Saturday, November 6, 2010

two posts in one. about chocolate.

My One Running Friend and I signed up for the Hot Chocolate Run back in February. How could we not?

We knew we were in for something good when our bib numbers had tickets for fondue and hot chocolate.

But really, our expectations were exceeded.

The run itself was lovely enough; a brisk sunrise loop along the lakefront. However...

When we came through the finish area, there were the traditional bottles of water and cups of Gatorade. But instead of bananas and apples, there was chocolate. We were encouraged to fill our pockets. So we did.


We came out of the finish area and into the Fondue Tent (ohmygosh I loved the marshmallow trees!), where we were given our own little fondue tray. (That was where the fruit was. Because fruit is way better if you dip it in chocolate. Especially rich, creamy, hot, melty chocolate.) (Did I mention it was freezing - literally - at this race?).



Then it was on to the Hot Chocolate Tent, where we got our rich, creamy, steamy (Did I mention that it was freezing?) hot chocolate, with which to toast our run. And the day in general. Because, let's face it, it was a good day.




It was like a convergence of all things good and true...


PS - It really was a convergence of all things good and true, what with the running and the chocolate and the fact that, when I woke up in the morning, the ground was covered with snow. If U2 had somehow been involved, the whole thing might have rivaled Heaven.


*********

Hubby's birthday was this past week. After he managed to get me the Bono cake for my birthday last year, I knew I better go big with his cake this year. Which meant, of course, his man-crush Sting. But I just couldn't go with Sting's face on a cake. Face-on-a-cake had been done, you know? So I went with this.....


The owner of my favorite cafe created this cake for me. She knocked it out of the park. Big time.

And Hubby still got Sting's face on a cake. Kinda.




PS - This was the inside of the cake. Because Hubby will only eat chocolate cake. (Yeah, he's a keeper, that Hubby.)



6 comments:

jaime said...

I love races that are centered around chocolate. I ran the Hot Chocolate 10k in our area last January and I need to sign up for it again. It was fabulous!

Kirsten said...

Can I come with you next year? Because this sounds like an awesome race. Any race that is followed by dipping stuff in melty chocolate sounds divine. Happy birthday to your hubs!

Bacardi Mama said...

Glad you had fun. We enjoyed our chili at our race and we missed you. The cake was awesome. Thanks for sharing with us.

InTheFastLane said...

I think you need another running friend because THAT looks AWESOME!....

Lyndsay said...

Yum. That sounds like it might be worth BECOMING a runner... just for the once a year chocolate binge.
Glad you had fun!

~L said...

I agree, U2 + chocolate = died and gone to Heaven.

I admire your photography of my favorite city behind the hot cup of goodness...my eye goes straight through those tree branches to the Prudential bldg and enters the dreamy blue sky above. Great use of depth and space.

Thank you for sharing your hubby's celebration too...I owned that album art back in the day...

counting up to our summer visit with Bono and co...U2?

love,
~L