By Victoria Lawson | Echo
Do you like to eat donuts? Do you like to run 5ks? Do you feel that these acts should not be mutually exclusive?
If so, the fourth annual Donut Run 5k, sponsored by Indiana Wesleyan University's Campus Recreation, McConn Coffee and Poppy's Xtreme Donuts, just might be for you.
The 5k will begin on April 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the Nebraska Street circle in front of the Rec & Wellness Center at IWU in Marion. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m.
The unique run includes two donut holes at each mile marker, finishing medals, moisture-wicking t-shirts and raffle prize entries, which are free with registration. The event is not timed, but there will be a clock at the end for participants who want to record their time.
This year, the Donut Run 5k will be making a new alteration: the run will now be more wheelchair accessible. IWU's Campus Recreation Director Andrew Myers is proud of this development.
"An area requested for improvement has been to make the race a road race and not on grass," Myers said. "This will be an adjustment for this year's event - the run will be through (the) IWU campus, so participants in wheelchairs and strollers will be able to join in on the fun."
The event began as a fall half-marathon, which required a lot of planning and coordinating for the initial amount of participants. Event coordinators thought transitioning to a spring 5K on campus would gather more interest. This led to a Coffee Run 5K for the spring semester. The event was well-received, but not something runners wanted to participate in annually. Once event planners made the switch to donuts, the Donut Run has been successful ever since.
Myers is encouraged by the great feedback he hears about the run and its family-friendly atmosphere.
"We have competitive runners to people who just want to walk and enjoy the donuts," Myers said. "It truly is an event which everyone enjoys."
Registration for community members starts at $30 and gradually increases as the day approaches. The race is limited to 300 participants but registration will still be open on the day of the event if the limitation has not been met. Cookies will be offered as an alternative to donuts for those with dairy allergies, but runners who want this accommodation must contact Myers prior to the race.
For additional info and online registration, see more details here. https://www.active.com/marion-in/running/distance-running-races/donut-run-2019
