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Run for a Reason: Run for the Kids!

Run for a Reason: Run for the Kids!

Fundraising for NC Children's Hospital via Krispy Kreme Challenge

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The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a famous (infamous?) road running race in Raleigh. Now in its twelfth year, it is organized by NC State students with a certain disposition for, uhh, gastrointestinal distress.

Legend has it that in 2004 some Park scholars and friends dared each other to run from the NCSU bell tower to the local Krispy Kreme, eat a dozen doughnuts, and then run back. News of the daring achievement (see what I did there?) spread, and thus a tradition was born. As part of the organized event, the race proceeds go to the (U)NC Children's Hospital. (Though as a Tar Heel alumna, I appropriately include the "U" in the hospital name!) The UNC Children's Hospital is a top-notch institution in North Carolina that serves families regardless of the ability to pay, and consistently makes the U.S. News & World Report "America's Best Children's Hospitals" list.

On race day, challengers are required to eat the dozen doughnuts and complete the 5 mile race in under an hour. Casual runners, or "joggers-who-don't-like-doughnuts" like me (cue the comments: "Liz, you don't like doughnuts?! What is wrong with you??") are allowed to mosey and munch at their leisure and aren't required to eat the dozen doughnuts, though with the usual brisk weather of February mornings, you have all the more incentive to run.

Indeed, can you imagine a better way to spend a chilly February morning than dodging chunks of sweet round pastries left on the asphalt by some poor runner's upchuck? Oh. Right. There are lots of better ways, but few are as memorable as the K2C. I should know! This is my third time running the event. I've run with friends as we dodged projectile vomit and skirted around a series of students in a menagerie of NCSU Wolfpack costumes. I've also run with a loved one as a rather unfortunate runner's date (our Dynamic Duo team name was "Worst Valentine's Idea Ever" and, well, I was told it was in fact the worst romantic idea ever).

This year I'm pleased to announce my running posse has grown! We're officially a team now: "Doughn't You Forget About Me" and to celebrate the goofy tradition of the race and as part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service we're fundraising! Oh yes, that's right, close your browser now because you know it's coming because I've shamelessly asked before but...PLEASE DONATE. Please! You don't need to donate much and remember, it's for the kids! All donations go to the UNC Children's Hospital.

You can donate using the widget in this blog post or using this link: https://www.crowdrise.com/doughntyouforgetabou/fundraiser/lizgoodman

Or, if you're in the area and you want to experience the disgusting one-of-a-kind event that is the K2C, then register to run here!

https://www.raceentry.com/races/krispy-kreme-challenge/2016/register

Just enter the promo code “FORTHEKIDS” for 20% off registration and I'll see you out there!