A Race That’s as Sweet as It Sounds.
Every February, my wife and I lace up our running shoes for one of our favorite local races—the Hot Chocolate Run 15K in Dallas. It’s part of a national race series that takes place in cities across the U.S., known for its fun, well-organized atmosphere and, of course, the delicious post-race treats. The event originally featured only a 5K and 15K, but in recent years, they’ve added a 10K option as well.
The Dallas course starts and finishes at Fair Park, home of the famous Cotton Bowl, and attracts thousands of participants each year. At the finish line, runners are rewarded with hot chocolate and a chocolate fondue spread—complete with treats like Rice Krispie squares, pretzels, and bananas for dipping. Over the years, this race has become a tradition for us, combining a fun run with a great community atmosphere.
A Warmer Hot Chocolate Run Than Usual
One of the unique aspects of running in Dallas in February is that you never know what kind of weather you’re going to get. In past years, we’ve found ourselves shivering at the start line, but this time around, it was a different story. Race day (February 8, 2025) was unseasonably warm, with temperatures in the low 70s at the 8:30 a.m. start.
While warmer than expected, it was still a great day for a run. I carpooled with fellow members of the Prosper Running Club, the group my wife and I helped to found in 2020, and we met up with more club members at the start line. The Hot Chocolate Run isn’t about competition—it’s about the experience, and many participants treat it as their long run for the weekend rather than an all-out race.
Running Without a Goal (Sort of…)
For me, this race was a checkpoint in my recovery journey. After an injury in September, I’ve been slowly building back my mileage with a base training plan. Before the race, the longest I had run in months was six miles, so tackling the 15K (9.3 miles) was going to be my biggest challenge in a while.
I didn’t have a time goal in mind—I just wanted to enjoy the run. But since I was feeling good, I decided to lace up my Nike Alphafly racing shoes. These shoes, while expensive, tend to shave about 30 seconds per mile off my pace. I figured they’d help me keep things faster while staying relaxed.
The race had pacers, but I never spotted the 9:00 per mile pace group I had intended to follow—I must have stayed ahead the entire time. Thanks to the Alphaflys, I ended up averaging 8:25 per mile, finishing in around 79 minutes. It felt surprisingly comfortable considering I hadn’t run this far in a while.
The course was a little windy, but the energy from both the runners and the crowd was fantastic. Despite the warmth, it was nice not shivering at the finish line for once!
The Best Race Swag & A Long-Running Tradition
One of the things that makes the Hot Chocolate Run special is the race swag. Instead of the usual race T-shirt, runners receive a high-quality zip-up hoodie, which makes it one of the best race gear offerings out there.
Since moving to Texas in 2013, I’ve made this race a regular tradition. My first Hot Chocolate Run was in 2014, and after checking my closet, I realized I’ve collected eight of these jackets over the years! Out of the ten opportunities I’ve had to run this race (excluding the two years I was overseas for work), I’ve only missed it twice.
It’s also a great family-friendly event. My wife and I used to run the 5K, but in recent years, we’ve “graduated” to the 15K. We’ve even had our kids join us in the past, making it a full family affair.
If you’re looking for a winter race that’s fun, well-organized, and comes with a sweet post-run reward, I highly recommend checking out the Hot Chocolate Race Series in a city near you.
What’s Next after the Hot Chocolate Run?
With the Hot Chocolate Run in the books, my wife and I have already set our sights on the next challenge: The Texas Big Star Half Marathon in Frisco on April 12, 2025.
Over the next couple of months, I’ll be ramping up my training, and in my next blog post, I plan to dive into how I use Garmin Coach to structure my workouts and track my progress. Stay tuned as I build back up for 13.1 miles!
In the meantime—if you’ve ever run a Hot Chocolate Race, let me know in the comments! Do you go for the 5K, 10K, or 15K? And most importantly—what’s your favorite post-race chocolate treat?
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