course! From the Starting Gate, near the Japanese Tea Garden, you warm up taking a short 3 mile stroll downhill through Golden Gate Park. The next 4 miles, you cruise down the coast; A nice scenic view of the beach. You take in the the cool air, and enjoy the nice cool breeze. Now the final 2.3 miles, you endure the most challenging part of the course. You take JFK Drive, check out some bison in the park, and test yourself going uphill to finish the race. The incline wasn't huge, but enough for me to slow down during mile 8. Thank God I trained doing hill sprints! Once you past mile 9 and see that Finish Line, you dig down deep and sprint! Well, at least I did! I loved this event, and I'll do it again next year! Packet Pickup Day: This was at Sports Basement in the Presidio area. The only negative was the parking situation causing a one-lane traffic jam, but that's expected. I showed a volunteer my email, picked up my goods, and I was pumped to run already! Parking & Shuttle Service: I parked at San Francisco State. Now, I bought a parking pass, and no one took my ticket. Anyone could've driven in and parked for free. I feel I wasted my money on that one. The shuttle service to the run was provided by Bauer's Transportation. Nice spacious buses with comfortable seats. Some buses even had tables. They turned up the heat, and the runners stayed warm! Chocolate Ambassadors: They did great job! Whatever question I had, they were able to answer, or even direct wherever I had to go. I agree with sarah s. as this inaugural SF event was "well organized"! From packet pickup at Sports Basement to shuttle service to the event itself. Everything seemed to flow. Probably because there were plenty of signs everywhere. I'd say my only disappointment was that I expecting a real ceramic mug, it ended up being plastic. Oh well, it's all good. The free hoodie for signing up made it all worth it! Today, like the 49ers digging down deep in the second half to win their playoff game, I WAS VICTORIOUS! read more

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I just did the 5k for fun and I thought it was a pretty cool course! Very easy to follow and impossible to get lost. They had a Gatorade/water station halfway through and at the finish line and volunteers did a great job filling the cups and distributing. They have a 15 minute mile pace requirement but unless you had to start all the way in the back corral and planned to walk slowly I don't think there would've been any problems. I liked that they saved time and crowded lines by making it a no packet pick up on race day. However I was a little bit surprised they only had 2 packet pick up days at 1 location! I heard today that there was approximately 12,000 runners! Totally explains the traffic and crazy lines at sports basement this past weekend! The gear check-in was a breeze - probably the most organized out of all the different runs I've participated in that had a gear check station. The transportation was a bit crazy. No parking for this event in this area?? I felt bad for those that could only drive in. Although the $8 round trip shuttle from civic center was nice except they recommended to arrive 2 hours for 5k runners. I doubt a lot of people were able to follow that recommendation. Taking the city bus from downtown was easy (only $2!) - especially leaving the park after the race (well for me anyway!) I didn't see the shuttle lines so hopefully that went much more smoothly than the Nike women's event! At the end was a finishers mug. Very cool - it was an unexpected design! I wish there was a medal though! Just kidding... The hot chocolate was pretty delicious although I heard a few comments that it was too sweet. There were plenty of bathrooms available and they weren't just placed in one area. I didn't use them but the lines didn't look bad and they appeared generally clean from the outside! Of course... Just remember I was there early in the morning for the 5k and didn't stick around for the 15k to finish... Thank you to all the volunteers!!! I don't think this race would've been as fun without them! read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - The finishers mug complete with a cup of hot chocolate and some treats to dip in chocolate - Races & Competitions Near Me

I will definitely run for chocolate! This is pretty much counterproductive for a race but great motivation to run. We probably cancelled out the calories burned from the 15k with the amount of sweets and chocolate from the race course and post party. After hearing about the inaugural race last year, I knew I wanted to sign up this year. Do it fast because this race sells out! The Hot Chocolate is a 15k/5k race. So that's 9.3 miles or 3.5 miles. It's strange that the 5k runners start first though and that the 15k runners start afterwards around 8:20am. The 15k run starts in Golden Gate Park, down the Great Highway, and back to the park and the 5k run just stays in the park. I loved the course and scenery for the 15k and the cute stops for refreshments and treats. There were 4 stops for water and treats. The first one had chocolate chips, water, and Gatorade. The second had strawberry marshmallows and water. The third had tootsie rolls and water. The last one had chocolate marshmallows, water, and Gatorade. I especially liked the chocolate chips we were given in a small cup but it made it difficult run since it took me awhile to finish them. The race seemed fairly organized and started on time. There are markers for every mile as well as 5k which made it easier to track our progress. After the race, you are given your medal and you them follow the signs for the post race party which ended up being near the Academy of Science area. The line for the race mug goes fast. You year off the finisher mug ticket on your bib and are given a plastic mug. The center held the hot chocolate and then there were other dividers for the chocolate fondue dip, pretzels, marshmallows, banana, and rice krispie treat. The expo was held at the South San Francisco Conference Center. The parking lot seemed pretty small but I was still able to find parking. There is no race day pick up so you either had to go to the expo on Friday or Saturday. Definitely makes it inconvenient for runners from the south bay or east bay. Bib pick up was quick if you had the barcode readily available for them to scan. You have the opportunity there to change your coral as well. Don't forget to pick yp your hot chocolate sweatshirt. I liked that we got a hooded jacket instead of a typical race shirt for this race asking with a drawstring bag. The expo itself wasn't very big. There were some vendors with samples and a handful of vendors selling clothes, shoes, and other race goods. The biggest section was for the hot chocolate race merchandise. Overall, this was a fun race that everyone should try at least once. read more

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This was my first race- but it won't be my last. I signed up for the 5k- but hope to train, and be up for the 15k next year. Or maybe even this year in another city. I signed up when I heard about the race from friends- they all did the 15k. The setting for this race is amazing. I love Golden Gate Park- and to be there for sunrise was breathtaking. The other participants were great- everyone was very encouraging. I love the merlot colored jacket this year. I also went to the pick up party, and bought a black one from a few years ago. The hot chocolate cup with goodies at the end of the race was great. Other runners told us this is one of the most organized races around- that other races are not run as well. The hot chocolate, chocolate sauce, marshmallow, rice crispie treat, pretzels, banana, and cookies were great. Hit chocolate was hot and delicious. I love the blue cup it came in. I kept it as a souvenir- not sure yet if it will be a succulent planter, or pen holder on my desk. What I do know is that poking at it will make me smile, and remind me of all my happy memories at my first race. I highly recommend this race to other people. read more

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This was the 2nd year that I ran the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15/5k. I signed up for the 5k like last year. Hubby & I both said how organized the corrals were. Organized by alpha letter based on either your actual race results from last year and/or another sanctioned race or your best guesstimate when you registered online. I was in corral B - of course other runners were much faster than myself but I knew to keep to the right hand side of the course. I didn't fudge my pace but I was assigned corral B. Odd. There were a total of 7 corrals, A-G. What lured me to run in the Hot Chocolate run was the enticing merlot full zip jacket and the chocolate fondue in the huge plastic blue partitioned cup. Unlike last year I actually dipped my banana into the fondue. Last year the weather temperature was much cooler so the chocolate solidified. Last year we took our cups home. This year we tossed them in the trash receptacle after we ate our goodies. I don't think the cup is recyclable. Also, there are fruit & veggie take away plastic bags help yourselves to if you're unable to finish all your goodies. I'm not sure I'm going to register for 2020. It all depends on what type of clothing they're going to offer. Lastly I appreciated the race organizers letting the 5k runners going ahead of the 15k runners. Unlike the Giants Race at AT&T park - where the 5k runners go last after the 1/2 marathon and 10k runners. read more

This was a fun race that you can actually walk and people don't say you are slow and get out of my way slow poke! LOL majority of us were there for the chocolate prize at end! Yes it was so early in morning to wake up and do the race, but it was worth it because it's a nice experience to inhale fresh air, see a side of Golden Gate Park I don't normally see. How many of us just drive through this park and not actually walk or run ‍ it? Great scenery and I stopped for photo opportunities. I wasn't running for time as I was with a group of friends. One stop for water and chocolate station which was great at 1.5 mile stop which gave us energy to continue on! Finally at end we took group shot with our own cameras and the announcer called our names as completing the race. Then we crossed the finish line. We wondered where the sensors were to show that we finished the race. Very organized. Then they passed out samples of energy drink and water! Yah! Then we kept walking and came to the music concourse between the two museums, De young and Academy of Science. Finally got the hot chocolate mug with goodies to eat like hot cocoa, one marshmallow, Stinger waffle honeycomb cookie, melted chocolate to dip banana, mini pretzel and chocolate cookies. That's breakfast! Yummy in my tummy! Lucky the weather was on our side. It didn't rain and was not windy. Thank goodness! I wouldn't mind doing this again! read more

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Fun and well organized race. I heard that this race was nice last year, and I signed up for 15K this year. Starts in the Golden Gate Park and go to Ocean beach, go south and back to the start point. The scenery was nice. The aid stations are interesting. Water/sport drink, and marshmallow. However it was hard to eat during the run. After the run, runners get hot chocolate, banana, and more marshmallows. It's a little annoying to park at SFSU and take a shuttle ($8). Worth trying. My time was 1:25:02. read more

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First race of 2019! I wasn't planning on running this, however a friend of a friend cancelled last minute so I joined. Unfortunately, we couldn't swap out the male jacket for the female one. Apparently it would have cause disarray, but I prefer the black color anyway! The weather was awesome. It was brisk, but not too cold. I'm able to warm up really fast when I run. Others who are sensitive to cold weather might want to think about wearing a trash bag! They are cheap and keep your core toasty! Parking was a nightmare. Granted, we did get there 10 minutes before the race started... We didn't even try to park inside Golden Gate Park. We drove around for about 15-20 minutes before finding a questionable parking spot about 4 blocks away. We then ran to the park and got there right as the last few corrals were starting. Phew! The race itself was enjoyable. Running through the park can feel a bit claustrophobic. There's a lot of people and not too much space. The crowd starts to thin out a bit as the race progresses so when we were running by the water we were able to get some sweet unobstructed photos. During the race they had 4 sweets stations that gave out marshmallows, chocolate chips, and m&ms. After those sweet stations were electrolytes and water. There were also portapotties along the course. At the end of the race we picked up hats that we forgot to get during the bib pickup and then proceeded to claim our hard earned hot chocolate. It was seriously the best hot chocolate that I've ever tasted. Was that just the runners' high talking? :) The mug had sections for your hot chocolate cup, a rice crispy treat, marshmallow, chocolate dipping sauce, banana, and other goodies. I like that they provided the wet nap inside the mug and plastic bags near by for the mess that ensued! That chocolate sauce got everywhere! I liked all the inflatables that they had up too. Perfect for all those finisher photos! read more

This was SUCH a fun run to start off 2020! I did the 15K and the course was beautiful! We ran through Golden Gate park and out and back along the coastal highway! The last 2 miles is up hill, which is killer! But to be expected at a race in San Francisco! The medal is cute and the swag you get for signing up is a sweater!! You're also greeted at the finish line with fondue and hot cocoa! I also appreciate that this race is corralled, which makes the start so much easier because you don't have to push through people. There is also chocolate eeeeeverywhere at the expo! So fun! I don't recommend expecting to park near the start line. They sell shuttle passes that leave from various places around the city. My dad and I parked on the outskirts of town and just got an Uber. It was super easy. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun and laid back race! read more

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My favorite of the Golden Gate Park type runs. I love the route through the peek and down alongside Ocean Beach on Hwy1. It's super organized and they have the best swag! I wear my Hot Chocolate zip up hoodies everywhere! The end of race chocolate and tastes goodies is also a win! It adds a new element to all of it and it's just so fun to do with friends! read more

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So this review is solely as a volunteer for this race. Read my other review for a perspective on the run itself. So this year, I didn't feel like running the race as well, I didn't feel that the swag was something I really needed. The medal was the same. So nothing absolutely new. So I decided, why not volunteer as the volunteers also get some nice swag. Well I signed up on the site though it was kind of confusing what spots were available, there wasn't really any info on how long shifts were for and they changed the website design right before the race so it got a little confusing as to whether or not I signed up, what other info I could get from that page, etc. So it was not looking good already. A week before the race, they send you an email with a link to a page with more information about your shift. My friend could not for the life of her get her link to work. Mine did and wow...what a security hole cause you can basically place an email in the url and you can see that person's name and the volunteer info. Within this email you get more information about where to meet, your shift, and parking info with a pass. Sweet. Free parking but if you show up before 6am. Uff. Anyways, we got to the park around 5:35 with some time to spare as they said we needed to be there by 5:45am. We walked to the volunteer tent which is located closer to the port o potty's on the opposite side of gear check. Okay, well then after signing in, the folks there told us to go to the next tent to pick up our volunteer shirt. Well apparently we were about half an hour too late as there were no more smalls or mediums for the tech half zip hoodies but well they were men's sizes anyways. It all worked out as it was great to wear over all the other layers to keep us warm. Right next to gear was goods like hot cocoa and granola bars. Now...this is where things go a little awry. We went back to the first tent asking where we should go for start line corral volunteering. She hemmed and hawed saying that oh we might be too late and that they're likely at the start line already. So ignoring the fact there was a sign for "Start Line" right behind this tent, we walked all the way to the start line and saw nothing...then we walked back and went back to the sign where everyone was standing with orange vests. I approached a group of guys and they seemed to be high schoolers. I asked, "Where did you guys get instructions?" Silence..."Um, did someone tell you guys to put those vests on...can you point us to who that was?" *crickets* Mind you there were like 5-6 of these guys just staring blankly at me. It's like I was speaking in a language outside of English. Are high schoolers really like this? Should I tweet or instagram or put a bunch of emojis to be understood? Well we walked back to that same first tent and someone more official from RAM racing told us oh, you go to the sign you saw, there's a blue bin with orange vests, put one on and put on a badge. *face palm* Really? Well we then just stood there for another hour or so until finally they told us what we needed to do for the start corral. So we manned the last corral meant for the 15k folks but no one was allowed to enter until all the 5k-ers left. I still find it ridiculous that some folks came to run the 5k almost at the start time of the 15k. Well after we got everyone off to run, there wasn't really any instructions on what to do next, so we walked back to the volunteer tent and asked someone there, they said take off the vest and just wait, but we saw a lot of the high schoolers just wander away. There wasn't anything stopping us from just leaving. We already signed in. There wasn't really a check out. That's where I think this volunteering was flawed. Well we were then reassigned to the chocolate tent where the mugs were set up to be distributed. Again, there must be something wrong with youths today because they thought this was a race to set up all the mugs even though NO ONE WAS THERE to claim them. They basically tried to stare us down to make us put more but who wants solidified chocolate and a luke warm cup of hot chocolate? I was so frustrated and angry at them that part of me wants to not do this volunteering again next year. I also now have a tactic on which lane to go to. Just look if there's a lot of mugs waiting or go in a line where there's a lot of people. You'll get a fresher set of hot chocolate. Don't go to the ends because you'll regret it. Overall as a volunteer, it could have been better organized. As a runner, it's a lot better. Next time if I do ever volunteer again, I need to be strategic about when to volunteer and talk some sense into those high schoolers. read more

I wanted to do this event last year but had to rethink due to a severe Knee injury so I was really looking forward to the fact that it was returning this year I signed up almost as soon as registration opened which then prompted friends too also. Distance: - 5k (3.1 miles NOT 3.5) - 15k (9.3 miles NOT 9.5 as I have seen other reviewers say) This was also NOT a Marathon. A Marathon is 26.2 miles. No less! Yeah, It irritates the serious Runner in me when people don't know distances. It's simple math. Expo: The Expo was better located from those who do not live in The City, still a long way for me to come from The Valley yet still much more easily accessible. The parking situation on the Saturday before was crazy! There didn't appear to be enough spaces but then just driving around the parking lot turned out that actually there was, it was just that people were too lazy and wanted to park right near the entrance so that they didn't have to walk too far. Uuurmm.. you're picking up a packet for a distance Run people. Lol. The expo was packed with so many people and a few vendors but not much in the way of Chocolate, I only saw one table giving out Chocolate dipped Marshmallows and was disappointed I didn't get my little Chocolate they had the previous year. The pick up itself was easy yet my Corral was not printed properly do I had to manually color it on with a pen. Swag: I love the cool Hoody which came in really useful on the cold San Francisco morning of the Run. I requested an XS yet it still felt a little on the large side though. I also bagged myself a Hat as one of my Running Club was an Ambassador and gave me a code to use. The Hat was big too (Boo) Course: Wonderful and scenic though the Golden Gate Park and along the bay, the little Waterfall not even a mile into the course was killer though, I heard that water from far off and made me need the rest room for the next 4 miles. Darn it! Most of the course was flat with a few hills mainly towards the end. I seem to excel at hill Running so they were a breeze for me but if you're unprepared these hills will slow you. Post Run: Lot's of picture opportunities and as this was a Chocolate Run we got a Bowl of Chocolate Goodies = Hot Chocolate, liquid dipping Chocolate and a few bits to dip (Banana, Marshmallow, Krispy Treat, Pretzels and a Wafer) . I skipped the Wafer and Pretzels but did end up scooping out about 70% of the melted Chocolate with my finger before feeling really sick. I know a lot of Runners (myself included) swear by Chocolate Milk after a Run for recovery but this was something else. Great concept but not a good idea to even try consume that much Chocolate at 9:30am. I would have liked some more savory food options and only as we were about to leave I noticed a couple of food trucks that were not advertised as being there - Sam's Chowdermobile, an Indian food truck and a stall selling Baked goods and Coffee. The location however left a lot to be desired, hidden behind the row of tree's where the portable restrooms were. The smell coming from that area left a lot to be desired so even if I had seen the trucks sooner I doubt I would have got anything from there. I did the first 5k of this course with a friend and the last 10k solo, definitely more fun with friends if you all keep the same pace. I would definitely do it again as the swag alone is worth it. read more

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So chocolate is healthy for you.. and so is running.. so the Hot Chocolate run is an overall win! Course: The 15k course starts at Golden Gate Park, then it takes you down to the Great Highway where you loop and finish back at the Golden Gate Park. Loved that the course started with down hills, but that means you must go back up... *cues in Miley Cyrus's THE CLIMB. Okay, it's not that bad, but kinda bad because you're so close but so far in the last 2ish miles. Pros: - 15K finishers received a deliciously beautiful chocolate bar medal - Plenty of bathrooms on the course, water/Nuun stations, marshmallows, chocolates (4 aid stations to be specific) - Scenic course - Finisher cup filled with chocolate goodies - Free photos for download post-race; yay! - Very well organized. They had the letters of the alphabet lined up along the sides at the finishers area so you can plan to meet up with your friends at a specific letter - Cool swag (hot chocolate jacket most notably) Cons: - Small expo.. kinda no expo.. - This is a personal fault, but I couldn't finish the hot chocolate because I felt my lactose intolerance coming on after a few sips.. The race sold out in 2016, so sign up early! Also, if you're unfamiliar with the streets of San Francisco, take the shuttle service that they offer. Otherwise, you might be able to find parking in the surrounding neighborhoods or streets adjacent to the park! read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Yummy, pretty medal! - Races & Competitions Near Me

183. Running and chocolate? I'm down! I signed up for the 5K. The course was flat for the most part. It was a bit confusing at the beginning when runners were trying to find the location of the start of the race. I'm not sure how the walkers were placed in the corrals in front of us, but that's not a safe idea. Overall though, it was pretty organized. It's a chocolate run, so the chocolate at the end was pretty overwhelming. I think I didn't eat chocolate for a week after that. The swag was really nice too-- I actually get compliments! Would run again. read more

DEATH BY CALORIES, CHOCOLATE, AND THE SMELL OF BISON POOP. "I run for chocolate" so cliche. You technically are running to get chocolate wasted but fail to mention belly aches... But I guess the 9.5 miles was worth it!!! "I run for chocolate and belly aches". It's a fun course, fun run, and lots of sweet treats earned. But those GREEN BANANAS though?!?!?! PRE-RACE. Smart idea to hold the expo at South SF Convention Center. Away from the city means easy access in and easy access out, Bib pick up was organized. Lots of booths to shop at. However, disappointed not one booth were selling the jelly beans energy boosts. They can be found at every expo. Each racer left with a bag, bib, free goodies, chocolate, AND a sweater!!! RACE. They promoted limited parking and to take the race shuttle in. Limited parking outside the park but there were a ton of parking in the park, the 4hr limit parking sign does NOT apply on Sundays and the race falls on a Sunday. The crowd was overwhelming of runners and bandwagon runners. They have corrals to not clutterf* the start line but there were still sections in the course with bottleneck areas. The course was nice, through the park, through ocean beach, and back into the park. There were sweet stations right before each water station. Concept is cute but it won't be cute when your belly aches. Also, I heard about Bison living in the park but never knew where... UNTIL THAT MOMENT I smelt an odd poop smell and looked to my left to see big brown furry balls laying on dry grass in a fenced section. BISON!!! awesome to see during the run. Inclines hit at the end, nothing too steep but it was a consistent incline through the end that gave a runners endurance and stamina a beating. THE FINISH. The medal is pretty cool. But All I wanted was that plastic bowl mug of hot chocolate, chocolate, sweets, and a GREEN BANANA to get chocolate wasted in the AM. How are they going to give runners a GREEN BANANA?!?! I can't let that go. Super fail. Will I be back? Yes, I'll do it next yr. Until the next review.x read more

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This review is very overdue... My friend had signed up for this race and though the idea of chocolate at a race was very enticing, I wasn't sold right away because this race was in San Francisco and getting to the city early in the morning for me is a pain since I normally always BART in. Eventually, kind of last minute I decided to sign up. But because I signed up so late, there were no more small sizes of the long-sleeve pullover that comes with registration. More on that later! In addition to registering for the race, there was a separate option to purchase shuttle bus tickets that take you from Civic Center into Golden Gate Park, where the actual race was. We bought those too. Packet pickup was at the Sports Basement in the Presidio. There were plenty of volunteers and it was pretty organized. It didn't take too long for me to get my bib and my pullover. Instead of a shirt, everyone got a long-sleeve half-zip pullover that has a hood and also a hidden pocket in the bottom of the back side. The pocket is big enough for a smart phone or iPod and credit cards and keys. And the Hot Chocolate race logo is embroidered on the front. For women, the lining on the inside of the hood was purple. For guys it was blue. We also got those drawstring backpacks made of like a vinyl material. The girls bags were purple and the guys bags were blue. The medium one was waaaaay too big on me. I tried to see if I could switch to a small, but at the exchange table, they only had XLs. I kind of wished I had checked to see if maybe there was like any guys small pullovers when I signed up or at the exchange table. Blue is my favorite color, and since the medium womens one was too big anyway, at least I could've gotten a blue one instead. There were too many booths or vendors, so not many freebies. The shuttle pick up at Civic Center was very well organized. We hardly had to wait, we hopped on the bus and as soon as it filled up with people, we headed out to GG Park. I signed up for the 15K (if I'm going to go all the way to SF for a race, it's not going to be for just a 5K). There were corrals. There was also gear check-in. And they had these blow up things of a giant cup of hot chocolate and a giant marshmallow man (???). The course started in Golden Gate Park and went through the park and onto the Great Highway (we saw the ocean!) then turned around and back to the park. At one of the aid stations on the highway, they were giving out squares of chocolate but I did want chocolate - I wanted water! For finishing, we all got a bowl filled with chocolate goodies - there was a cup of hot cocoa, liquid chocolate for dipping (fondue style), a banana, a marshmallow, a rice krispies treat, and maybe some other things. I love rice krispies treats and I hadn't had one in forever, so it was a nice reward for running 9+ miles. Overall, it was fun to do the race and the chocolate theme is cute. I probably wouldn't do it again, but glad I signed up. read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Womens half zip long sleeve pullover with hood plus the drawstring bag - Races & Competitions Near Me

As ambassador for the Hot Chocolate 15/5K Philadelphia I got the opportunity to come run in the San Francisco Hot Chocolate 15/5K. I was able to opt out of actually going to the expo and based on comments probably for the best especially since it was so far away. But I did use the shuttle bus and that was extremely efficient and made getting to and from the race from the hotel super easy would highly recommend it especially since parking seemed limited around Golden Gate Park. Plus I talked with someone who tried to park and she said getting to the start line was difficult, but even as a bus taker my friend and I also found it difficult. Bag check and Mug Pick up was super organized and there seemed to be people telling you where to go except near the start line which is what we kind of need cause it was kind of a little away from the party area. The course was gorgeous, less hillier than Seattle but still on the hilly side. But the numbers of walker astonished me, my friends and I ran the 5K. I had a difficult time getting to my corral and actually missed it so I ended up one behind which was corral B, I am not a fast runner so how I ended up assigned to A was beyond me at 1st but once I spent the 1st mile dodging walkers I really wished I didn't miss my corral. I know the 5K usually has more walkers then the 15K but I didn't expect them until corral D or E, B shocked me, my also friend missed her corral and she planned to run the whole thing as well and had an even harder time dodging walker than I did since she got in even further back than B. Over all it was a great race, loved the course, they could just improve the start and finish line and maybe relooking to corral assignments. read more

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k - Races & Competitions Near Me

Terrible customer service, basically a scam to get your money. Won't do any kind of accommodations for bad weather or illness. They insisted on scheduling the race and not giving refunds even though the weather was dangerous and there were police warnings against being out. read more

This was my first time doing this one, but I've done a couple of 5ks. My first 5k set some high expectations for me, however, as I ran more 5ks, it has gotten lower. So when I signed up for this, I didn't really expect much. I signed up few weeks before the race and managed to find a $5 coupon so woohoo! I always love it when the pick up is a Sports Basement because hubster and I enjoy going there. Not the getting stuck in traffic part but shopping in there. I was surprised how it organized it was during pick up. Wasnt much swag given away after you pick up your packet, but eh. The hoodie they give you was actually a good quality. Your registration pretty much paid for that and I don't mind at all. I'd definitely wear it again. They highly encourage people to either take the shuttle or take public transportation to get to the race. At least they gave options for people to take shuttles at a price. My church is nearby so I know that parking isn't an issue if you get to the area early and park in the neighborhood. They do discourage that but if you really have to drive then that's an option for you. This race was the most organized 5k I've done. There were a lot of portable restrooms, the tents had their own spots and there were signs directing you where to go. This place was also crowded. I ended up in the Corral E the slowest of 5k and most people were walking. It was hard to pass through if you're really trying to run or even jog. It was a nice trail and some were slight uphill which is to be expected in SF. When you finish, they direct you to pick up your hot chocolate fondue. That was also organized. You didn't have to wait long to enjoy your chocolate. Yummmy chocolate and they included different goodies to dip in your melted chocolate. Other than that there were no other swags. I actually recommend this 5k and might possibly do it again. It's not just the chocolate, it was how organized it was that makes me want to do it again. read more

The best run EVER! A scenic route that will distract your pain away, starting from Golden Gate Park to the Ocean Beach and back to Golden Gate Park behind the DeYoung museum. The goodies alone can motivate you to cross that finish line. You get a chocolate fondue with hot chocolate, marshmallow, pretzels, banana, and rice Krispy. You also get the most rad bling medal reminiscent of your chocolate run. The zip up hoodie is lined with fleece and equipped with 2 zipped pockets outside and 2 pockets inside. It's an organized event. People coming from out of town, there's a convenient shuttle pick ups and drop offs provided by Bauer transportation. We used the SF state parking. You have to pay for that and each person can pay for the shuttle ride. All of these are purchased ahead of time. The further you park from the city, the more it cost. There were 12K plus runners, corral that goes up to N, merchandise tent, information services tent (you can get tampons and pins here), gear check tent, and plenty of potties. During the run, they have 2 marshmallow stations (chocolate and strawberry). They have water and Gatorade stations to help you hydrated during your fun run. I have a feeling this will be a tradition for us! I was not the one who picked up my bib, but my friend said they had strawberry dipped chocolate and hot chocolate during the expo. The good thing is that others can pick up your bib for you. You just have to show your confirmation number that can be both printed or show a snap shot of it on your phone. To top it off, it is perfect timing for a 15K. Many runners can concur that it's the best way to start off the New Year. Yes, I'm sore as hell, but a little Motrin can remedy that. Stay tuned for the next run! You won't regret signing up. I just want to brag one thing! I just worked a 12-hr shift. Got off work at 330am, ate breakfast and got ready. Left San Jose at 5:20a and got to SF parking lot without hitting traffic. Been awake for 24 hours when I finished the run. What's your excuse? My fiancé said I'm a bad ass! I think I'm a zombie runner! read more

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Had a change in plans due to a health issue. The run refuses to accommodate this. No refunds under any circumstances! I won't sign up in advance again in the future - inflexible policies and rude employees. read more

What a GREAT race! I wasn't sure what to expect. My last few races I've run have been chaotic and disorganized, and I run as fast as I can so I spring over the finish line and go home. Not this race. It was super easy to register, super easy to pick up my packet (although Sports Basement is a little hectic to get in and out of in the parking lot since its only a single lane out from Crissy Field, but I got to see the sunset so it wasn't terrible) with the great finisher hoodie. I will definitely be wearing that again for running on cold mornings. BUT the best part of the race was the finisher chocolate fest!!! The volunteers were really wonderful and so quick to give me my chocolate goodies. They had a ton of stalls to dole out the deliciousness, and I had to wait a hot minute, maybe 2 to get my stuff. Usually I am wandering or in line for 5-10 minutes looking for bottled water and a banana that isn't smashed, fighting with a ton of people trying to get something to eat. The price for this race is totally worth it! I'm glad they came and I will definitely do this race again! read more

This is a 5 star event, no doubt. The course if really scenic, the chocolate prize at the end is absolutely fantastic, and the types of runners range from weekend warriors to hardcore athletes. The prize medal is probably the coolest design ever (honorable mention to the Santa Cruz Half Shell Medal) and the free chocolate at the Bib pick up, and the chocolate on the course is obviously a main attraction for chocoholics. That, plus you are now in the City and you still have the rest of the day to explore, eat, drink and be with good friends for the day. My apologies to the locals who probably take much for granted, but I never get tired of exploring the City and finding cool new places each time I visit the City that was built on Rock and Roll! read more

Bonus Swag Code: SFKATHY20 LOVE LoVe love all the chocolate! This race is super organized and lots of fun. Walk friendly and a great run for friends and family. Everyone gets a jacket instead of the usual t-shirt. At the post race party, everybody gets a personal fondue with goodies for dipping and a cup of perfectly-temped hot chocolate! Sweet treats at aid stations along with Nuun and water. 15k participants get a huge medal. Make this an annual race for you!!! read more

So.much.cho-co-late. So much sugar...mmm... (so much so, that it makes me compelled to break down the word chocolate by its syllables :P) I love chocolate...and I like physical challenges. Thus, it made sense that I run the Hot Chocolate 15k of course. To avoid my naturally long-winded reviews (its just the way I write aite...): Pros: -admission fee was pretty reasonable. -lots of chocolate -the course was ggpark and along the great highway (with beautiful views of the chilly Ocean Beach) -lots of course support (i.e. pitstops for water, bathrooms, and chocolate-y snacks); granted, I am handicapped and cant eat/drink really during a race without dropping/spilling everything all over myself. -santization wipes were included in the finisher's mug. how thoughtful! Cons: -the expo was so far away from the city (where the race is located?); kinda confusing. -tho very cute, the mug that held all the chocolate goodies is kinda cheap quality and isn't practical for using as a "regular" mug. It's more like a cute plastic "tool box." Pros exceed cons so that side wins. (...my review is still "long"...oops) read more

Another fun run! The drawback is that it is so family friendly. But this is also a plus if you're looking for something fun to do with your family! It was super crowded at the start of the 5k that you end up having to walk much of the first half mile. I had to weave around people even on the sides, but it eventually cleared up enough where I could run consistently. The course isn't too bad. There's a little bit of downhill and uphill around Speedway Meadow (now Hellman's Hollow), so there's a bit of a slowdown, but it wasn't all that bad! The hot chocolate warmed me up even more and the chocolate fondu with snacks was nice! Just don't wait too long to eat it because it'll harden! I'm not sure what I'll use the "mug" for now, but still a cool thing to have as a souvenier. read more

Ahhh Hot Chocolate Run :9! I give this event 5/5 stars and not just because there's hot chocolate and chocolate fondue at the end! (although that certainly helps ;)) This was the most organized run I've participated in, incredibly worth the money spent, and was all around tons of fun! WEBSITE/REGISTRATION- My cousin and I had been eyeing this race for quite some time! It wasn't here in SF last year so we were incredibly excited that it was back for 2014! We signed up in advance on their website and got the early rate. The website was super informative and easy to navigate through (love the visual aesthetic of the chocolate being poured out!) There were event details, a course map, parking/shuttle accommodations, goodie bag/cool swag info, and direct charity information. It was clear that the organization and preparation behind this race was well thought out. As the event approached, I received several e-mails about packet pick-up and transportation reminders. Kudos for awesome planning Hot Chocolate Run! PACKET PICKUP- For the SF run, we were given 2 full days for packet pick-up; the Friday and Saturday before the race, at Sports Basement. Awesome partnership! Sports Basement is huge and accommodated the packet pick-up extremely well. There was a station for signing in and getting your bib, based on which run you signed up for, 15k or 5k. Next you go to your swag pick-up, based on gender and what size you registered for. Guys received a blue themed swag pack, girls purple. There was also a mini fair with marshmallow and chocolate fondue, healthy dark chocolate snack samples, and other booths with related sports information. Thumbs up for making packet-pick up fun! Sports Basement was also having a Winter Sale... talk about good timing! :) SWAG- I thought the different color swag was AMAZING! You get a drawstring backpack + stylish running hoodie. I would have gladly paid for the hoodie with my race bid monies, talk about quality! Great material used for running gear - smooth wicking fleece (fitted for women), zip up pocket on the back (I ran with my chapstick), hood to cover your head and ears, and thumb holes -just to name a few of the things that I really loved about it. I wore mine to and during the race. It kept me warm since SF can be pretty chilly in the morning and was great to run in! LOCATION/RUN- Golden Gate Park is absolutely beautiful at 8 in the morning. There were so many picturesque moments that I wanted to capture, but alas, I was determined not to take any breaks. Sunlight broke through in between the fog and tall trees. It was gorgeous and inhaling the crisp air was so refreshing! The course was paved the entire time and there was some slight inclinations throughout the race - nothing too crazy! I saw kids running this race. It's great for all ages! WATER- Water gets its own category because all race participants know that a great race must serve water throughout the course. I've seen some where not enough water stations were set up, this was definitely not the case! Hot Chocolate Run served water and gatorade! I think I ran faster after I drank the gatorade! Haha, just kidding. But seriously, thanks for keeping us hydrated during the race, and at the end - volunteers were passing out water bottles. Pretty standard, but definitely not overlooked. ORGANIZATION- I know I already mentioned how organized packet-pick up was, but I was so impressed by the organization on race day! We had a ticketed number attached to our bid to tear off and use for baggage check-in = GENIUS! Baggage check was organized by our bid numbers in boxes. Super efficient. Every bid had a letter on it to separate everyone by "running corrals." It was easy to meet up with friends at a designated corral. They also had random letter stations around the area to help groups meet up after the race = GENIUS AGAIN! Let's just say it wasn't difficult at all to find my friends after the race. MORE GOODIES/FUN STUFF/ETC- -At the end every racer gets a "FINISHER'S MUG!" Basically it was a giant cup with hot chocolate, chocolate fondue, half a banana, rice krispie treats, a marshmallow, and other snacks to dip in your fondue. I was so impressed. The hot chocolate was rich and delicious, none of that instant packet powdery stuff mixed with hot water. It was a great treat/"breakfast" after the race. -There were a lot of photo booths to take pictures at, in addition to an inflatable marshmallow man and giant cup of hot cocoa. -They also had a raffle for instagram/twitter users who tweeted/linked to their official accounts and used their hashtag #HC15k! My cousin actually won and was allowed to pick any one item in the merchandise tent. Super cool! Overall, I'd say this race was amazing in all areas. My friends and I had a lot of fun and it was a great way to start the new year read more

This year was my first HC in San Francisco, I've done races in other cities prior to this so I at least have some comparison of what to expect. This year's race was complicated by weather, in that we had pouring rain and wind gusts up to 30 mph and led to a shortened course. So here it be. Expo: Small, though most of the HC Expos are. Some local races (Bay to Breakers), Running Companies, etc. Easy to get your bib, though they assign your number right there. I had to make sure after the fact that my number was really assigned because it didn't come up under runner tracking. HC branded stuff for sale as well. Expo was at the South SF Convention center that wasn't close to downtown. I was able to swing by from the airport. Uber is probably your best bet to get there because parking's tight Swag bag: these are always the bare basics. Typically, whatever the jacket is and a bag and that's it. This year was a hooded zipper sweatshirt. The nice thing is, there's an area to try it on and swap if you want a different size. Getting to the race: some parking, but limited. Race was at Golden Gate Park. Shuttles were offered from a few different locations, I ended up taking the shuttle from Union Square. You had to purchase tickets ahead of time and ShowClix made a big deal about having the tickets printed off, but then when we got on the bus, they didn't scan or take them Bag Check: well organized. However, the zip tie to attach my tag to the bag was already closed when I picked up my bag and holding the safety pins together. Had to get a zip tie there Race Day Weather: of all days of California to not be in a drought situation, today was that day. Rained all morning and gusts of wind up to 30 mph on course. The Start: 820 AM for the 15K. Lined up in corrals, goes on a staggered start system, which is appreciated. The course: The 15K was on a shortened course to 5.9 miles due to the wind gusts and safety concerns. Fair enough, though the wind didn't seem bad in the park until close to the end of the race. Some hills, though nothing terrible. One of my big things with the HC races in general is they have their races in major cities, but their courses don't let you see the city. I wanted to see more of SF, not just Golden Gate Park. Since the course was shortened, only 2-3 water stops and got the chocolate chips and marshmallows. No mile markers/timers on course, though not sure how much of that was due to weather. Post race: Easy getting through the chute. Medals followed by water, though it took a bit to find. Easy to get back to bag check and to get to the hot chocolate mugs, etc. The chocolate was a bit watered down from the weather though. Since it was still raining and windy, not many people stuck around. Everyone was trying to get out so they could get showered and warm Overall a good race, just wish I could have seen more of SF and that weather would have cooperated. RAM Racing did well on their part communicating things, though text alerts race day would have been a plus read more

This was my fourth 5K so now I feel like I have a context for what good 5Ks look like. This one is a solid A-OK. My last 5K (Awesome 80s http://www.yelp.com/biz/awesome-80s-run-san-francisco) was also at Golden Gate Park and so I was looking forward . The Good: - Well organized with good signage at the start/finish and along the course. - Lots of volunteers ready to help. - I didn't mind the e-mails every other day about no parking being available because I know that there were still some participants who probably didn't "get the message." - Nice shirt. - There was a good water station on the course and full bottles of water at the finish (thank you!). - The hot chocolate and fondue were surprisingly delicious. The dippers were also great -- banana, marshmallow, rice crispy treat and wafer cookie. The Not-So-Good: - We registered at a 12-min mile pace, which put us in Corral D, and there were people walking in front of us. Walking! I have no problem with people walking but something that annoys me, (everywhere, not just during this race) is that people would walk four-wide, blocking us from actually running. We couldn't run at the pace that we wanted until around the Mile 1 marker. - Although my bag and shirt packaging were labeled correctly, the shirt inside was the wrong size. I e-mailed them on Monday and again on Thursday and finally heard back. No apology, just a code so I can pay to ship my bag and then they'll send me a new bag with (hopefully) the correct shirt. - The finishers mug was practical for the day-of, with small compartments within the larger mug for fondue, dippers and the cup of hot chocolate. However, it is a bummer that the mug doesn't serve a post-run purpose. Perhaps the little compartments can be a plastic insert so that can be removed to become an actual big mug for future use? I'm on the fence on whether I would sign up to do this run again. I hope that they make some improvements for 2015. (Registration is already open.) read more