Rain doesn’t stop Donut Dash’s record participants

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Throughout downtown St. Joseph on Saturday morning, over 500 runners and walkers made their way through the rain in support of local museum favorites.

The Donut Dash, put on by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Gold-N-Glaze Donut & Coffee Shop, takes place each year to help fund The Patee House Museum, Robidoux Row Museum, and Mount Mora Cemetery.

The 3.81-mile 5K+ race had participants lined up at the Patee House Museum, ran through most of downtown St. Joseph and Mount Mora Cemetery, and finished at Gold-N-Glaze. Notable features of this unique, almost four-mile-long course included views of historic parts of town, major hill climbs, and, this year, a light sprinkle of rain.

Director of Communications for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Kristi Bailey, believes the race's atmosphere is what keeps people coming back and telling others.

"Well, the best thing about the donut dash is it's just fun. There are some runners that take it really seriously, and they get it done. Really fast," Bailey shared. "Then there are runners who bring their dogs and the strollers, and they just like how fun it is, right? You don't have to take it seriously."

Paid participants received one glazed donut and an alcoholic drink of their choice at the end of the course. Those needing a ride to their vehicles at the starting line were shuttled back by school buses working the event.