I have discovered that there are three things that will get me to run: medals, beer, and chocolate.
So, in light of this, a group of friends and I decided last November that we would all sign up to "run for chocolate." It's probably a good time to point out that this group of friends is my "Biggest Loser" group, and we have completed many weight loss rounds together over the past two years. I even won one of them and a pretty good chunk of change (over 400 bucks).
Nevertheless, we signed up, since there was a great online coupon for a sizeable discount to register, and, in lieu of a finisher's medal, each registrant received a cute Hot Chocolate 15K/5K windbreaker. Add to the mix a chocolate fondue at the finish line and some Ghiradelli hot chocolate with marshmallows, and packets of the candy given out to finishers as well, and there was no way we were NOT gonna be a part of this!
We booked hotels and made ride arrangement for the trek to Dallas, and one member of our group even flew in from Colorado to join us on the run. However, this being winter and this being Texas, the weather often changes as much as 50-60 degrees on any given day. Sure enough, the morning of the event, an "Urgent" weather update was sent out to all registered participants with the following information:
URGENT WEATHER UPDATE
Due to the last minute drop in temperature overnight, the race Medical Director is recommending increased caution while running.
We strongly encourage that 15K participants running 12 minutes per mile or slower switch to the 5K distance to limit the risk of cold exposure and hypothermia.
Those 15K runners will receive accurate race results at the 5K distance, without penalty.
We will be updating the weather on Facebook and Twitter as well as sending out additional e-mails if there are any more changes in the weather.
Sincerely,
Dr. Larry Iteld
Medical Director
The reality was that it was 16 degrees. Of the 10 of us who had travelled together to do the race, nine of us switched over to the 5K. There was no medal to be had, and we had already picked up our windbreakers, so no harm, no foul. We dressed as warmly as we could, headed down to the hotel lobby to get in the Starbucks line, grabbed our coffee and then headed over to the light rail transportation we'd have to take to get to the starting line at Fair Park.
The race was filled with 10,000 runners, and it looked like the majority of them had come to do the race. There was a guy who showed up to run with no shirt, and another who came to run barefoot. Brrrrrrrrr........
As for those in our group? We ran, we toughed it out through the cold and wind, and we had a great time afterwards eating the fondue and drinking the hot chocolate and laughing together about it all.
My next event will be a half marathon in New Orleans in a few weeks, and the week after that, I am signed up for an adventure race in Austin.
Run on!!!
research backed it up!
Just before running across the timing mat at the starting line...
DPD motorcycle cops dressed to brave the elements and do some traffic control along the route.
The fondue volunteers.............
Liquid heaven...............
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