February 7th - Busy Race Weekend

I love this time of year! As we get ready to turn the calendar to a new year I start to check out the local races, and always get excited about the opportunities that are ahead. We get so focused on endurance in the fall with our marathon and half marathon training, that it is easy to forget about the shorter and often more creative races out there. Here are two options on the first full weekend in February:

02/07 Saturday: Krispy Kreme Challenge
Simply put. . . you must experience this race once in your life. It is a two mile race from the NC State Bell Tower down to the local Krispy Kreme store. At this point you will eat a dozen glazed doughnuts, and then run two miles up hill back to the Bell Tower. . . all in under one hour! The entire race is a crazy experience full of competitive runners and crazy college kids. It has become one of the largest races in North Carolina, drawing over 3,000 participants. There is a "casual runner" option that does not require you to eat the doughnuts. Several RMEC runners are veterans of this event. You should do it just for the t-shirt alone!

02/08 Sunday: Run for the Roses
This race is a more traditional event when compared to the K.K.C., however it is anything but your typical 5k. The Run for the Roses is longest running 5k in the Triangle. Similar to the Sweetheart 5k, it also has a couples division using combined times. Another very cool aspect is they have an optional "Pump 'N Run" competition as well. Beginning at 12:30 p.m. on race day, men will be required to bench press their weight. Women will bench press 50% of their weight. For each bench press, 30 seconds will be subtracted from their 5K times! Seems like a great race for some RMEC members. . . Dave, Jeff, and Eric P come to mind!

So give some thought to these races as you plan your 2009 calendar. Both are close by and will be fun to do. I know most of us are training for Shamrock and/or Flying Pig, but don't forget to reward yourself along the way with shorter races!