Many runners experience a sense of freedom while traversing a quiet trail. The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) takes freedom further by letting people run in just their shoes.
“The Nude Race Series (NRS) is a series of clothes-optional 5K cross-country runs hosted by AANR clubs throughout the Southwest Region and conducted on the club’s private property,” said Rick Wall, NRS coordinator for the AANR Southwest Region. “The runs are open to the public and while primarily family oriented recreational events, they are also competitive enough for serious runners to compete.”
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The goal of nude recreation
If you’re unfamiliar with nude recreation, it might sound racy. That’s not the point at all. In its more than 90 years of existence, AANR has promoted nudism as a wholesome, natural experience while staunchly opposing sexual exploitation of the human body.
“Many who did not grow up in a nudist environment find it difficult to fully grasp the concept that regardless of age, nudists are comfortable in their own skin,” according to an AANR statement. “The human body is merely the vessel that carries us through life, and the transition from child to teen to adult for a nudist is comfortably free of much angst that textiles experience.”
Nude Race Series
The Sunbelt states are most popular for nude recreation, Wall said, because they offer year-round opportunities. Some of the upcoming races include the Skinnydipper Sun Run in Decatur, Texas, on April 27; Run, Walk, Crawl in Depew, Oklahoma, on May 11; and Bare as you Dare in Alvord, Texas, on September 16. The 5Ks happen on private nudist club properties. In its 27 years, more than 10,000 runners have participated in the Nude Racing Series.
“Our runs attract dedicated nudists as well as those curious about nude recreation,” Wall said. “A majority of the runners are in the 40 -75 age range and we have one runner that is a regular participant that is 93! Typically, approximately 75% of the runners are male.”
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The nude running community
Don’t things get a little, well, floppy? “Many nude runs are actually clothing optional, which allows for runners to wear support if they feel they need it,” Wall said. “In actuality running nude is very natural and a large majority of runners are very comfortable running totally naked. Of course, the use of sunscreen is very important.”
Runners enjoy meeting body-positive people of all ages, creeds, genders, ethnic origins, and sexual orientations. The runs usually end with pool parties on nudist club properties. “Regardless of the reason for participation, almost all the runners enjoy the comradery and sense of community that takes place during and after each run,” Wall said.