It’s February and love is in the air. We mean that literally.
Valentine’s Day is around the corner folks, but we’re not about to tell you how to plan for Cupid’s arrival. Flowers and a mushy card? Don’t think so. We’ve got another kind of Cupid sighting on our radar. Remember how much fun Tom Cruise had dancing in his undies in Risky Business? How about a go at jogging in your undies?
On February 9 (the weekend before Valentine’s Day) more than 8,000 people in 17 U.S. cities across the country will be doing just that in the world’s largest organized underwear run. Yup, you heard me right. We’re talking about Cupid’s Undie Run, a race that’s got you “uncovered”.
Here’s the skivvy. Two years ago, Brendan Hanrahan, Chad Leathers and Bobby Gill set off on a mission to raise awareness and receive donations to the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) after Chad’s brother’s diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis (NF). NF causes tumor growth throughout the nervous system causing disabilities like blindness, and deafness. Cupid’s Undie Run is a nationally recognized non-profit, operated by volunteers across the country with a goal of raising more than a million dollars for NF research.
The Undie run sounds like what it is: participants strip down to their undies and run. The mile and a half course is not a competitive race; it’s a fun run so there’s no pressure except for raising the most money. Festivities begin at noon on Feb 9 and the actual run begins at 2:30 pm. Most brave the cold fashionably in the Valentine’s Day spirit of the race with a red pair of boxers or panties and a matching red scarf. If it’s too chilly you can pull out the long-johns or thermals; for the bashful, just sport some tights to accentuate your figure.
Anyone 21+ can run solo, with a registered team or form their own group – complete with funky name. Cities participating from last year are D.C., New York, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver and Cincinnati. New cities this year are L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Orlando, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Detroit. For you lucky runners in the warmer locales like Orlando or Los Angeles make sure to have some sunscreen handy. If you live in Cleveland or St. Louis you’ll have to wait until Feb 16 to run but that just means you’ll have more time to decide what to wear. Feel free to get creative with your outfit like putting your briefs over some tights a la superhero but make sure it’s all underwear and kept PG-13 for the spectators – no commandos on this run.
Prizes for participants who raise the most money are looking even better than last year with embroidered bath robes, engraved iPod nanos and romantic getaways. If you’re trying to keep that New Year’s resolution of staying in shape then here’s a great way to do it and get noticed, too. Maybe running Cupid’s Undie Run might net you that special someone for Valentine’s Day? You’ve already seen their best assets.
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