2015 Hot Chocolate 5K Columbus — Race with Sister Chelsea!

For the first themed race of my life, I chose the Hot Chocolate 5K!  I love sweets, and you don’t get much better than chocolate.  I asked my sister, Chelsea, if she wanted to run it with me.  She did, otherwise I wouldn’t have as this is definitely a social event.

A most beautiful fall day in Columbus, Ohio!

I ran two races the previous week, and did not run after crossing the finish line of the OBX marathon.  It was a planned week off.  I decided to use it to rest training for ultras, and this HC5K would serve as the kick off.

I was pretty tired waking up for the race — I’ve only had about 10 hours of sleep from work and this race.  Life happens.  It’s not a focus run.  It was mid-30s to start, but the sun was out for the 0730 race.

The funny thing is for my projected time (which turned out to only be a second too fast) required verification.  Apparently 19:56 is a fast time.  I sent a screenshot of my August half.

Start of the action!

There are two waves, with about three minutes between corrals.  I started about three rows from the very front.  Yay, progress.  My warm up mile went very well — it felt like I was coasting, and gave me confidence for my run.  As expected, everyone flew at the start of the race (several people I passed back during the first mile).  My goal for this race was to pace it better, but it turned out I went too conservatively.  My miles and .1 were 6:25, 6:20, 6:15, and 6:10 pace.  It felt like I could go on for a bit more, which is a good thing, but I didn’t leave it all out.  The 15K was simultaneously run, with the 5K/15K break 2.5 miles in.  After that I raced by myself for 9th overall, 19:57.

Officially the race was “meh”.

Chelsea didn’t start yet, because of the waves, so I had time to gather my gear checked bag and wait for her.  Yay for seeing sister start!

After she finished we had our mug of chocolate.  It’s actually a very clever design, holding the fondue, up of hot chocolate, a banana, and several other snacks.  You definitely ate all of the calories you just burnt off.  Totally worth it.

Here is what the hot chocolate mug looks like. It’s tastier than it looks.

My thoughts of my race:

Not my best race, but I think that’s more of a combination of lack of sleep the previous couple of days and pacing incorrectly.  My hamstrings were a little tight, so I definitely wasn’t going to push the envelope.  A learning experience, but I would need a few more focus runs for a 5K to really learn how to run one.  That, and actually train for one.

The Hot Chocolate 5K/15K is fun — there were definitely many gaggles of friends and family.  It’s too expensive to run if you’re not into its theme.  It is what it is.

Chelsea and I after the race!