Hot Chocolate 15k 2015 Race Recap

This was my fourth time running the annual Hot Chocolate 15k. It's an opportunity to use some of my residual marathon fitness for a potential 15k PR. This year's version would feature picture-perfect racing weather which perhaps would bode well for a PR and maybe something more...

The Expo:
This year, the expo was moved from McCormick Place to the Hyatt on Wacker which was a welcome change. No more 22 mile round-trip drive through city traffic to get my packet for a race distance that amounts to an extended 10k. I was able to ride the "L" and read a book on the way down and get my packet and bib and them jump back on the train before my two hour CTA transfer window expired. Over the last three years, the race organizers have proven they can hold a quick and organized packet pickup. The packet pickup disaster from a few years ago is now a distant memory.

Pre Race (Mistake and a Jerk): 
I was all set to take the 45 minute "L" to the race, but was running slightly behind schedule, so instead, I hopped in my car, and with LSD completely empty, made it near my $16 parking garage just north of Grant Park in just over 15 minutes, however once on Lower Wacker, I took a wrong turn and found myself in a lane which forced me to head south on LSD. Since all the Grant Park exits off of LSD were closed I could not turn around until south of Soldier Field! This mistake took me an extra 15 minutes of driving by the time I got back to the garage. Since it was so close to race time, there was a line of cars waiting to go through security check. I got in line with about 25 minutes before my corral was due to close. All of a sudden a woman in her car cut in line and drove up near the front of the line of cars waving her work ID badge out the window. I knew right away that she thought that she could cut the line because she worked in the offices above the parking garage. However, I saw she was not going to work, but was actually going to run the race - she was wearing an official "Hot Chocolate" participant jacket. So, I rolled down my window and yelled at her saying we were all trying to get to the same race. She replied that she was just trying to get in "her building" and thought they would open up a special lane for her. Yeah right! Anyway, someone let her in ahead of them. Hope she is happy with herself. People can be such jerks sometimes.

I finally made it into the garage and parked with about 15 minutes to spare to get to the race, get my bag checked and then get into my corral before it closed. So, once I left my car I started running with my backpack on. I ran about a mile around Grant Park to the entrance on Michigan Ave. Then I ran another 1/2 mile through the crowds to gear check. I zipped up my backpack in a clear bag and checked it. I had about 5 minutes to run the length of Grant Park to my corral before it closed. Other people were jogging, but I went into a full sprint! It was about 35 degrees outside, but I was sweating quite a bit. I made it into the "A" corral with a couple of minutes to spare, but completely out of breath and overheating.

I searched the corral for any friendly faces, but since Lynton moved away this year, I did not see him or anyone else I recognized. The race time was nearing and I was still very warm despite the cold temps. I realized that my best bet was to throw away all of my extra layers and just run in a singlet and shorts. So, as the countdown to start began, I chucked my sweats and long sleeve shirt over the railing and the only "extra" articles of clothing I kept was my ski hat and gloves, which I would also dispose of during the race if I became too hot.

Race Strategy: 
In my previous three Hot Chocolate 15ks, I have been very conservative in the first 10k and then opened up the pace for the final 5k. Maybe I was sandbagging just a little and giving away precious seconds early on? I realized that since I had residual marathon endurance, but not speed, running a conservative first 5k then gradually speeding up over the last 10k would be a better strategy. I thought that maybe, just maybe if I could bring the first 5k in closer to 20:00 than 21:00, I might be able to speed up just enough to run a sub 60:00.

The Race:
First 5k:

The Chicago Marathon "blue line"  was still on Columbus drive and it was nice to see it again a handful of weeks after my course PR at that event. Once on Lower Wacker along the river, I ran a relatively slow first mile in 6:52 pace as I tried to determine how my legs and lungs felt and tried to predict how they would be able to handle the remaining 8.3 miles. Some of the 5k runners sped past me with labored breathing and headphones blaring. The wind was in our faces as we turned southbound on Clark St, and then again on Michigan Ave. It was already time to bid adieu to the 5kers as they made their way up "Mt. Roosevelt" to the finish line. 

20:30, 6:34/mile

Second 5k:
We continued running down Michigan Ave on the marathon course in reverse, until we veered off onto 31st street and then MLK Drive for the sharp turn north. During this stretch last year, some woman was running with her phone's speaker blaring music. This year, it was completely quiet except for the exquisite sound of hundreds of footfalls of people racing. The sun was just rising over the lake, it was clear and cool and I had grooved a beautiful pace. I could see the lead runners coming back towards me absolutely flying on the other side of the street. My body did not need to use any energy at all to cool my core since it was barely 40 degrees, so it could devote all of its resources to fueling my legs. My legs started to naturally turn over faster on their own with almost no effort. This is a rare occurrence - when my legs go on auto-pilot and I'm along for the comfortable ride. Endorphins started coursing through my veins, and a big smile appeared on my face - I knew for sure that I could at least sustain this pace for another 5k and that I would get a PR. 

19:56, 6:25/mile

Third 5k:
As we headed eastward at the 10k mark, the lake appeared. I kept doing calculations to figure out how fast I would need to run to get my sub-60 minute finish, but in my blissed-out state of mind I could not do any advanced math. With the wind now to our backs, I knew that at the very least I could run 7:00/mile the rest of the way in and PR, but beyond that I figured I would have to absolutely crush the final 5k to finish under 60 minutes. The McCormick Place tunnel appeared and I took off my sunglasses in order to see the potholes for the trek through the "Smelly Tunnel". Once we got back into the open air I put my sunglasses back on, but they were all smudged and I was looking through hazy lenses. I could not see very well, but did not want to waste time cleaning my sunglasses. I had no idea how close I was to a PR since I stopped looking at my watch and just put my head down and kept running. As we went up the final hill and made the turn onto Columbus drive, I could make out the finish line clock in the distance but could not make out what the numbers were. I got side-by-side with another guy and as he sensed me trying to pass him, he turned on the speed and I gave chase. I had no clue what my time was. It was only until we were about 20 yards from the finish line that I could finally see the numbers on the clock. The numbers were counting up - 59:49 then 59:50 then 59:51. At 59:52, I crossed the line and was ecstatic. I threw my fists in the air and flew past the finish line punching the air!

 19:25, 6:16/mile.

Almost there...

Finished!

Result:
PR by two minutes and 24 seconds! 

Basking in the sparkle of my new PR and new candy bar medal!

Time: 59:45

Overall: 45/12,176

Age Group: 3/358

Official Pace: 6:26/mile

 5k Splits:

1st 5k: 20:30

2nd 5k: 19:56

3rd 5k: 19:25

Analysis:
This was my fourth year running the Hot Chocolate 15k and my fourth 15k PR in each attempt! 59:45 means that I can tick off that magical sub-60 barrier off of my running bucket list. This was the best weather for a race I've experienced in over a year, so I'm glad I took advantage of the conditions when they were perfect. I also finished 3rd in my age group, so I am going to look out for my age group award in the mail.

Since I haven't had a post with some charts in awhile, I thought I'd regale you with a couple of looks at how I've fared in the race over the last four years.

My paces by year

My average paces by 5k splits 2012 through 2015

I've run this race four times and PR'd it every year. I'm getting smarter strategy-wise over time. However, this year I had an 18 month running base going into the race so my fitness was the best it's ever been at this time of the year.

Post-Race:
Near gear check, I spotted and then high-fived Lauren's husband Mike and then made my way over to get my fondue and hot chocolate:

Post-race "fondue mug"

The chocolate fondue was nice and messy and there was chocolate on my face and hands:

Giant fondue cup with hot chocolate in the middle!

Once again, I did not bring a flask of Peppermint Schnapps to help "flavor" the cup of hot chocolate. Maybe next year...

Conclusion:
This is one of my favorite races of the year and seems to be "hiding in plain site" of the Chicago running community due to some snafus three years ago that they have more than made up for. It has everything: Easy parking, thousands of porta-potties, beautiful finisher medal, and a chance to run down Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Keeping my 15k PR streak alive will be a huge task next year, but one I'm looking forward to.