The fifth annual Krispy Kreme Challenge has attracted 1,851 registrants with 10 days left to register.
Justin Carey, senior in nuclear engineering and one of the coordinators for this year’s race, said the numbers at this point are slightly higher than last year’s total.
“Last year, we had 3,000 people total,” Carey said. “This year, our goal is to reach 5,000 registrants.”
Organizers have made a few changes for this year’s race, including a chip timing system to help monitor runners’ times.
“We have had problems in the past with times and getting results in quickly,” Carey said. “Every runner will be given an electronic chip to put on their shoe. It will time them and show how long it takes them to run the race and how long they took at Krispy Kreme.”
Cameron Cooper, a senior in textile engineering, said when he ran the race his sophomore year, it was difficult to get the timing in. The coordinators for the event said the chip system should show how fast each runner is moving more accurately.
The new chip contributed to a $1 increase in the registration price, Carey said. He also said the current economic conditions have slightly bumped up all costs. Organizers are shooting to raise $30,000 to $40,000 for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital, which will greatly offset the extra expenses for the hospital.
The more exciting change, in the opinion of some registered runners, is the projected ESPN coverage. Carey said after sending out a general press release to the public, ESPN contacted the coordinators and expressed interest in shooting special footage for Sports Center.
Dasha Karelov, a junior in paper science and engineering, said ESPN is great publicity for the University.
“Us being doughnut-eating and running kids may not be the best image, but hopefully the publicity will make more people want to come and visit the school,” she said.
The doughnut eating is a major concern for Chris Blackwell, a sophomore in physics, and Rita Beard, a freshman in criminology, who are both running the challenge for a second year.
Blackwell said he finished the race in under an hour last year but was unable to eat all 12 doughnuts.
“Running the two miles there and back is not a problem for me because I run a lot as it is,” Blackwell said. “But it’s not everyday that I eat 12 doughnuts.”
Beard, who could only down nine and a half in the 2008 race, said she is much more focused heading into Feb. 7.
“I let myself down [last year], so this year I’m definitely eating all 12,” Beard said. “This year, I’m all in.”
For Cooper, he’s not only looking forward to eating a dozen doughnuts but also being a part of the tradition.
“The Krispy Kreme Challenge is getting popular across the country and it’s cool to know that it all started at N.C. State,” Cooper said. “Hopefully, I can make it on ESPN.”
