On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, hundreds of people gathered on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, wearing everything from shorts and sweatpants to costumes inspired by “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
The latter was, in a way, fitting: the crowd was gathered for the 13th edition of the “SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run,” a charity race where participants run a 5K, 10K or 15K near the Mississippi River before getting a cornucopia of sweets. (The hot chocolate station, for example, had 220 gallons of the beverage.)
Todd Busteed, the event’s emcee, told the Northeaster the event doubled as a fundraiser for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, which will come to the Twin Cities in June of next year.
According to their website, the Special Olympics aims to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
“We already feel the energy for the USA Games coming here,” Busteed said after the last heat of 5K runners took off. As for the November race, Busteed pointed towards the crowds of racers and spectators: “We pull together all walks of life, races, religion, creed.”
Runners gathered near the Mississippi River on the morning of November 8 for the 13th annual SKECHERS Hot Chocolate Run. The charity race acted as a fundraiser for the 2026 Special Olympics, which will be in the Twin Cities. (Provided)
