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When a nudist resort sponsors a clothing-optional race, about 80 percent of the 250 runners go au naturel.
By SHANNON BREEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 6, 2002
LAND O'LAKES -- Shoes and socks were the only pieces of clothing 31-year-old Ric Rosenkranz wore when he crossed the finish line of a 3.1-mile race in Land O'Lakes Sunday morning.
He was not the only one running in the buff at Lake Como's Family Nudist Resort's 10th annual Dare to Go Bare 5K Run, a clothing optional race.
About 80 percent of the 250 participants were naked or barely clothed as they ran through the orange grove at the 200-acre resort north of Tampa.
There were even super heroes.
Brothers Andrei Feldt, 22, and Christian Feldt, 24, and their cousin, Chris Moling, 37, painted their bodies to look like Spider-Man, the Tick and, appropriately, the Flash. They arrived two hours early to cover their bodies in water-based acrylic paint.
Andrei, the Tick, who just graduated from the University of Florida, started participating in nude races when he was 16.
Rosenkranz, of Clermont, finished first with a time of 15:46. He brought his wife and baby along, and said he tries to race as often as possible, though this was his first time running in the nude.
"In the past, I've only been scantily clad with, maybe a Speedo. I've worked my way into wearing nothing," said Rosenkranz. "I try to fill up the calendar with races, and this just appealed to me."
Alexa Gemma, 27, had the quickest time for a woman: 21:19. Wearing only a hot-pink bathing suit top, Gemma, a truck driver from Daytona Beach, has been participating in nudist runs for 10 years.
"I like running without any clothes on, it's different, a unique experience. In this atmosphere, you don't have to worry about what other people think," Gemma said.
First-timer Billy Jones, 41, of Jacksonville was talked into the race by his friends. "I've known about this for three to four years, and finally got the nerve, but both of my friends backed out," he said.
Lake Como opened in 1940 near State Road 54 and U.S. 41. There are about 2,000 members, many of whom belong to the American Association for Nude Recreation.
The run was followed by a 2.5-mile walk, an awards ceremony and live music.
Only 30 seconds behind the fastest woman was Carole Dirksmeyer, 49, who was designated the fastest completely nude woman.
A competitive swimmer, Dirksmeyer, of Clearwater, completed her first nude race wearing only shoes, socks, a visor, and watch.
"It's a little hot for running even without clothes," said Dirksmeyer.
She also threw out a suggestion for future nudist events.
"What we really need is nude triathlons with cushioned bike seats."