Chicago Hot Chocolate Run Offers 5K to 15K

Runners in Chicago can choose from three race distances, with the longest course looping through downtown streets.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Running

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a small cluster of runners in cold-weather jackets moving down a wide empty downtown boulevard, flanked by tall towers under a warm autumn sky. — Thousands of runners took to downtown Chicago streets Sunday for the Skechers Hot Chocolate Run, which offered 5K, 10K, and 15K routes starting from Grant Park. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Skechers Hot Chocolate Run, presented by Ghirardelli, drew a crowd and closed some downtown Chicago streets on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Participants could choose a 5K, 10K, or 15K course starting from Grant Park.

Why it matters

Large community road races like this one are a common way for runners of many levels to build regular activity into their lives, and the route closures show how these events reshape city traffic for a day. The event is held in the fall, a period when many people are looking for social, group-based reasons to stay active.

The figures come from chip-timed results for the top finishers, which measure each runner's official time from start to finish. Total participation and full-field results were not included in the available details, so the overall size of the turnout remains unconfirmed.

The players

Skechers

Footwear company that presents this race series and is a major sponsor of community running events.

Ghirardelli

Chocolate maker that presented the race and supplied hot cocoa to finishers.

The details

The race offered three distances, 5K, 10K, and 15K, with the longest course looping through downtown before returning to Grant Park along the Lakefront Trail. The 15K route ran north to Randolph Drive, then Wacker Drive, west on Wacker, south on Dearborn Street, east on Van Buren Street, and south on Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to 35th Street before the return. Finishers received Ghirardelli hot cocoa, jackets, and medals at the finish line.

Sunday, November 1, 2026: Skechers Hot Chocolate Run held with road closures in downtown Chicago

Fall Race Context

Themed fall road races built around distance choices of 5K, 10K, and 15K let runners of varying experience join the same event. The Chicago edition follows that format, using multiple courses that share a common start in Grant Park.

If you're looking for a structured goal, a multi-distance event like this one lets you start with a 5K and build toward longer courses over time. Anyone considering a larger race should talk with a doctor first, especially if they have been inactive for a while.

The takeaway

Organized fall races offer a low-pressure way to build consistency, and choosing a distance that matches your current fitness is a sensible first step. If you plan to step up to a longer course, discuss your training plan with your physician.