With dried mud peeling from their bodies, five people ran on campus and along University Avenue on Tuesday evening as cars honked and onlookers stared.
The women, in running shorts and either T-shirts or sports bras, and men, bare-chested and dressed in basketball shorts, ran to promote the first Gator Mud Run.
The 5K race and obstacle course will take place Nov. 6 at Canterbury Equestrian Showplace, 23100 NW Newberry Road.
The event will include a mud mountain, rope swings and slip ‘n' slides.
Jeff Tatarchuk, 25, a traveling pastor from Southern California, came up with the idea for Gator Mud Run while visiting friends in Gainesville.
Although clothing isn't optional, any outfit will fly and costumes are encouraged.
"It's all about reliving childhood," Tatarchuk said.
Registration is priced at $64, but the price will increase incrementally as the the race gets closer, Tatarchuk said.
A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the fastest runner and a mystery prize to the person with the best costume.
For registration, see gatormudrun.com, and enter the coupon code getmuddynow for $5 off.
Of the proceeds, $10 will go to the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County.
Kristi Jukovich, 25, who ran on campus Tuesday, said the idea came about from a love for running.
"It's a fun way to be fit," she said.
Mud-splattered Chantel Carter, 23, runs along University Avenue with four friends Tuesday evening promoting Gator Mud Run, a 5K race and paramilitary-style obstacle course on Nov. 6.
