2012 Isaac Dickson Hot Chocolate 10K and Kids Hill Climb

• Email Alerts and Race Information
• Hot Chocolate 10K Course Safety
• 10K Start Time and USATF Certified Course
• 1K Kids Hill Climb Start Time and Course
• 10K Packet Pickup
• 1K Packet Pickup and Registration
• Shirts
• Time Limits
• Water Stations
• Directions to Isaac Dickson School
• Parking and the new Parking Shuttle
• Bag Check
• Awards and Award Ceremony
• First Aid and Toilets
• Medical Care

Email Alerts and Race Information

Important race information (cancellations, course changes, etc) and special announcements will be emailed to all participants and posted on the race web site periodically. If you are not already on our list, please sign up for these alerts by using the Email Alerts link at the top of the page.

Hot Chocolate 10K Course Safety

Please read carefully:

• In the past, the path through the French Broad River park has been wet. We will monitor and shovel the mud and/or snow off of it, but it may still be a slippery. The wooden foot bridges in the park may be slippery as well. Please be very careful when crossing the bridges in the park
• I want to remind everyone that the first and last part of the 10K course is open to traffic. Repeat. The course is not completely closed to traffic. Please, be mindful of traffic, stay to the right side of the road as much as possible and do not run more than two (2) abreast if you can help it. STAY AWAY FROM THE MIDDLE and run in the direction of traffic.
• When traveling under the train trestle in the first and fifth miles, please do not cross over the road and go under the bridge against traffic. In the first mile, it is a bit congested at this point, so just be aware and hold your line until through the trestle.
• When crossing the French Broad River, stay to the right on the bridge. The right lane will split in half. Stay to the right of the cones crossing in both directions. After crossing the bridge the second time, please cross Lyman Street completely at the intersection of Lyman and Amboy and get back in stride on the far right side of the road.
• We will have either volunteers or police or both at all intersections. All course volunteers will be wearing orange vests. In case of emergency during the race, please notify the nearest volunteer/APD AND call 911.
• Please check out the course video if you are not familiar with the course.
• Finally, it is a winter race, so please keep you eye on the Weather Channel and dress appropriately. If we have a weather emergency, our website's main page and Facebook page will be updated and emails will go out.

10K Start Time and USATF Certified Course - View the Course Video!

The 10K begins at 8:45 a.m. in the upper parking lot at IDES (125 Hill St.) and travels down to Hill St. and then to Riverside Drive. It then continues south on Riverside Dr. and on Lyman St. until it reaches Amboy Road. The course crosses the French Broad and does a short loop of French Broad River Park before returning back to IDES. Download the Course Map now.

NOTE: The 2013 course is identical to the 2011, 2012 course!!!

1K Kids Hill Climb Start Time and Course

The 1K kids Hill Climb starts at 8:30 a.m. (with a warm-up starting at 8:00 a.m. in the GYM) and begins at Hill St. and the Lower entrance (near Atkinson St.) to the IDES parking lot. It travels up THE HILL and does a single loop around the playground before finishing in the IDES parking lot. The 1K Kids Hill Climb is limited to children 12 and under (although parents can run along side for free, of course!)

Marshmallow Dash Start Time and Course

The Marshmallow Dash starts soon after the Kids Hill Climb...about 8:40 a.m. The course begins at the entrance to the Isaac Dickson K-2 playground and then travels in a single loop around the 3-5 playground before finishing in the IDES parking lot (same course as Hill Climb BUT without THE HILL!!!). The race begins immediately following the passing of the majority of the Kids Hill Climb participants. Marshmallow Dash kids should join the Hill Climb kids for the warm-up starting at 8:00 a.m. in the gym. The Marshmallow Dash is limited to children 6 and under and parents are strongly encouraged to stay by their child's side the whole dash.

10K Packet Pickup

Runners have three opportunities to pick up race packets, which will include your long sleeve shirt and timing race bib (and any other swag we might have). The first is late Thursday afternoon at Harmony Motors (621 Brevard Rd) from 4pm to 7pm. Come and enjoy chocolate tasting, music, and fancy cars while picking up your race bib.

The second is Friday evening from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the school at 125 Hill Street and coincides with the Learning Garden Pasta Dinner ($5.50 per adult with up to two kids eating free per adult, otherwise $2.25/child. This means a family of six can eat dinner for only $11!!!). Pick up your stuff a day early, beat the lines and CARBO load!!!

The third opportunity is on race morning from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Both registrations will take place in the 3rd/4th grade hallway of the school. To get to packet pickup, enter through the main entrance of the school, walk straight to the first bulkhead doors and then take the stairs to your left. we will have volunteers directing you, so don't worry. There are no restrictions for parking on Friday night, meaning you can park wherever you find a spot. However, on Saturday morning, the school lots will be closed and if you take the shuttle from the Rankin garage, you will need to plan 10 minutes of travel time.

Hill Climb and Marshmallow Dash Packet Pickup and Registration

There are three opportunities to pick up your child's 1K Hill Climb or Marshmallow Dash packet as well as to register (for the 1K and Marshmallow Dash races ONLY) if necessary. The first is Thursday afternoon from 4pm to 7pm at Harmony Motors at 621 Brevard Rd. The second is Friday evening from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the school at 125 Hill Street and coincides with the Learning Garden Pasta Dinner. The second is on race morning and is located in the IDES Gymnasium and will be from at 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. right before the warm-up.

Shirts

The 10K race is capped at 1250 entrants and all are guaranteed to receive long-sleeve, colored cotton shirts. The 1K Kids Hill Climb and Marshmallow Dash shirts will also be long-sleeved. The first 250 kids will receive a shirt.

Time Limits

All 10K participants should plan on finishing the race by 11:00 a.m. to receive an official time. At 11:00 a.m., the traffic controls on the course will cease. Those remaining on the course can still proceed but should travel on sidewalks and stop at all traffic lights. Race officials will remain on the course to monitor and assist all participants until they reach the finish line. There is no time limit for either the 1K Kids Hill climb or the Marshmallow Dash.

10K Water Stations

• Station 1 - Riverside Dr. at Lyman St. ~ 1.5 miles
• Station 2 - French Broad River Park ~ 3 miles
• Station 3 - Lyman St. at Riverside Dr. ~ 4.5 miles
• Station 4 - Hill St. at I-26 overpass ~ 5.8 miles
• There will also be additional water at the finish this year.
• NOTE: There are no water stations for either of the kids races.

Directions to Isaac Dickson School

We could try to describe every possible way to get to IDES, but let's face it, if you're on this page, you know how to use a computer. That being said, use the following link to Google Maps and enter your starting address. Click Get Directions to begin viewing your custom directions immediately. View Directions to Isaac Dickson Elementary School.

However, if that doesn't suit you, from I-240 W, take exit 4C. Turn RIGHT on to Montford Ave at the light at the end of the ramp. Then, immediately, turn a left on to Hill St. IDES is about a half mile down on the right.

Parking and the new Parking Shuttle

As with last yesr, we are restricting the use of the IDES upper parking lots to volunteers, sponsors, and race staff.

To compensate for this restriction, we are recommending that event participants park in the city parking garage at 74 Rankin Ave. There will be three shuttles running from in front of Pack Library at 67 Haywood Street to the bus stop in front of Isaac Dickson School.

The shuttles will run every 10 minutes starting with the first pickup in front of Pack Library at 5:45 a.m. with the last pickup (before the race) at Pack Library being at 8:25 a.m. - remember the race starts at 8:45 a.m. so, runners, you really shouldn't be on that last shuttle!!!

The shuttles back to the garage will start again at 10 a.m. in front of IDES and depart every 15 minutes until the last shuttle at 12 p.m. We will have volunteers located at Pack Library to help direct you.

Again, the parking locations for this year's race, in order of recommendation, are 1. City parking garage at 74 Rankin Ave. 2. Chamber of Commerce (all but upper portion of lot). 3. Randolph Learning Center on Montford Ave.

PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING ON HILL STREET. YOUR CAR WILL BE TOWED.

Bag Check

Like last year, we will be providing a STAFFED BAG CHECK on race morning. This is a great service that wasn't used by many racers last year. It is even more important this year because of the fact that we are asking runners to use the Rankin Ave. parking garage and shuttle. With the bag check, you will be able to pack a bag of warm clothes for after the race. Please plan on using it! Bag Check will be located in the East K-2 hallway of the school. To get to bag check, enter through the main entrance of the school and take the first hallway to your right. we will have volunteers directing you, so don't worry.

Awards and Award Ceremony

10K Hill Climb: Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female overall finishers and to the first male and female in the Masters Division (40+). Awards will go to the top three finishers in each of the following age divisions: 14&U; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80-84; 85 and over. Overall placers not eligible for age group awards. The 10K Awards will begin at 11:00 a.m.

1K Hill Climb: The top three boys and top three girls will each receive a special award. In addition, every child gets a shirt and a ribbon! The 1K Kids Hill Climb is limited to children 12 and under (although parents can run along side for free, of course!) The 1K awards will be given out immediately after the 1K race is complete.

Marshmallow Dash: Every child gets a shirt and a ribbon! The Marshmallow Dash is limited to children 6 and under and parents are strongly encouraged to stay by their child's side the whole dash. The awards will be given out immediately after the dash is complete.

First Aid and Toilets

First aid will be available at IDES in the finish line area. Portable toilets will be available in the IDES parking lot as well as in the school and gym.

Medical Care

Should you experience a medical problem on the course, contact the nearest race volunteer or police officer at either an intersection or water station.