9th Annual Hot Cocoa Run -5k/10k/1mi -Benefits MAC Angels & ALS...

• 5K Run/Walk:- Run 3.1 Miles
• 10K Run:- Run 6.2 Miles
• 1 Mile Walk:- 1 Mile Walk

2017- 9th Annual Hot Cocoa Run - Always the 1st Saturday of December.

CURRENT NEWS:12/2/17  

Recruiting for a Board of Directors for this Race - positions are as follows:
Race Director- 10k/5k
Race Director - Dog Walk & Canine Activity
Director of Social Media/Communications
Director of Marketing & Promotion
Director of Sponsorship
Director of Volunteers
2 General Board Members
Kickoff Meeting in September (in person or dial in); Position descriptions will be made available. Creativity and new ideas are encouraged. email : [email protected]
 

History of Race:
The Hot Cocoa Run (HCR) is a small "grassroots" fun event which started in 2007. Hosted right out of my driveway, it includes a 5k Run or Walk, a 10k Run, and now (as of 2014) a 1mi fun Family Frolic/Dog Walk. This is a family friendly event. Participants are served hot cocoa post race which is brewed in a cast iron cauldron over an open fire right in my backyard, while the participants are along the course running. It was originally held with just 10 friends, doing a self-timed winter run as a fundraiser for LLS/TNT and Friends of Claire. Most of us had met years back through the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) team in training (TNT) program. I was a participant with TNT in their 1999 marathon program, then continued as a fundraising mentor and triathlon coach for over 12 years through 2012. Phil Gormley started TNT's Triathlon program in 2000 which is when we met each other. I mentored and coached alongside Phil all while raising money to battle leukemia.  In 2004, Phil's sister Claire was diagnosed with ALS and her family established Friends of Claire(FoC) to help with awareness, research and advocating for medical needs. As a FoC'er, I supported various ALS fundraising efforts while still supporting LLS/TNT. In 2007, I launched the Hot Chocolate Run (as it was originally called) among friends to raise money for both charities. In May 2009, Claire Gormley Collier lost her battle with ALS. Friends of Claire became MAC Angels, and it became very clear to me to organize and host a 2nd Hot Chocolate Run in 2009. I committed to host it every two years beacuse of the amount of work involved plus I was still coaching, fundraising and competing for TNT not to mention having a full-time job and family responsibilities.  I resigned from coaching in 2012 and made the HCR an annual event with its proceeds exclusively going to MAC Angels. I had the opportunity to coach the owner of Zachy's Wines who has been a sponsor since 2009 as . It is my friends and co-workers who volunteer for this race including some dressing up as Frosty, others handmaking the commerorative race gift which, in the early years were Christmas tree ornaments, and others serving as intersection guides, cheering squads, race timers and photographers.  All these efforst to keep operatings costs below 5% and ensuring the bulk of the money goes to MAC angels.The race has grown and evolved since 2007. The 1st event raised $111 for ALS; last year over $12,000 was raised! 

Its 8 years later, and the HCR still starts and finishes right out of my driveway. I still recycle bib numbers, signage, banners and still strictly manage the event to stay under 5% on expenses. 95% + of the registration fee still goes to MAC Angels to help families battling ALS. 

Friends, family and personal time, money and efforts are what pull this race together. Recognize that there may not be a lot of bells and whistles here, but a lot time, care and attention go into this event to ensure everyone is safe and enjoys, but the money that each of you put out goes right to the cause. Registration fees are what generates the majority of the money raised.  This is a growing event, that is tons of fun, really touches your heart and shows how just a small group of friends can make such a big difference helping others. Every year I get a little better but I aim a lot higher. I am setting the goal at $15,000 in 2016!

I hope you will be a part of this history
Andrea aka Froste D-Snowman!

Course:Course is relatively flat out and back. Runners proceed west for the first ¼ mi on a mild climb; right at top of hill onto Pinebrook Rd.; ¼ mi downhill to mouth of Beechmont Lake. Proceed clockwise (against traffic) around the lake (use bike lane/shoulder). 
1mile turnaround( end of lake) and 5K turnaround (end of divided roadway) will be marked.
10K keeps north on Pinebrook Blvd, past Quaker Ridge underpass, past the Temple to the marked turnaround before the underpass and across from Amherst Rd; loop back.

No 10K walkers will be allowed- must finish in 75 minutes or less

Information: Runners get a registration confirmation email; Race Day instructions will be posted or emailed 1 week before race. Recycled bibs will be handed out at registration for tracking run times; A commemorative race gift is issued to the first 75 paid registrants. Results will be posted by age group within 1 week of race completion. A Post Race Party: Hot Cocoa, Peppermint (Schnapps) to those who want it, miscellaneous treats and fun! Zachy's Wine, Artuso Pastry Shop, Dunkin Donuts, the Lemontree, Westchester Burger, Bare Burger, Centre Pizza have all been past sponsors to ths event.

Net Proceeds are donated to MAC Angels a 501c charity helping ALS.

2017 race registration is open.

Registration Information.

2016 Results at: runsignup.com