Frequently Asked Questions
Is This a race?
No!!
This day is all about having fun, that is the mindset that you need going into it. It is in no way, shape or form a race.
What are the Rules?
We have lots of fun things we do on this run, but the most important thing to remember is that there are no hard and fast rules. The A#1 Absolute top priority is show up and have fun. That being said, we have lots of things that we suggest doing (see the ‘ABOUT’ section), but it’s your choice to take part in as much or as little of the shenanigans as you would like. At the end of the day, we just want everyone to have some great memories and stories to tell.
How Many Donuts Do I Have to eat??
As stated above, there is no requirement for how many donuts you have to eat. if you eat a full donut at each shop, you will have consumed 12 delicious donuts. There will definitely be people on the run who will attempt to tackle this challenge. Others will scale it down, and that’s totally OK. You will see many people sharing donuts at each stop instead of eating a full one. We even have some runners who, due to dietary restrictions, will not eat any donuts at all. That is cool too. this day is all about your choices. You need to do what is best for you to make it a positive/memorable day.
I’m not what you’d call a ‘runner’… How Far Do I have to run??
We get people from all over the physical fitness spectrum on this day. We will literally have people who run legitimate Ultra marathons to people who will literally just run this one day every year. It’s all good.
If we followed the official map to a ‘T’, we would be clocking in somewhere around 17 miles. this rarely happens as we tend to get lost/distracted easily.
There are multiple shortcuts built into the route for people who may not be able to run the full distance, but still want to participate. They enable people to cut out some of the more meandering scenic parts of the course. This allows them to get to the shops before the main group, which will both cut down on mileage and also give them opportunities to get some recovery time in while they wait.
Our general rule of thumb when we get asked this question has always been: If you can complete a 5K, you can do the #donutultrahalf
What if I get Lost?
Disclaimer: You are an adult in NYC, You should be able to figure out a way to get back home in a worst case scenario
In all seriousness, we make sure that everyone makes it to each shop. We have a Facebook Messenger group that we ask you to join if you are planning on running so you can message the group if you get separated. If someone is struggling or having an emergency, we stop and make sure they are ok. someone (or more often multiple someones) will stay with you. We have been doing a great job the last 9 years of these runs having no one get permanently lost/separated and plan to keep that streak going this year
How much does this cost?
This run is Absolutely Free!!
(Sort of)
Ok, now when we say that the run is free, we are referring to signup fees, insurance, or generally anything that would make this silliness official (or any of us liable). This is a true fatass event in every sense of the word.
All of that aside: NYC is not a cheap place, and donuts cost money, so it is a good idea to bring some currency with you.
Some things you may spend money on:
Donuts - budgeting $5 per donut should be plenty
Transportation to and from the City - This can include Parking, Subway, uber, etc…
Food and Drink - I know that it sounds counter intuitive after eating all the donuts, but I swear, you will really want to eat a good meal when we are done. Also, many participants have been known to imbibe at various points along the run
Your best bet is to bring a credit/debit card or use a mobile wallet.
How do people do all of this and not Vomit?
Short Answer: There may be vomit
Over the years, there have been scattered instances of vomiting on the run. They have grown much less frequent, to the point of non-existence over the past few events. Seasoned #donutultrahalf veterans have come up with a myriad of hacks to calm stomachs on the run. Everyone is different, so what works for one person might not work for you.
A few examples are:
- Taking a ton of Pepto Bismal
-Drinking carbonated beverages
- Milk Chugs
Hang on a sec…
Did you just say ‘Milk Chugs’??
Yup, the milk chug is a #donuthalf tradition going back to the very beginning in 2014. Not everyone on the run partakes in this festive yet competitive event, but those who do swear that it does wonders for settling an upset belly full of donuts.
We have been asked this question a lot over the years. Remember earlier when we said “no hard and fast rules”?
You have to ask yourself “what works best for me'"?”
If the answer is “Bike the #donutultrahalf”, then go for it!
Can I bring a bike?
Besides currency, what else should I bring with me?
We are normally out on the streets of NYC for a solid 8 hours, We will be covering a pretty substantial distance in this time, so dress accordingly. August in New York is generally hot and humid. Some way of carrying water is highly recommended. As you can see in the pictures from previous runs, most people either have a hydration pack or a hydration belt. At a minimum whichever route you go, you should have be able to carry a 500ml bottle. If you don’t have a ton of experience in multi-hour events, it is better to be safer and go for at least 1 liter of water storage
What is the bathroom situation?
It’s NYC, We do our best to find parks with public restrooms along the way, but worst case scenario, there is pretty much a Starbucks on every block.