Sarah South linked to an interesting 5-K being held in Reidsville tomorrow (July 26, 2008).  It’s called the Take Pride in Your Hide and as you may guess from the title it’s a clothing-optional race.  If you happen to be a purveyor of sports-ready suntan lotion I think you could make a pretty penny if you set up shop there tomorrow morning.

The race is being held on the Bar-S-Ranch.  Here’s a race description from the website:

Bar -S- Ranch, a nudist resort, rests on 400 acres of
    rolling meadows and woodlands. Guests are able to relax and find refuge from
    the pressures of urban life. Our resort adds a new dimension to the clothing
    optional experience by offering a secure and serene environment. We welcome
    the experienced and the uninitiated nudist to enjoy our hospitality.
   

People are curious about nudism. However, the nudist philosophy is
simple: being nude is natural. Runners have found that nude running gives
them a feeling of freedom and exhilaration that cannot be matched in an
other way. Bar -S- Ranch offers this run to the general running community to
give runners an opportunity to enjoy this interesting and different running
experience, "naturally" or clothed.

Timing will be done with Champion Chip Timing technology, by Queen City
Timing Services of Mooresville, NC. Each runner / walker must pick up
his/ her chip, to be worn on your shoe at the Take Pride 5K on race day
morning. Those who do not turn in their chip will be assessed a $35
fee. Please bring a towel to sit upon ( proper etiquette at a nudist
resort).  "Great" T-shirts (first 150 guaranteed). Unique prizes,
awards, food & refreshments, kegs of Budweiser beer and a drawing
for a one year membership to the Bar-S. Runners/Walkers & their
guest may enjoy the Bar-S for the day until 4:00 PM. A nude/non-nude
photo will be taken to commemorate the event & may be purchased for
$10, included with your entry or paid on race day. The race is ran on
the Bar-S trails in a safe & secure environment , no spectators
allowed. Enjoy running/walking "Naturally" or "clothed" on the exciting
5k XC trail through the cool woods.

Oh, this is cute.  The race management company’s name is Butts A’Runnin Race Management. 

They’re also looking for sponsors.

You know there are some thoughts that are running through my head right now, pardon the pun, and some fairly obvious questions too:

1. Is there a correlation between nude running and sterility for men?  Gravity ain’t kind folks, and the jostling can’t be too good for you.
2. How about the effects of gravity on the better half of the male/female equation?  I’m assuming that those who are, um, lighter in their northern hemisphere enjoy a natural advantage?
3. How does one become a nudist photographer?  Or put another way, is one a nudist photographer or a photographer of nudists…or both?
4. I’m also assuming that it’s not a good idea to borrow someone’s towel if you forget your own.
5. I know it’s common to give away t-shirts at races but for this one wouldn’t it be more appropriate to give a temporary tattoo instead?  Just saying.

By the way, I have no problem with nudists doing their thing and in some ways I envy their ability to let it all hang out, so to speak.  On the other hand, I’ve never been in the lead in any race I’ve ever run which means I’m always looking at someone’s back(side) and I can’t imagine that’s the best view in a naked trot such as this.