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Several things might distinguish runners from the rest of the folks in this area.

Beer and doughnuts aren't two of them. Runners like beer and doughnuts.

Running Shorts asked runners to help select Ten for '10, a list of can't-miss races in this area in 2010. We've got the "beer run" to quench their thirsts right here in Greensboro.

But our runners are also willing to drive outside the Triad — and outside of our Ten for '10 guidelines — to combine their love of running with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Yes, the doughnut first made in Winston-Salem. More on that in a minute.

Ten of area runners' choices for 2010:

FEB. 14: Valentine's Day Massacre Marathon and Marathon Relay, Greensboro. Relay teams of various sizes run loops around Country Park, although the individual option might offer the real massacre. Says Marianne McDonald: "Lots of fun when done as a team. Great opportunity to socialize with other runners." www.bigfootrunning.com

MARCH 20: North Carolina Marathon (also half-marathon and 5K), High Point. Race organizers secured a date six weeks earlier than in the race's previous two years, all but guaranteeing cooler air. www.NCMarathon.org

MARCH 20: Beerun, Greensboro. This was the clear — check that, golden — favorite. The five-mile race starts and ends at the Old Town Draught House. Guess what awaits at race's end?

APRIL 17: Hospice Hope Run, Winston-Salem. This event, supporting the Hospice & Palliative CareCenter, will introduce a 5K to go with its 10K. Organizers want to more than double the field to 1,500 runners and raise $100,000.

APRIL 25: Owls Roost Rumble (half-marathon, 3.5-miler), Greensboro. From its Web site: "The course is a single-track hiking/mountain bike trail, so there are roots, rocks, quick turns, logs, beavers and mountain bikers to avoid. You may fall ... in fact you probably will fall. Don't complain, get up and keep running." www.owlsroostrumble.com

JULY 4: Kernersville Rotary Club 5K. Darrel Wells runs this one because it celebrates the Fourth on the Fourth and because the town's parade begins right after the race. Rotary Club president Jason Grubbs says up to 25,000 people will line the streets. www.kernersvillerotary.org

SEPT. 25: Salem Lake Trail Runs (10K, 30K), Winston-Salem. Endurance runners will use the 30K, or 18.6 miles, as a training run for a fall marathon. www.twincitytc.org

OCT. 2: Women's Only Run, Greensboro. Last year's 5K raised an event-record $92,150 for the mammography scholarship fund at Women's Hospital. Says Sallie Phillips: "There is nothing like the sea of pink, or rather this year, yellow shirts. It is the most unified event I have been to, as so many of us are touched by breast cancer. Very emotional." www.womensonlyrun.com

NOV. 25: Greensboro Gobbler 5K. Grimsley senior Tess Wynn is a four-time qualifier for the state cross-country meet, but she also enjoys this race's side attractions: "good food and the dog jog." www.greensborogobbler.com

DEC. 4: Mistletoe Run for Youth (half-marathon, 5K), Winston-Salem. The race raises money for scholarship programs at the White YMCA in Winston-Salem. www.twincitytc.org

About those doughnuts ...

Behind the Beerun, the Krispy Kreme Challenge, scheduled for Feb. 6 in Raleigh, is important to runners here, too.

The KKC, which benefits the N.C. Children's Hospital, began in 2004 with 12 runners. Which was perfect, because those 12 runners ran the two miles from the Bell Tower at N.C. State to the Krispy Kreme store on Peace Street, downed 12 doughnuts, and ran back.

Now, this event is huge. In 2009, the race drew 5,500 runners and attention from ESPN.

The Triangle might be the host, but the Triad is bringing some speed. The Gate City's Laura Eynon and Cindy Barbour are the previous two women's champions.

To join the fun, sign up at www.krispykremechallenge.com

Race days

Beyond these Ten (or 11) for '10, several other races feature interesting courses or support good causes. And we've got perhaps the most complete aggregation of road races in the area, plus a few more of regional emphasis. Go to the Running Shorts blog and look for the Race Days box.

Contact Eddie Wooten at 373-7093 or eddie.wooten@news-record.com