2nd Annual Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge – Recap

Over 600 runners registered to run, eat doughnuts and run more, all to help raise money and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama!

The scene Saturday morning at Government Plaza was one of the most exciting pre-race atmospheres I've experienced in my years of running. Not only did runners of all ages converge to sign in and socialize but they brought family and friends with them! There were even non-running spectators on hand which you rarely see for a two mile race. News photographers were buzzing around snapping pictures as was Skip Baumhower, the official photographer for the Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge. Race organizers this year set up a BBBS/Pepsi sponsored backdrop where runners could have their professional photos taken by Skip, free of charge! At one point Alabama mascot Big Al was on hand to pump up the crowd and take photos.

At 9am runners took off for a quick, almost one mile trek through downtown Tuscaloosa before arriving back at Government Plaza for the part of the race that is definitely the hardest but the reason most people sign up, the doughnut eating! Runners sat or stood in a grassy area while trying their best to finish 12 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. The stubbornness of many individuals came out that day as one by one, each 188 calorie doughnut disappeared into their stomachs. I know from having done the challenge this year for the second time, the battle is both mental and physical. Fighting all urges to quit or to extract the sugary goodness from your body with any means necessary. Only the strong willed survive but if they do, the rewards are anything but sweet.

Runners who decide to move on without competing the challenge are free to continue running at any time. Those who press on through the box of 12 have to show race officials an empty boxed, get stamped as a finisher then make their way through the streets of Tuscaloosa for one last mile.

A mile doesn't seem that bad even for the most inexperienced of runners. Unless that runner has a belly full of doughnuts. Then the story changes and you realize why they refer to you as a "challenger".

At the end, all runners cross the finish line, full or not, with the satisfaction of knowing they helped to raise money for a wonderful organization like Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama.

Another change to the celebration this year was an after party at Innisfree Irish Pub. Participants and friends enjoyed a hot buffet and time to reflect and socialize on the patio!

I'm always not 100% sure after one of these raced if I will compete next year but more than likely, as long as BBBS is involved, you'll see me in the lineup next year!

Skip Baumhower's Tuscaloosa Krispy Kreme Challenge photo gallery is available here.