Disclaimer: I received entry into the virtual Columbus Ohio Hot Chocolate 5k/15k race to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

This year, like many of races, the Hot Chocolate Series followed suit – but don’t let the virtual format fool you. The HC Series goes all out in ensuring their runners are taken care of, and still can enjoy the Hot Chocolate Experience!

Every year I look forward to the newest Hot Chocolate swag, and every year my expectations are exceeded.

The Jacket!

Let’s be honest, I’m in for the jacket every year. This year’s tech jacket is ultra plush and wicked comfortable! I find the sizing to run a little smaller than average, so this year I opted for an XL. I feel like I made the right call, as the overall jacket isn’t too tight, but not too bulky. I find myself gravitating to this jacket on short runs in cooler temperatures, the design allows for some breathability but not too much that’s it’s uncomfortable when you aren’t being active.

The Medal!

The medal every year for the HC Series is typically regional in design – all of my Philadelphia series runs have little Philly icons on the medal, which make it that more desirable. So I was slightly bummed when they opted for a more generic medal last year. It appears the generic medal design stuck for this year’s race too. I’m not complaining, because I understand the circumstances around running races this year and I’m sure mailing thousands of packets isn’t cheap! This year’s medal is unique in that it doubles as storage for chocolate! Even though the design is more generic, it still something I’d expect of the HC Series.

The Experience!

While I was unable to travel for the race, Columbus is a pretty awesome city full of bustling activity! My hope for future races is that they bring back the region-specific medals, that way I can grow my HC Series medals from all over!

Bonus: I had the pleasure of traveling to Columbus a little over a year ago (pre-pandemic) and thoroughly enjoyed the foodie scene. I’m a huge fan on tacos and CONDADO did not disappoint! We also hit up a few Indian Restaurants, and if you know me, I LOVE Indian food!

So while I was unable to run the race in the streets of Columbus, I managed to run the race at home and reflect on my experiences of the past. I’m looking forward to returning and tasting it all again!

Check out my Bibrave Review!