Running News Daily

Rugged Races has acquired RAM Racing And The Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Series

Rugged Races, a subsidiary of GateHouse Live and a New Media Investment Group company, today announced it has acquired RAM Racing and its entire portfolio of events, including the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K/5K series, which includes a Denver Hot Chocolate race and Colorado Rugged Maniac event.

The Hot Chocolate series, which boasts eight of the top 100 races in the United States, will attract over 200,000 runners across twenty races in 2019. The remainder of RAM Racing’s portfolio consists of the Heartbreakers Half Marathon in Portland, OR and nine other races in the Chicago area, including the popular Soldier Field 10 Miler and the Run Mag Mile 10K/5K.

This acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by Rugged Races over the past two years to grow its portfolio of endurance events into one of the largest in the United States.  It has also recently acquired the Milwaukee Marathon, the Providence Marathon, and the Santa Rosa Marathon.  With the addition of RAM Racing, Rugged Races now owns over ninety events, ranging from marathons and cycling events to trail runs and obstacle course races, and anticipates over 450,000 participants and more than one million attendees in 2019.

“We are thrilled to add the RAM Racing portfolio to our family of premier endurance events,” said Brad Scudder, Senior Vice President of Rugged Races.  “By filling the colder months in our annual race calendar with the crown jewel of winter running – the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Series – runners of all fitness levels can now enjoy one of our races every week of the year.”

RAM Racing and its Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k series are proud to set up a partnership with Asdeporte in Mexico

As part of the partnership, Asdeporte will be producing three Hot Chocolate 15k/5k race events in Mexico in the coming months. Following the success of the inaugural Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Mexico City in 2019, Asdeporte is launching new Hot Chocolate 15k/5k races in Guadalajara and Monterrey plus returning to Mexico City.

Established in 2008 by RAM Racing, the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k is an annual favorite on runners’ calendars. Each year over 200,000 participants run for chocolate, making it the fastest growing race series in the U.S. More than one million people have run in a Hot Chocolate 15k/5k race since its inception, with races in 22 U.S cities and Mexico City.

In 2019 the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k race series went international with the inaugural Hot Chocolate 15k/5k Mexico City, the third largest race ever in Mexico with 15,437 finishers. The first-year event sold out weeks before race day with 17,500 registrants.

The Hot Chocolate 15k/5k series combines industry-leading production, technology, and safety standards with award-winning swag bags, finisher’s medals and mugs filled with hot chocolate.

Asdeporte produces world-class endurance events for the largest community of Spanish-speaking athletes in the world, with more than one million active participants. Asdeporte and RAM Racing are committed to delivering best-of-class event experiences to all participants. The production partnership comes at a time of exponential growth for both companies.

“We’re excited to be producing three Hot Chocolate 15k/5k running events in Mexico this coming season,” said Wilbert Moguel, Asdeporte’s Director General. “Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey are all vibrant running communities.”

Honey Stinger is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the 2019 Allstate Hot Chocolate 15/5K race series, produced by RAM Racing

The Allstate Hot Chocolate 15/5K series includes events in 18 locations throughout the United States in 2019, and also featured its first international race earlier this month, in Mexico City. Each stop features both a 15-kilometer and 5-kilometer distance option for runners. Established in 2007, the Hot Chocolate 15/5K series is one of the fastest growing race series in the nation, with more than 200,000 participants annually.

“We are very excited to be working with RAM Racing as an official sponsor of the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15/5K race series this year,” said Rich Hager, co-owner of Honey Stinger. “Supporting athletes and events is a major part of our brand ethos, and we have expanded on those efforts each year as Honey Stinger has grown. The Hot Chocolate 15/5K is a fantastic series providing top-notch race and post-race experiences to runners all across the country, and we are proud to add these races to the extensive list of events we will be supporting in 2019.”

As an official partner of the series, Honey Stinger’s Organic Waffles will be included in all custom finisher’s mugs at the conclusion of each event, along with hot chocolate, chocolate fondue and other tasty treats to reward runners for their efforts.

“We are thrilled to add Honey Stinger as a National Partner to the Allstate Hot Chocolate Race Series,” said Steve Ginsburg, CEO of RAM Racing. “We are proud to align ourselves with an organization that cares about our athletes as much as we do by providing great tasting products made with wholesome ingredients. Honey Stinger is a delicious and nutritious addition to America’s Sweetest Race.”