RALEIGH, N.C. — Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and for some, it is the most competitive.

Pancake Lover Brian Moriarty is putting himself to the test, trying one of Raleigh’s most infamous food challenges: “The Big One.”

Big Ed’s in Raleigh started the challenge about a decade ago with a simple concept, eat three pancakes and win a shirt.

The catch is that they’re extremely thick, and they fill you up fast.

“I have seen a few people run to the bathroom after the pancake challenge,” says Big Ed’s server Katherine Sundin. “A few people have asked for a wheelbarrow out to their car.”

So why would Moriarty want to do it? He says that he simply wants the shirt, but he wants to earn it.

This is his second attempt at getting that coveted shirt. The first time, he couldn’t make it past the second pancake.

“I vowed to myself that I’d come back and conquer this beast,” Moriarty says.

This time, he came prepared. After not eating dinner the night before and waking up earlier to get hungry, he says, “I’m good. I’m not going to have any more food after this, but I’m good.”

Although full, he continued working toward his goal.

Bite by bite, Moriarty beat the challenge, conquered “the beast,” and is taking home the prized shirt.