Running for dough in WSNC
The Matt Gfeller Donut Run in Winston-Salem brought out 912 runners to run 5k and eat a few donuts, but most importantly it raised over $50,000 for the Matt Gfeller Foundation in support of pediatric brain trauma research at the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the Matthew Gfeller Sports Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Matt Gfeller died in August of 2008 after a helmet to helmet collision in a varsity high school football game, and in his memory this run has been organized every year since. Matt liked donuts and Krispy Kreme is based in Winston-Salem, that is how it all began. Thanks to corporate sponsors the race entry fees go in their entirety to the Matt Gfeller Foundation. The race itself is 5k and at the halfway point runners who signed up for "with dough" get to eat 6 regular glazed Krispy Kreme donuts before starting the return trip to the finish. Plenty of folks just want to support the race but don't want to eat that many donuts, so they thus can run with "no dough." Here now are impressions from the event today.
Every runner who eats the donuts seemingly has a different technique.
Before the runners arrive the boxes are stacked and ready for action.
Two donut runners clearly marked by their red bibs led the field towards the halfway point.
Up front the runners were certainly very serious and showed good form. 24-year old Reese Wells (bib 879) was second in transition in 8:30, ate the donuts in 1:59, and then ran back in 9:00 to finish in 19:31 and take the overall With Dough title. 14-year old John Paynter was the overall No Dough champion in 18:34.
15-year old Anderson Ward likely set some kind of record. He was first to the donuts in only 8:25 but he spent 21:53 eating them and then labored home in 15:05 for a total time of 45:23.
The 6 smashed donuts technique seemed popular with the front runners. Basically stack them inside the box, close the lid and then stomp on them to get all the air out.
Doesn't that look super appetizing? It is actually difficult to eat sticky dry food after running hard.
There is no one there to count the donuts consumed but especially among the front runners folks are watching each other, if nothing else at least to see the technique.
Some folks certainly seemed more relaxed in their approach. 18-year old Kevin Grosswald ended up his dough run in 29:49.
Smashed donuts ready to be devoured.
Some folks sat down to consume the 6 donuts, as their parents likely told them that standing while eating is not proper.
Plenty of volunteers from various schools made this event possible.
Making sure the runners know which path to follow.
With many folks already on the way back to the finish, others were still donut heaven bound.
A donut runner refueled by 6 Krispy Kreme delights weaves through runners/walkers who avoided the sweet treats.
There were however donuts for all who wanted some.
Even at a just sub-50 minute pace, the finish line gets most everyone to run that section.
More donuts after the run.
The announcer for the event was slowtwitch forum member David Daggett, an avid Ironman triathlete and popular member of the Winston-Salem community.
All images are © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com
