IF YOU GO

What: CU Herd's Nearly Naked Mile clothing drive and run

When: 9 p.m. Thursday

Where: Koenig Alumni Center, CU campus, Boulder

cuherd.com

The University of Colorado Herd wants you to donate the clothes right off your back.

And backside. Literally.

The student branch of the CU Alumni Association will host its fifth-annual Nearly Naked Mile -- a clothing drive and run -- at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Koenig Alumni Center.

Just wear the clothes you want to donate -- donating five items will earn you a custom T-shirt -- then strip to your skivvies and run through campus.

"Usually, girls wear their bra and underwear, and guys wear their boxers," said Marni Spott, a junior who organized this year's event. "We do get some people who come naked, and we do have to report them to the police."

This year, the clothing drive benefits First Presbyterian Church of Boulder.

"Last year, we filled an entire trailer with clothes," said Dawn Barone, program manager for the Herd and young alumni. "We usually have 300 to 350 people show up."

CU police set the route through campus since they patrol street crossings, Spott said. This year's route is a loop a little more than a mile long.

Even though the event takes place after Halloween this year, a themed "minimalist" costume contest -- this year it's Michael Jackson's "Thriller" -- is still on. The three best-dressed (but nearly naked) zombies will win a prize, Spott said.

"The past two years, we've had a group of guys come and they've had a present box in front of, you know, that area," Spott said. "That was their costume."

A woman came to the run entirely painted in blue one year, Spott added: "She wasn't technically clothed, but she was covered in paint. It's a pretty crazy night."

"Usually the cross country team comes out, and I think they're competing for times," Barone said.

The Nearly Naked Mile was supposed to take place last week, but it was rescheduled because of the foot-and-a-half of snow that fell on Boulder in the 36 hours before the run.

"In years past, it's actually been snowing during the event, but not like this," Barone said.

Celestial Seasoning will provide hot tea for this year's run, and Qdoba will have "naked burrito" samples. But no one's setting up heaters outside of the alumni center for participants.

"It's about body heat," Barone said. "Stay close to your friends."