Students bare almost all for charitable Homecoming race

More than 300 scantily-clad University of Cincinnati students anxiously waited at a starting line on Sigma Sigma Commons Mondy, jumping vertical and chanting, “UC, UC, UC! ” The annual Nearly Bare Distance is a non-competitive Homecoming event that has happened on campus for the past seven years. The Cincinnatus Honorary Society hosts the case and raises money for the St. Vincent De Robert Society, which provides food, utilities and more for those in need in Cincinnati and Hamilton Regional.

“The run gets people pumped up for homecoming, and it’s more fun than your average run, and shorter, ” said Irene Musgrove, a fifth-year visual design student. “It’s fun to see everyone dress, ” she added, noting the minimalistic costumes runners traditionally wear. Registration for the event was $10, but students who donated another school’s T-shirt to a Nearly Bare Distance registration presentation space on MainStreet Sept. 11 could actually run the distance for free. “Either short homecoming dresses 2015 you choose, it’s all for a good cause, ” said Kelly Farrell, a first-year communications and disorders student. “You can wear whatever you decide to want, look silly, and not get judged for it. ”

 

Many students got creative with their running outfits. Participants featured: cowboy hats, boots, speedos, capes, leopard shorts, a horse head, fanny delivers and full dress suits. One student even had his entire body spray-painted gold. The Phi Delta Theta fraternity went all out for the run, and each brother was dressed crazier than the next. “We recently had an event that was themed ‘What you want to be when you grow up, ’ so we all just used our outfits from that again for the Nearly Bare Distance, ” said Tom Davis, a second-year criminal justice student who donned a camo speedo. Despite their odd Short Beading Organza A Line Cocktail/Homecoming Dress, the fraternity took the run very seriously. They even had a group stretching out session before the distance began. To keep students entertained and empowered before the race, a DJ played pump-up music and free energy drinks were distributed. A Victoria’s Secret presentation space was also set up on the commons, and the store’s Pink Street Team gave away polka-dotted gift bags.

This year’s run was distinctive from previous years because of construction on Nippert Ground, driving the distance to take a new course. “The route is going entirely up MainStreet rather than just around the football field, ” said Ian Klingler, a fifth-year science education student. “I’d rather not rise there, but it’s for a good cause and it’s a good time. ” The 2014 run raised more than $3, 000 for the St. Vincent De Robert Society, according to Kristy Dardano, a fifth-year fashion design student and head of the Nearly Bare Distance. “I am extremely pleased with the, ” Dardano said. “We almost doubled the amount of people who registered last year. Over 300 people opted online, and even more opted at the promotion table on campus. “It’s all about school spirit, but it’s awesome how successful we were. ”.