On Saturday the button-down world of this place:
got totally unbuttoned. Hmmm, what's that? What's that coming down Constitution Avenue? It looks like a bunch of people running down the middle of the street in their underwear. 
Holy Crap! It is a bunch of people (more than 400 by all accounts) running down Constitution Avenue in their underwear. With a police escort no less.
Welcome to the 2011 Cupid's Undie Run where seemingly sane people strip down for a good cause. This year's run from the Pour House to the Capitol and back raised more than $50,000 for the Children's Tumor Foundation ... as well as the spirits of those watching. I'm not totally sure, but I think if you go to the run's web page, you can still donate. 
Seriously, there's nothing quite like seeing a screaming pack of mostly naked people running toward you down one of the most famous streets in the world. For more pictures, go to my Flickr page (the link's on the right side of this page).
There was a lot of pink to be seen: Pink panties, pink boxers (and, strangely, several pairs of superman boxers), pink polka-dotted bras and, with a good 10 mph breeze blowing up Capitol Hill, lots and lots of pink skin. 
Now, I've played rugby in the rain in 30-degree temps, but at least there we got to huddle together every once in a while during scrums, rucks and mauls. And we were wearing shirts. I am slightly in awe of the folks who took part in the run. 
This could only be more fun if they did it on a weekday while Congress was in session. Or maybe not, might cause a few heart attacks. 
I particularly liked this one. The guy with the bra on his head is wearing a pair of boxers that say "I'm with stupid" with a hand pointing up. The pictures are clickable if you want a bigger view. 
And, near the tail end of the pack... 
Now those of us who live here in the D.C. area take this kind of silliness for granted. We work hard and every so often we need to blow off a little steam and if running around the Capitol in your skivvies does the trick, so be it. I do wonder, though, what outsiders think of this (not that I care, but I do wonder). This was reinforced by all the folks walking by before the run reached the Capitol who asked us why there was bunch of photographers hanging around the corner of Constitution and First. I think they thought something important was about to happen, especially when the police closed the streets. But, when told we were were waiting for a hoard of people to run by in their underwear, they all kind of looked at us a little funny.
Of course, we do have to deal with all the people from out of town who come here to protest so I think confusing the tourists a bit kinda balances it all out in the end.
9 comments:
This is great! And I, for one, agree that it's nice to see Washingtonians loosen up and do something like this. Great pictures as well. :)
amen.
Zan - As everyone knows, in cold weather it is especially important to loosen up properly before doing any physical activities.
Vittoria - indeed.
I love your photos - and thanks so much for passing them along!
I also actually said the same thing - what must the tourists have thought to see us running in our underwear?
oh, city life. i'll tell you, that's one of the things i love about living in an urban environment: the rampant weird/silly stuff.
Liebchen - Thanks, as always. The looks from the older folks were priceless. Like they really thought we were touched in the head.
magnolia - it is definitely one of the benefits. I'm looking forward to the seersucker ride this summer and the drag race in the fall.
events like this *almost* make me wish i was a runner.
then i remember that it would involve... being a runner. so i find other occasions to dress ridiculously instead. :)
Those are some great photos! It's a good thing no one really cared if they were being photographed in their underwear or not. But they're out in public, raising awareness, among other things. ;)
Way back in the 1960s I was stationed at the Washington Navy, 11th Street Southeast.
I was never able to witness such a fun event.
I enjoyed my time in Washington D.C. and was next posted to London, England for more Shore Duty.
Thanks for the Memories about D.C.
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