Be the Kreme of the crop

5,038 students have registered for the sixth annual Krispy Kreme Challenge, 2,000 more than for last year's race.    

Four things are usually associated with the KKC, and the first is delicious doughnuts. At 2,400 calories per dozen, Krispy Kreme's doughnuts make the perfect mixture of delight and disgust for racers. 

The next defining characteristic of the KKC is the competition. It's one thing to eat a dozen doughnuts and run four miles. It's completely different to eat a dozen doughnuts, run four miles and beat 5,000 other people. This will test you to your limits and this is your opportunity to prove that you are the best at something, even if it's stuffing your face and sprinting.

Vomit has helped define the challenge, as it is highly unlikely a person can down a dozen doughnuts and run two miles back without puking.

And of course, the purpose of the Krispy Kreme Challenge in the first place is to benefit charity. The KKC is more than a fun, nauseating and challenging event. The proceeds go toward the North Carolina Children's Hospital. 

If you need more of a reason than charity, food and fun to motivate you to participate in this year's Krispy Kreme Challenge, a UNC-Chapel Hill student won last year's race. NCSU students must step up to the plate and take back the title of winner of the Krispy Kreme Challenge. N.C. State students created this event, and we must fight hard to prevent our rivals to beat us again.

And if that isn't enough to get you out of bed Saturday morning, you have a chance to make an appearance on ESPN this year. Granted, some of you have made it on by shamelessly waving posters that advertise its station, but this is your chance to be the subject of the story.

If you are not participating or volunteering in the event, show up to cheer runners on. Half the fun of the challenge is to watch people barf and run in ridiculous costumes.

Because of its exponential growth and because it is for a good cause, students must keep this tradition alive. In fact, the University has turned big events into events that benefit others. Student Government collected canned food for hungry people in Raleigh from the Haunted Hillsborough Hike. Pack-a-thon also donates money to the N.C. Children's Hospital.


We encourage students to create and support events like these, not just traditions that are fun but ones that benefit a good cause.