Now I've done a fair amount of races in my day, and it's normal to have a hitch or two in the race for whatever reason. But the DC Hot Chocolate Run was a total CF. Note: if you don't know what CF stands for, you are more pure of heart than me, and I'm not going to spoil you. Let's just say it isn't good.
My issues with the race planning started with waking up at 5 am to make the shuttle from Crystal City.
Well, that would have been okay, except the 7:30 start was delayed a solid hour. An hour!
That extra hour was worsened by the cold weather. I know they can't control the weather, but it accentuated the terrible effect of having to wait for so long after having already shed clothing and left it at the bag drop.
Once the race finally started, they goofed up on the route and had it doubling back at one point. Luckily it was sorted out by the time I reached that spot. But the correction didn't fix their course design and having the last half mile be a big hill. Brutal, uncalled for, and unnecessary.
Ok, I'm done being a negative Nelly.
Here's the happy stuff.
I didn't have to drive, and my shuttle was one of the earliest, so I arrived on time.
The race organizers provided plenty of port-a-johns, which some races sorely lack.
My Buddy the Elf costume made a lot of people (including myself) smile.
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| See? Here's "proof" I ran as Buddy the Elf |
I ran a decent race, considering I've got plantar fasciitis and how terribly out-of-shape I feel. Note: I'm not looking for sympathy. I know I'm still in decent shape, but I'm a long way from my Ironman conditioning of 18 months ago.
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| I vow to get my 5k time back under 22 mins by summer 2012 |
Many friends were there, from multiple friend-groups, which always makes a race more fun.
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| Fellow hashers |
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| Colonial friends |
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