Go Nuts For Doughnuts: The Horribly Amazing Combination Of 96,000 Doughnuts, 8,000 Runners, And 5 Miles

With an insane pairing of endurance running and gluttonous doughnut eating, the Krispy Kreme Challenge is an annual race held on the campus of North Carolina State University every February. Originally starting as a wild college dare, the race has ballooned in 9 years to over 8,000 participants. During this time, the race has donated approximately $551,000 to the NC Children's Hospital. This is my experience as a first time participant. http://www.krispykremechallenge.com

Things get started at the crazy beautiful NC State memorial belltower.

First thing you'll notice? COSTUMES. When the race planners proposed a "Crazy Costume Contest," these doughnut lovers took things very seriously.

Pac-Man? CHECK.

Gladiators? CHECK.

This cross dressing man who makes me slightly uncomfortable? CHECK.

After the pre-race ceremony, the runners take their mark.

The anticipation is KILLING ME.

AND THEY'RE OFF.

Looks like someone left their modesty at the starting block.

8,000 runners then descended on downtown Raleigh. From the belltower, it's a 2.5 mile run to the awaiting torture at Krispy Kreme.

Either that's the coolest thing you've ever seen, or you're a liar.

A dozen doughnuts await each runner. That's 96,000 total. ALMOST 100,000 DOUGHNUTS IN ONE PLACE, PEOPLE.

YOU GET A DOUGHNUT, AND YOU GET A DOUGHNUT, AND YOU GET A DOUGHNUT.

Doughnuts are clearly Emerson's favorite things.

Let the carnage begin.

Ok. Carnage can be cute sometimes, ya know?

It must be nap time after such an act of gluttony, right? WRONG. There are still 2.5 miles to run back to NC State's campus.

The face of a man who is over doughnuts for the rest of the year.

"I immediately regret this decision." -Pete

So why all this madness? For the kids at the NC Children's Hospital, of course.

So maybe I did tear up a little when Ashley talked about how she overcame cancer with the help of the NC Children's Hospital. JUDGE ME.

When the glaze settled and all the donations were counted, this group of college students donated $184,000 to the NC Children's Hospital.

See you February 8th, 2014 for the 10th annual race!

http://www.krispykremechallenge.com