Underwear Run 2017: It Got Itchy!
4th of August 2017
Let's get one thing straight: I love doing the Underwear Run. It's a great time for me, and I see most of the same people I love to see and haven't seen since the last Underwear Run took place. This year had a bit of a bump in the road for me as I had a bad skin reaction to the fake blood. I should have known better than to use the fake blood, but that's what I get for not thinking out a better costume for the event. The one I had planned would have been better than "Dead Man Walking In Chains." I don't hate the costume I came up with, but I liked the one I had planned better. I didn't have that one because I spent so much time at work. It's a good thing that I did, too. These costumes take a lot of time and money to make. I'm starting to plan next year's already so I'm not writing another one of these lame excuses. I'm not trying to come up with excuses now. It's pretty much my fault for all of the problems I had this year. I know next time to use real blood and not fake blood (only kidding).
Now that I got the bad out of the way, onto the good. Lazer 103.3 raised around $3,000 for Children's Cancer Charities. That's one reason I like to do this event. Lazer raises the money for the charity itself instead of an event such as the Color Run that only donates a percentage of the registration. Everyone sees the check get presented to the charity, and that makes everyone feel like it was more than just us running in our underwear. They see the bigger picture, and they're all willing to do it every year to help the cause. I see a lot of familiar faces, and those familiar faces bring new people each year.
Almost everyone wears a costume of some sort in hopes of winning a prize. Some of you may remember me winning my first year a pair of Rob Zombie tickets. I don't remember this year's prizes because I didn't win. I know, selfish, but I'm not bitter about not winning. I won once before, so that's enough for me. I learned that year that I loved the experience of the Underwear Run. I loved the people I was running (realistically, walking) with, and I meet new people every year. It's a great time had by all with everyone talking to each other regardless of whether they know each other or not. There's nobody judging anyone else there except those who decide the winners of the costume contest (one of my friends was apart of a group that got third this year). This year, the winners wore costumes pertaining to Austin Powers. Second place was a Pinocchio costume where Pinocchio's nose was in the place of his dick. I wasn't too crazy about that one, but oh well. Third place was the Three Amigas (one of which is my friend). I liked their costumes because it was original and creative, and Taylor is my friend. Yes, I'm biased. The only downside with them winning is there were only 2 tickets for each of the prizes, and there's 3 of them. Maybe give them a bottle of tequila and a gift card to El Bait Shop next time. I'm glad people come out to this dressed in costumes because I think it takes a lot of the edge off.
This year's route was a little longer than in year's past, and I can definitely get behind that. The route measures out to around 2 miles, give or take. I always thought it was a regular 5K, but when I did an actual 5K, I realized that it was not. The Underwear Run is more about giving to the Children's Cancer Charities than about how long the run is, and I can respect that. It's mostly in July, so that's when the sun is out the most. The run itself starts pretty early in the morning missing the hottest part of the day. Don't get me wrong. By the time the run is over, it's pretty hot out, but it's not 100 degrees. That was a benefit mostly this year because if I would have sweated any more, then the fake blood I was wearing would have spread more than it already had causing more of an irritation for me. However, one year, I made the mistake of having a few Shandys before the run, and I about threw up. I was hot and miserable. I finished the run, and I went right into El Bait Shop hoping I didn't have to spew. I didn't, but oh, how many times did I come close. That was a great year regardless of that. I just learned not to have alcohol until AFTER the run next time.
I've written about why the Underwear Run means a lot to me. I've said that it was the first place and event after my mother's passing where I started to try and live again. I see a lot of the same people, and I meet a lot of new people. Somewhere, I should point out that Moose, Lazer's Morning Show Host, commented on my bulge this year. I don't know why I didn't put that in earlier. Back to the topic, I was in a dark place at that time, and the Underwear Run brought me out of my shell. I met lots of people and still talk to them today. I regret one thing with the Underwear Run: I didn't do it the first year. I know I thought about it, but for some reason, I didn't. However, I will never miss one as long as they keep going. I just wished that they opened up registration sooner. Oh well. As long as it keeps going because I enjoy it. I think everyone else does, too.
It's an excuse for me to see Adam & Gina who never miss this run either. Cassie came back as well. Samantha came back, and we had a great time catching up. I had a great chat with Adam, and there are some things that he told me that gave me lots to think about. I appreciate that from him. I hope that I can take him up on some of what he was telling me because it will be life changing for me, and he is a man of encouragement. He's always been by my side, and he was one of the first people I met at the first run I did. I cherish the people I meet at the Underwear Run, and that's why I keep going: to meet new people and keep in touch with the ones I've met.
