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Road Race · Chicago

Hot Chocolate Run Chicago

5K, 10K, 15K, 2-Mile Walk

When
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Where
Chicago
Format
5K, 10K, 15K, 2-Mile Walk
Train at
1004 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
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Get ready for race day with treadmill pacing, endurance intervals and strength work that helps you hold your pace from the opening mile through the finish.

About the race

America’s Sweetest Race

The SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run started in Chicago in 2008 and has grown into a national race series. The Chicago race offers 5K, 10K and 15K distances plus a 2-mile walk.

Runners start near the Art Institute and finish by Buckingham Fountain, with a route along the lakefront past Soldier Field, the Field Museum and McCormick Place.

The finish line party is the main draw: a finisher’s mug of hot chocolate with fondue and dipping treats. Every registration includes a full-zip fleece and a finisher medal.

Event details

Date
Sunday, November 1, 2026
Start time
7:30am; 2-Mile Walk about 9:15am
Start
Grant Park, by the Art Institute
Finish
Grant Park, by Buckingham Fountain
Distances
5K, 10K, 15K, 2-Mile Walk
Packet pickup
McCormick Place West, Oct 30–31 (no race day pickup)
Swag
Full-zip fleece and finisher medal
Organizer
Ventures Endurance

Start times

7:30am
5K, 10K and 15K
About 9:15am
2-Mile Walk

Classes That Get You There

Your Training Plan

Short-course endurance, pacing work and tempo intervals built into Momentum OP training days.

  • Weeks 1–2

    Build Your Base

    Two Combo classes and one Tread class each week to build your aerobic base and total-body strength.

  • Weeks 3–4

    Add Tempo

    Tempo intervals on the treadmill and a longer outdoor run each weekend.

  • Week 5

    Sharpen Your Pace

    Race-pace intervals and incline work to lock in your goal pace.

  • Race Week

    Taper & Race

    Lighter strength, short sharp intervals and plenty of recovery before race day.

Good to know

Hot Chocolate Run Chicago FAQs

Still have questions? Call us at (708) 634-0992 or stop by the studio on Lake Street.

Sunday, November 1, 2026. The 5K, 10K and 15K start at 7:30am in Grant Park, and the 2-Mile Walk starts at about 9:15am.

At the expo at McCormick Place West, 2317 S Indiana Avenue: Friday, October 30 from noon to 7:00pm and Saturday, October 31 from 10:00am to 5:00pm. There is no race day packet pickup.

The 5K is a great first race. If you already run a few miles comfortably, the 10K or 15K gives you a bigger goal for the fall.

Build up to a long run of 8 to 9 miles over six weeks, with one treadmill tempo session and two strength sessions each week.

No. The route follows mostly flat downtown streets and the lakefront, so steady pacing matters more than hill work.

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