So did the Hula Girls, grass skirts and all, turning heads as they negotiated the six-plus miles in the Atlanta event. There was a gladiator, in clanking armor as well as Superman and Spiderman. There were dozens of others, wearing funny hats, carrying flags and banners, amusing onlookers and having a great time.
There were the infamous Chippendales, running in brief costumes; you know the rest, what there was of it.
"It was so colorful and gave the event personality," said Peachtree participant Vickie Spence, ex-ecutive director of United Way of Gordon County, which sponsors the annual Unity Run scheduled this year for Sept. 29. "It gave me the idea that we should do it here, in our race."
There have been, in events across the country, entrants dressed as super heroes, movie and TV characters, and other across the board outfits that turn heads and give the races color and causes a buzz and conversation.
A charity race in San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge, is known for the colorful, cos-tumed characters it attracts. During one race, with baseball's steroid scandal at its height, a guy with fake muscles and an overall burly look, all costumed, attracted most of the attention. He was dressed as Barry bonds. One group ran as a caterpillar, four of them covered almost head to foot. They "felt" their way across the bridge.
United Way of Gordon County is borrowing a page from those events to round out its Unity Run, an event that helps to fund 19 agencies and other areas of need.
During this year's run, which begins at Gordon Central High School and finishes downtown, at Court and Park Streets, Spence and her race committee urge participants to "dress up."
"We welcome anything tasteful and urge that those people so inclined be creative in their dress," said Spence. "We want to give the event as much color and personality as possible, to cause conver-sation and present a race that will be remembered in a lot of different ways. Rumor has it that Elvis is planning an appearance in this year’s race."
The Unity Run begins at 5 p.m. and will involve young participants, from kindergarten to fifth grade.
The main race starts at 6:30 p.m. which will finish downtown to a crescendo of yelling spectators, high school bands and cheerleaders, a finish line party and the presentation of awards.
"The Unity Run has re-emerged as a major event for us," says Spence. "We had great participation and sponsor support last year, and it is building into an even better situation for this year's race. I have been especially moved and pleased about the anticipation both stated and felt as we move closer to our race. Everybody involved is very excited, and I expect that atmosphere to prevail as we approach the event itself."
Between 800 to 1,000 runners are expected to participate in the run, with the next lead-up hap-pening the unveiling of this year's T-shirt.
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