Jan 12 2012
Dine and dash
Pre-Ramble: I just love it when unrelated news stories overlap in a meaningful way.
Story #1: Recent studies have shown that cardiac arrests in marathon and half-marathon runners have become more common over the past decade. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine however, reports that this increase is likely due to the dramatic increase in the overall number of people running marathons and half-marathons.
“In 2000, fewer than 1 million people participated in marathon and half-marathon events … By 2010, the number had more than doubled to about 2 million.”
Never mind that a staggering number of people (insane people) are capable of dragging themselves along a 26 mile course in a single afternoon, I believe that Story #2 provides an alternate explanation for the up-tick in cardiac events associated with running.
Story #2: Today’s WSJ reports that an estimated 92,400 Krispy Kreme doughnuts will be consumed over the course of the 8th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge which will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 4th.
“The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a student-organized charity race benefiting the NC Children’s hospital. Starting as a competition between a few friends, it has grown to include over 7500 runners and raise $122,000 for the N.C. Children’s Hospital in 2011.
To complete the Krispy Kreme Challenge competitors begin at the NC State Belltower, run 2.5 miles to the Krispy Kreme store on Peace Street, eat 1 dozen doughnuts, and run 2.5 miles back to the Belltower-all in under an hour. Participants can also sign up as Casual Runners, who are not required to eat all of the doughnuts, or Supporters, who do not run in the race but do receive a race T-shirt.”
FYI: For those of you in training for the event, one dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts has 2,400 calories, 144 grams of fat, 120 grams of sugar, and 1,140 milligrams of sodium — !
The Take-Away: Paramedics will be distributing race packets containing a combination race number/bib, participant’s t-shirt (size XXL), and a personal defibrillator kit.
My Uncle commented in an email:
“I used to love Krispy Kreeme donuts, but ate no more than one a month. People could hold boxes of them along marathon routes for participants to nibble on, maybe some good wine, also.”
My response to him:
“What varietal makes a good pairing for glazed, deep-fried dough?”