Krispy Kreme Challenge

Date and Time

Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 8am

Location

Hillsborough Street, starting at the NC State Bell Tower

Details

2400 calories, 12 doughnuts, 5 miles, 1 hour. The mantra of the Krispy Kreme Challenge epitomizes the test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude. What started as a challenge among ten friends has transformed into a nationally publicized charity race, and the number one tradition to complete before graduating from North Carolina State University.

The Krispy Kreme Challenge is UNC Children’s Hospital’s largest unrestricted donor.

Participants begin the Challenge at the Memorial Belltower on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Runners then travel 2.5 miles through historic downtown Raleigh to the Krispy Kreme located at the intersection of Peace and Person Streets, where they attempt to consume one dozen original glazed doughnuts. The hardest part of the Challenge awaits them as they run 2.5 miles back to the Memorial Belltower.

This is the Krispy Kreme Challenge.

ROAD CLOSURES

The following road closures are associated with the race:

Hillsborough Street between Pullen Road & Chamberlain Street from 4:00am until 12:00pm
Hillsborough Street between Pullen Road & N Boylan Avenue from 8:00am until 10:45am
N. Person Street between Polk Street & E. Pace Street from 4:00am until 10:30am

If you'd like more details regarding the race, visit https://krispykremechallenge.com/faq#registration-info . You can also email Sabrina Becht, the race contact.

RACE ROUTE

The following route will be closed from 8:00am until 10:45am on 2-7-26 to facilitate the race:

Start on Hillsborough Street in front of NC State Bell Tower
Run east on Hillsborough Street
Take the second exit off the traffic circle onto Hillsborough Street
Left onto N. Boylan Avenue
Left onto W. Jones Street
Right onto Saint Mary’s Street
Right onto W. North Street
Left onto N. West Street
Right onto W. Peace Street
Right onto N. Wilmington Street
Left onto Polk Street
Left onto N. Person Street
Receive and eat doughnuts on N. Person Street between Polk Street and Pace Street
Continue north on Person Street
Left onto Pace Street
Left onto N. Blount Street
Right onto E. Peace Street
Left onto N. West Street
Right onto W. North Street
Left onto Saint Mary’s Street
Right onto Hillsborough Street and head west towards Pullen Road
Take the second exit off the traffic circle onto Hillsborough Street
Finish on Hillsborough Street in front of NC State Bell Tower
NOTE: All streets at least one block in each direction will be detoured