Kicker - Racing with pancakes

NICK EICHER, HOST: Well, you likely won’t see this event in the Olympic games anytime soon. But an Englishwoman by the name of Katie Godor was the victor in a one-of-kind foot race that’s a source of pride in her hometown  Olney. After all, this race can trace its history to 15th century England. 

It’s the International Pancake Day race. 

What makes the race unique is contestants have to run while carrying a pancake in a frying pan. You flip once to start the race and flip again 415 yards later to conclude the race.

You have to be wondering about the history. I certainly was, and here it is:

Back in 14-45, just before Lent, a woman in England was rushing to use up all her remaining cooking fats, so she was making pancakes—cooking fats being forbidden during Lent. Then she heard the sound of church bells. So she grabbed her head scarf, and dashed 415 yards to get to church, skillet and pancake still in hand. Subsequently, neighbors got into the act and it became a race to see who could get to church first. 

And now you know …

It’s The World and Everything in It.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.