Talk about running to get breakfast.

Participants in this weekend’s Krispy Kreme Doughnut Dare, a 5K race benefiting UGA Miracle and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, will not only have to run – they will have to eat an entire box of 10 doughnuts during the race.

“I’ve definitely been training, eating my doughnuts on the weekends,” joked Robert Knotts, a recruitment coach for UGA Miracle and finance junior from Douglasville. “I’ve gotta condition myself just like any athlete getting ready for the big day.”

Knotts is one of 253 people registered online to run the race Saturday, said Cole Phillips, morale co-chair for the UGA Miracle executive board and a senior from Rome.

“It’s a really neat idea, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” said Cole, a biochemistry and history major. “A fun event like this would be a great way to get the community and campus to get them involved.”

UGA Miracle, a student organization that raises money for Children’s Healthcare, learned about the idea for a Krispy Kreme run from one held in North Carolina, Cole said.

There are three tiers of registration for the race. Taking the Dare are people who both run and must eat 10 doughnuts. Leisure Runner are those who want to run and eat as few doughnuts as they want. Morale are people in the audience cheering on the racers.

Out of everyone registered, Cole said the majority chose the tier of Leisure Runner.

The first person to finish the race while holding down 10 doughnuts in their stomach is the winner. An award ceremony will be held after the 5K ends.

“This is something different. This is something to challenge myself,” said Savannah King, a nutrition science sophomore from Marietta who’s running the race. “I may throw up, but it’s still fun.”

King runs regularly, so she said she hasn’t trained for the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Dare. Eating a box of doughnuts is just a psychological hurdle, she said.

“I know the first couple of ones will be easy and then it’ll get tough, but it’s mind over matter,” King said.

Knotts said he’s excited to run the race.

“Who knows what can happen?” he said. “It’s a dare. I’ve never backed down from a dare.”

UGA Miracle will have about 2,000 doughnuts at the race, Phillips said. He said working with Krispy Kreme has been “great.”

“It’s been huge to have their support,” Phillips said. “They know this is for a good cause, so they’ve been really great in helping us out in any way they could.”

As for money raised, Phillips said UGA Miracle is holding this first Krispy Kreme race in hopes that the idea will catch on and the organization can raise more funds later.

“We’re hoping it really takes hold here, and in 20 years, people talk about the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Dare at UGA,” he said.

Knotts said he looks forward to the fun he’ll share with friends at the race.

“For me at least, it’s gonna be more of a fun social thing helping a great cause and having fun as college students as well,” he said. “I’m not looking forward to the cramps that will come later.”

The dare begins at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.