Last year, I photographed the Krispy Kreme Challenge. This year, with WebAssign sponsoring the event, I took the opportunity to run the event while Robin took photos.

How did I do?

Not bad. I finished in 1:21:25 in the casual division. I ate seven doughnuts on site, two fully on the way back and the remaining three after I crossed the finish line. After running about a mile and a quarter with no real training program to speak of, I switched over to fast walking.

I managed to keep the doughnuts down, though in a couple of stints at running on the way back, that seemed iffy. The after-effects aren’t much to speak of, save the normal and completely expected pains of over-exertion.

Next year will be different.

Taking into account my own fitness level and the event logistics, I’m noting several things I want to do differently, in order to compete in the Challenger category:

• Be able to run four miles. I’m not even close to this right now. At a 10 minute pace, I should be able to complete the challenge in under an hour.
• Practice eating doughnuts. Easier, at least until considering I’m not talking about eating one or two, but six or nine, then running. This is a different sort of brick.
• Bring my own water. The Krispy Kreme water station was at the back of the parking lot. With 6,000 people or so trying to drink or just eat doughnuts — well, it was very crowded and you spend a lot of time trying to get something to drink.
• Plastic bag or paper towel. Something to help me mash multiple doughnuts together without getting my hands quite as glazed.
• Hand wipes. See the aforementioned glaze problem.
• Bottle of OJ or coffee on stand-by. I’d like something to cut the sweetness just a bit.

All-in-all, though, the weather stayed decent, I had fun and I didn’t injure myself. That’s a win.