2013.02.09 - Krispy Kreme Challenge

Every year in Raleigh, there is a race that is one of the dumbest ideas in the history of mankind.  It is known as the Krispy Kreme Challenge, and when pursuing the "Challenger" status, you are required to complete a 2.5 +\- mile run, eat one dozen Krispy Kremes, and then run back.  The last time i attempted this race was 2009, but then it was only a 4 mile run, versus the 5 miles they advertise this year.  If you eat all dozen donuts, and complete the race in under an hour, you are considered to have Completed the Challenge.

This seemed like a good way to ensure a run on a saturday when i tend not to be as disciplined on my training.  Prior to the race, we parked at Cameron Village, and i walked the 1/2 mile or so to the start line.  Took me about 5 minutes to cross the start line after the gun went off.

Lap 1 - 1.0 Mile - 8:58

Lap 2 - 1.0 Mile - 8:43

Lap 3 - .36 Mile - 3:30

At this point, I grabbed my donuts, and started trying to find my wife thru the madness that is the Krispy Kreme Challenge.  Water was hard to find, and i never actually saw my wife while eating the donuts. After the race, we realized we were probably less than 100' apart, but amongst 8000 runners, it's hard to find anything or anyone.  

Lap 4 - .15 Mile - 17:18

I feel pretty good about 17 minutes for my dozen donuts. I ate them in the 4, 3, 2, 3 pattern.  In retrospect, maybe i should have gone 4,4,4, but for only doing this every four years, i feel good with the effort.

Lap 5 - 1.0 Mile - 9:18

Lap 6 - 1.0 Mile - 9:26

Lap 7 - .31 Mile - 2:31

Total - 59:54

End result being that i completed the challenge, in the goal time.  My GI system wasn't right until about Tuesday following the race and I was reminded why it had been about four years since last attempting this race.  I suspect it will be another 4 years before i attack it again.