5K & Chocolate

Last weekend I participated in my first 5k in Hyde Park. It was a fun run to help raise money for hospices' in London. We raised over 12,000 BPS! This run was very unique because we ran in santa suits. They sent us a package that included red pants, jacket, hat, black belt, and a fluffy beard. It was so much fun dressing up and seeing hundred others wearing the same goofy outfit. There were a few contests going on throughout the race, one where we had to ‘catch the reindeer’. A man dressed head to toe in a reindeer outfit where he started one minute before the rest of us. He said he would donate 50 quid (about $100) to every person that passed him. Only one guy passed him, who came in first finishing a little over 17:00 minutes. I finished right in the middle of the pack with a finish of 28:00 minutes. I couldn’t help but smile at the very end, because I completed my first race! Just like a lot of people have told me, after a race, you will crave a beer. (Can anybody explain to me why this is?) Naturally, I did. So Courtney and I decided on Chicago’s Rib Shack in Knightsbridge for lunch and a good 'ol MGD.

Stretching

Received a medal!

Thanks for the support!

Chicago, we might be calling you home next year!

De-lish.

 After our lunch, we took the tube south and headed towards London’s Chocolate Festival (in case you were wondering- I did take off my santa suit at this point).  The festival was brilliant! It had all these little vendors showing off their specialties. We came across chocolate syrup, various hot chocolates, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cakes, brownies, etc. After walking around awhile, we managed to find a chocolate cooking class put on by the Food Network UK channel. It was about an hour-long where the chef made millionaire’s shortbread. After the demonstration, Courtney and I were ready to taste test what the vendors had to offer. We bought one-bite cupcakes, chocolate and red velvet cake, chocolate and peanut butter cheesecake and cookies and cream cupcakes. Yes, we might have bought a little much but I justified it because I just ran a race, and Courtney justified it by thinking: How often are we at Chocolate Festivals? Exactly. Everything was delightful; it was a perfect Sunday to end the weekend. xx

Food Network Demonstration

Final product

Mini cupcakes!