what happens when people get yucked out by Speedos

**canadian gardener** · 10-14-2005, 07:02 PM

I got this on my news service today:

http://www.mytelus.com/sports/articl...icleID=2055730

Underpants Run leads up to world Ironman championship
Friday, Oct 14, 2005

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Some 100 runners wearing nothing but their undergarments turned out Thursday for the Underpants Run, a fun run that has become an annual event in the days leading up to Saturday's Ironman World Championship.
"It's pretty much 'the' event now," joked founder and former professional triathlete Paul Huddle. "People fly in Wednesday night just for this."

Not all triathletes would agree. More than 1,800 competitors from 80 countries are in Kona for the gruelling Ironman, a 3.8-kilometre ocean swim, 180-kilometre bike leg through the lava fields and a full 42.2-kilometer marathon run.

Some of the international athletes who come to Hawaii to train in and around the village for the race in the week before the event sparked the idea for the fun run, which began with three people in 1997.

"It was a reaction to the abhorrent and unbelievable practice of wearing Speedos around town, in the post office, the grocery store, even restaurants," Huddle said referring to the minimalist, form-fitting swim attire. "It's just a clash of the cultures, between the more conservative Americans and the whole European and Mediterranean resort vacation thing."

After taking a pledge not to wear racing Speedos for anything other than swimming, the runners took off to Kailua Pier for a quick round of calisthenics and then continued along Alii Drive.

Some runners sported their best designer underwear. Others were more creative - grass skirts, coconut bras, even the layered look with bright white briefs peeking out from under a colorful thong.

Huddle and co-founder Roch Frey drafted their wives to sell T-shirts printed with the phrase "I see London, I see France, No, it's your underpants," for $20 US each, with the proceeds benefiting West Hawaii Special Olympics.

Huddle's wife, Paula Newby-Fraser, is an eight-time Ironman winner.

Frey's wife, Heather Fuhr of Edmonton, won the race in 1997 and is considered a favourite this year.

As the runners went through their warm-ups at the pier, several Speedo-clad triathletes looked on, fully aware that their attire was the butt of the day's joke.

"We just got out of the water from our swim and haven't had time to change yet," Oliver Gallob of Germany said in his own defence.

© The Canadian Press, 2005

I love it!!!!

**AmyBoz** · 10-14-2005, 07:05 PM

Too funny!

**Darlene** · 10-14-2005, 08:19 PM

Hehe that is funny. We have a family member that wears them and its not a good thing. So pleased he doesn't wear them often anymore.

**canadian gardener** · 10-15-2005, 11:52 AM

heheheheh I'm sure the incidence of sudden blindness and other sight problems is MUCH higher where Speedos roam the land!

**Mom23boys** · 10-15-2005, 02:32 PM

**forestdale** · 10-15-2005, 02:39 PM

ahem ... we call them meat hangers here.

**canadian gardener** · 10-15-2005, 02:48 PM

ROFL, I'll have to remember that one. I've heard banana hammocks, but not meat hangers.

Gotta run up and tell dh! He'll get a chuckle. He hates them too.