Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Denver

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Denver is a fall-morning road race through Denver's Washington Park, part of the nationwide Hot Chocolate 15K/5K series that got its start in Chicago in 2008. Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Denver returns Sunday, October 4, 2026, with wave starts for the 5K, 10K, and 15K -- 7:00 a.m. for the 5K and 8:30 a.m. for the 10K and 15K -- beginning and finishing near the park's Grasmere Lake and Smith Lake. The 5K and 10K stay inside Washington Park, while the 15K adds a scenic stretch parallel to Cherry Creek with mountain views before returning to the park, all at Denver's mile-high altitude. Every finisher gets an exclusive event jacket, a finisher's medal, a chocolate-fondue mug, and a cup of the race's signature hot chocolate at the post-race party, which has drawn roughly 5,000 runners in recent years. Runners are asked to keep at least a 15-minute-per-mile pace so course support can stay ahead of them. The Hot Chocolate series carried Allstate's name as title sponsor starting in 2018, before Rugged Races acquired the RAM Racing portfolio in 2019; SKECHERS is the current title sponsor, with Ghirardelli backing the race's Cocoa Club VIP upgrade -- because the title sponsor has changed more than once, the race keeps the neutral "Hot Chocolate 15K/5K" name. Early registration closed September 6, 2026; packet mailing closes September 13, and in-person packet pickup runs October 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with no race-day pickup available.