Monday, September 14, 2009
More than 150 students fought the heat, the hill and their own stomachs yesterday to race in Habitat for Humanity’s first annual Crunchy Chicken Challenge.
Participants ran a mile and a half uphill from the Burge Union to Wescoe Hall, where they each stopped to eat a crunchy chicken cheddar wrap before finishing the last half of the race.
Jake Hopkins, Albuquerque, N.M. junior, quickly eats his crunchy chicken cheddar wrap middway through the Crunchy Chicken Cheddar Challenge Sunday afternoon. The charity run was organized by KU Habitat for Humanity.
Brad Evans, Minnetonka, Minn. junior, and Jobie Buehler, Bonner Springs, junior, run during the Crunchy Chicken Cheddar Challenge Sunday afternoon. Evans and Buehler wore fat suits as part of the costume contest of the charity race organized by KU Habitat for Humanity.
Joey Meyer, St. Louis junior and president of KU Habitat for Humanity, said organizers were prepared for runners to get sick.
“We’ve taken the proper precautions,” Meyer said before the race. “There are trash cans along the route, and we even have a specialized cleaning crew.”
Participation in the race cost $15, and runners received a Habitat for Humanity T-shirt and their choice of a chicken or veggie wrap. The race was designed as a light-hearted way to raise money for KU Habitat for Humanity.
Nathan Klein, Overland Park freshman, attended the event but did not participate. He said he wanted to help the cause, but that his stomach couldn’t handle the running, eating and running again.
“I’d lose the contents of my stomach, and then some,” he said.
Meyer said the decision to have runners eat crunchy chicken cheddar wraps was especially appropriate for students.
“It’s kind of a cultural icon here on campus. It’s delicious, it’s popular and we wanted it to be a part of our event,” he said.
The event was inspired by a similar event at North Carolina State University called the Krispy Kreme Challenge, Meyer said. Runners there had to eat a dozen donuts before finishing the race.
Many participants, like Brad Evans, Minnetonka, Minn., junior, and Jobie Buehler, Bonner Springs junior, showed up to the event wearing colorful costumes. The pair did not take off their female sumo suits once throughout the three-mile race.
“We’re two sexy ladies ready to compete, and take home the gold,” Evans said. “We’re holding nothing back.”
Valerie Peterson, Wichita freshman, didn’t share their energy. She said that she came because of the free wrap and free T-shirt, and that she was going to walk the race.
“Even if I ran, I think the people in the fat suits would just run past me,” she said.
KU Habitat for Humanity hopes to make the Crunchy Chicken Challenge an annual event. All proceeds went to help fund the construction of a house in Lawrence.
— — Edited by Abbey Strusz
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Comments
Crunchy chicken poses extra challenge
Awesome.
Crunchy chicken poses extra challenge
That sounds awesome!!
Crunchy chicken poses extra challenge
This is one of the greatest fundraising ideas of all time - good job, Habitat. =)
Crunchy chicken poses extra challenge
I love crunchy chicken cheddar wraps!
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