2012 Hot Undies Run Recap

On a rainy and muggy Saturday afternoon, 4 girls donned in red, white, and blue ascended on to Brian O'Neill's Irish pub, June 30, 2012, in the Village to run in their underwear and drink some beer for a good cause. The event...The 2012 Hot Undies Run. This is a 2 mile fun run during the middle of the day (HOT) around Rice Unversity in your underoos, which benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Undies for Everyone. You start at O'Neill's with a free beer, stop at a bar in the middle of Rice University for another free beer, and end at O'Neill's to claim your free beer if you didn't get it before the race.

You might remember, I ran this fun event last year with Amy and her fiancee, Brian. So, naturally, I couldn't wait to run it again this year. However, this time, I wanted to actually wear underwear and participate in a team costume for a chance to win some prize money or at least some more free beer. Once I found the girls (Kate, MaloRee, and Amy again), then it was time to come up with a theme. There were so many to choose from, but we decided (maybe me) that since it was close to one of the greatest days of American history (July 4th if you really must know...suck on that ENGLAND...yeah, that's right, I went there...love you, mean it), it would probably be easy to get American themed costumes/undies. And Team Maiden USA was born.

Myself, Kate, MaloRee, and Amy as Team Maiden USA. I just want to point out that Kate had just chugged her beer right before this picture was taken. We weren't the only ones drinking before the race.

All week, Houston has been hit with storms a plenty, all after 3 p.m. But not this day, nope. On the one time we need it not to rain, it pounded starting at 10 a.m. The race was at noon. We were either going to 1.) be up there mostly alone in our underwear, because everyone got scared to participate, 2.) be rained on the entire time making it somewhat of a miserable event, or 3.) start running right after the rain stopped, just in time to let out the heat and mosquitos (the squitors have been unbearable for the week). What do you think it was? It's Texas and anyone from Texas knows that it's option 3 almost every time.

But we didn't care. We worked on our costumes as soon as everyone got there, including ironing on the Maid in the USA. Kate of course bought a pink shirt instead of red. There is no pink in the American flag. So, I gave her my tank top and wore a sports bra with Mal. Kate and Amy looked alike and Mal and I looked alike. In a rather OCD way, we totally matched perfectly.

This took several attempts. I tried 3 times, at which point, I gave up, turned off the iron, and mumbled some curses to Hobby Lobby for selling us defective iron ons. It took Mal a couple more times to get it right.

Good job Mal for sticking it out and making that iron on actually work.

Mal and I looking super cute. I think this is going in a frame or something.

Finally, we were on our way to O'Neills. But wait, I forgot the 4 packages of unopened underwear to bring for donation. I would say just forget them, but what am I going to do with 9 year old undies for boys and girls. Yeah, I don't need that on my conscience. So, after we made a quick stop back at the apartment, we were really on our way this time.  The rain finally let up enough for a light light drizzle and even stopped right before the race.

I was wearing my rain jacket thingy. Yes, the stars spin while running.

Mal didn't want Amy to feel left out from all the picture taking.

When we got to the parking area, I saw a lot of women in boxers or shorts. I started to get an uneasy feeling about what I was wearing. I mean I was super exposed. I was now thinking that I shouldn't have given Kate my tank top so that I could wear it for myself. But then Amy reminded me that there were lots of women in underwear last year. That's when I started the mantra, "I'm wearing a bikini. I'm wearing a bikini." I mean to be honest, it's more material than my actual bikini...so I needed to get over it and be proud to wear underwear in public...for a good cause.

After we got our first free beer (had to medicate Kate), we walked around taking pictures and people watching. Really, I just handed the camera to Mal and she was off like a flash. She came back with some great photos. This is one event where people watching is just awesome, but you can't look like a creeper (uh hum...Mal).

Of course, we found the other America Proud team. These guys got in the top 10, but we didn't. Cue sad face now.

This was their motto.

But there was another group of all guys supporting America.

Bringing back Risky Business, although they should have worn whitey tightys like Tom Cruise.

Can't have underwear runs without the Justice League.

Superman and Wonder Woman stop saving the planet to run for the cause.

These were the Runaway Brides.

Team I've Got the Runs.

Mal didn't like the fact that the girl didn't have a crazy wig and kicked her out of the picture so she could be in it.

Super cute!

I'm not sure if you remember this gem of a song that came out of England. Look it up.

Wild Things were super adorable.

Someone has to support the Olympics.

Wow! Had to stop to take a picture with this very good looking male who I believe was with Team Magic Mike. Notice the hand...not mine.

The start was announced and everyone threw away their beers to push together as a big mass of cows. Finally, we were off to start our 1 mile run to beer (and literally what kept Kate going).

The 2012 Hot Undies Run on the go. The storms were all around us at this point.

What a goofy picture.

So, Mal screams out, "ENGLAND" and of course, the guy wearing the British flag underwear looks. We got a picture of him later.

And then Mal screams out, "HANDS ON BUTT!"  She took off sprinting to get this picture.

Elmer Fudd and the Pink Bunnies (not exactly the name) won 2nd place and concidentally, Sara's old team.

This was such a great shot.

Kate made it about half a mile before she started to talk about walking. I kept her running for a little bit, but then told the other 2 girls to just go. I stayed with Kate to keep her going, otherwise, she would have walked the whole darn thing and maybe never finished. So, we walked a lot and I set up goal points for her just like in the Sprint for Life 5K. This is when it started to lightly rain again, which meant that your sweat was mixed with the water. It wasn't a great combo. I was still proud of Kate for going as much as she did. And boy howdy, when you say that beer is literally just around the corner, that girl fired on all 4 cylinders for a strong finish to the halfway beer point. I have chosen to not include the photos of us sprinting in, because I look awful running. I don't care what you think, it's my blog and I'll post pics if I want to. Okay, tantrum ended.

Waiting in line for our beer.

This costume was just hilarious. He was the other half of bride and groom (will see them both later).

They wanted to see if Mal's stars spin...they do.

Olympians Costa Rica, China, and Great Britian stopped touching the stars to take a picture.

We finally got our beer and a much needed break.

I'm not sure what is going on here, but I have a feeling that sweat was stinging my eye.

This is for Jim.

Funny story. Mal and I bought these garter thingys (okay, really they are baby headbands) at Hobby Lobby. They were the last 2 ones. This lady got another one.

Team America wanted to take a picture with us and you can only guess what we were screaming out.

After we finished our beers, we started the run again. Mal and Amy were faster than Kate and I, but that's okay. Again, we let them go on and this is when Kate complained of pains. I told her that I thought it could be Appendicitis or Kidney Infection, but really, I thought it was just running cramps after stopping for beer. It turned out it was her kidneys and she had to go to the hospital on Sunday. She called herself an Athlete (eating Luna bars and being sore after Sprint for Life), but now she was one. I'm glad she is okay and back at work.

The Devil and the Angel telling us to run or walk.

But back to the run. It was still raining and Kate and I just kept on going. We kept pace with the Mad Hatter chick and her boyfriend who I think Kate mentioned that he must be funny for her to be with him.

Kate and I passed this guy and his son. It was too funny, because the kid was trying to be polite and look away, but he was a pre-teen boy trying not to look at girls running in their underwear. He had a very distinct smile on his face that showed he was looking. It made Kate and I laugh out loud at the same time.

And then it was the final stretch. The sidewalk was too narrow for me to run with Kate, but I kept yelling at her to go. I wasn't sure where the finish line was, because by then, people were partying. There was no time clock, so who knows when we finished. Now, for beer and food and to find out if we won or got close.

Kate and I waiting to hear Team Maiden USA get announced.

Team Magic Mike and a very cool feature that my camera did.

Team Wang, yup appropriately name. This was another great shot.

Team Bride and Groom. What a great concept and I thought for sure would place.

 I felt that USA should be represented in the Olympics.

Unfortunately, we didn't win the costume contest. We didn't even get in the top 10. It turns out, that you need to do something to really stand out when they call your name. Not only were we in the wrong place like the other teams, but we also didn't have a skit. The other USA team got picked, because they started firing up the crowd with USA! USA! USA! Some girls poured pitchers of water on to them; they got in in the top 10 and their costumes weren't all that great. Team Magic Mike won it and rightfully so. They looked good.

We tucked our tail between our legs and went to have a celebratory beer and food. Well, technically, we had food. Mal had to wait 3 times before eating, meaning they came with food 3 times before serving her the right plate and it still wasn't right. Kate came up with a fabulous idea for next year that includes a guy. Any volunteers? You won't have to put on a dress...promise.

Team Maiden USA happy with our run, our outfits, and our beer.

Because it's us, we had to have a crazy photo. Amy didn't get the memo about us.

I AM AN ATHLETE!

Yes! I FINALLY GET TO EAT!!!

Mal and Kate's first pic together. Me:  "Amy, should we take one?" Amy:  "We already took one together and I think we have documented this day enough."

I just want to thank Kate, Mal, and Amy for joining me on this awesome costume running adventure. This was my first time to ever do that for an event. I had so much fun and can't wait for next year. I want to thank Mal for taking camera duties even though you were the creeper of the event. Kate was worried about creepy men being there to take pictures of the girls like a photo she saw on the website of last year (and apparently, there was a midget). It turnes out she had to be worried about the creeper in our group...Mal. In fact, I couldn't put majority of the photos on this blog, because they were inappropriate. I also want to thank Debs and Ricardo for coming out to see us and hang out. I really wanted to put that picture of all of us up here, but it's not a great photo. See comments above. Here are some pictures from ABC News.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/gallery?section=resources/lifestyle_community/community&id=8720520&photo=5

On a side note, I'm in full (well sort of) marathon training. I'm doing it on December 22, 2012. I've set up my spreadsheet (yes, I know I am a dork) and figured out exactly what week makes 18 weeks (August 20th), which is how long you are supposed to give yourself. I will start a couple of weeks early, but I'm really starting now. Last week, I ran a total of 7.25 miles (3 on Tuesday, 2.25 miles on Wednesday, and 2 miles on Saturday). Plus, Mal and I did Jackie Warner's Crunchless Extreme Abs on Friday for our cross training. I'm running more this week (ran 2.25 miles tonight) and starting bootcamp tomorrow and Thursday. Wish Mal and I luck. I'm going to need it. I've also been doing the summer workout every morning.