Krispy Kreme race registration closed

RALEIGH -- As many as 72,000 doughnuts will be needed for the Krispy Kreme Challenge this year, which is expected to have a record number of participants.

Organizers for the Krispy Kreme Challenge, likely Raleigh's oddest charity event, closed registration for the road race Tuesday after reaching their limit of 6,000 people who plan to run and scarf down doughnuts Feb.6.

That's the most people Raleigh Police will let run on Hillsborough Street for the race, said Jake Lloyd, one of the N.C. State University student organizers. About 5,500 ran last year.

The race is the 2004 brainchild of a handful of NCSU students: Run the two miles from campus to the Krispy Kreme store on Peace Street and back, eating a dozen doughnuts in between and finishing the whole event in an hour or less.

Participation has exploded. Proceeds now go to the N.C. Children's Hospital. One third of the registered runners are NCSU students.

Though registration is closed, Lloyd said those wishing to donate can do so at www.krispykreme challenge.com.