By Jeff Murphy,
October 14, 2015
WARRENSBURG, MO – In what he calls the “Doily Dash,” University of Central Missouri
faculty member David Babcock will add a new twist to the 2015 Wadell & Reed Marathon
when he participates Saturday, Oct. 17 in Kansas City. As a way to raise funds for
the Alzheimer’s Association, he will attempt to create the world’s largest doily at
the same time he is running in the event.
Such achievements are not unusual for Babcock, an associate professor of art and design
at UCM. On Oct. 19, 2013, he claimed the Guinness World Record for the longest scarf
knitted while running a marathon. This achievement also took place in Kansas City,
with Babcock completing the run in five hours, 48 minutes and 27 seconds, and with
a scarf he garter stitched along the route that measured 12 feet, 3/4 of an inch.
When he runs this weekend, Babcock hopes to keep up a 10-minute-mile pace that will
enable him to crochet a yarn mat about one yard in diameter by the time he finishes
the run. He estimates his finish time to be about four hours and 20 minutes, which
also provides plenty of time to grab spectator attention for an important cause.
“Most people think of a grandma sitting comfortably at home when they think of crochet
doilies. I want to do something very out-of-place and visibly fun for this marathon,”
Babcock said. “I hope that when people see me running the marathon with a big lacy
doily they will remember how awful Alzheimer’s disease is and they can do something
to help.”
An avid runner, in a couple of weeks Babcock will be taking his knitting to the streets
once again, but this time for a much larger audience. He will participate in the New
York Marathon. Instead of knitting a scarf or doily, he will be finger-crocheting
flowers to give to spectators along the route hoping to generate more attention and
funding to support Alzheimer’s caregivers and research.
Learn more about Babcock and the unique way he has chosen to join in the fight against
Alzheimer’s disease by visiting his website, KnittingRunner.com.
