Continuing To Run: The Great Chocolate Race

Ok, I'll admit - the race title sounds enticing. The Great Chocolate Race? Epic and appetizing.

But that's not why I signed up.

I signed up because it was the perfect re-entry race post holiday season glutton where for once, your social schedule and took precedence over your running schedule. It's the times of saying, "My 5 mile run tomorrow can wait. Let's just go out and have ice cream anyway!"

But once December was coming to a close, you know that common resolution to still fit in your clothes - time to get back on track, literally.

With the run taking place the last weekend in January, there was enough time to prep for the mileage - in this case, I opted for the 5K and not the 10-Miler, though my computer mouse hovered over "sign up" for the 10-Miler a few times.

Plus, a few friends were joining me for the race and so the 5K it was.

The race started at 7:30 am, and I'm all for early start times. The cooler, the better. But it was a while since I'd done a run so early and near the water, so it was awfully chilly. I kept my brown - OK, chocolate colored jacket on to find the bib pick up station. Wasn't quite the simplest task and I clocked in about a 1 mile walk just roaming around. I didn't mind since it was a nice warm up.

Queued up at the start, not a tank top in sight!

Once we got running, I found it a beautiful course, weaving through the Long Beach Marina with the Queen Mary and then rounding about home near the shopping mall.

After the finish line, we all got to enjoy hot chocolate and received a small box of Godiva chocolates - no doubt one of the biggest draws to the race. 

Doing the iconic pose - not like the medals were chocolate coins or anything