Run, Forest. Run.
Running as a recreational activity came to me quite late in life. I used to hate running, despite being fairly physically active and outdoorsy. So the thought of one day venturing into a foreign jungle trail for a naked race must seem an outlandish dream. And yet, decades later, I find myself looking forward to just such an event.
How It Began
I took up running about a decade ago, and naturism in 2015. So when the Naturist Association of Thailand (NAT) announced a ‘Naked Jungle Run’ event, I was naturally ecstatic to see two of my hobbies combined into one. Having run a half marathon in Chiang Mai some years ago, I loved the chaotic energy and scenery. For the first time on a run, I encountered strikingly contrasting sights, like ladies of the night going off their shift as well as devotees giving alms to monks. Now that there was a chance to experience another run in Thailand, albeit of a very different kind, I couldn’t book my flight quickly enough.
A Bump In The Road
However, only weeks before the event, disaster struck. It seemed that NAT had become a victim of its own success. Word about the ‘First Naked Race’ had gotten on to social media and television, and attracted much misunderstanding and unwelcome attention. Apparently, people were imagining a parade of naked joggers trotting down the main street of Wang Nam Kieow, instead of the private run in the jungle that it was. As a result, the organisers were forced to make the difficult decision of announcing the race’s cancellation. You could imagine the collective groan across the naturist chat groups. Whyyyyyyy!?
In a further twist, Thailand was shocked by the passing of their beloved King Bhumipol. As the country went into mourning, all celebratory activities came to a halt. The organisers at NAT however, decided that there would be still be a run, albeit clothed, to make up for the cancelled race. The planned pre-run party would be replaced by a more sedate dinner gathering for the participants. The make-up event managed to attract over 20 participants from Thailand and abroad. It would not be a total loss after all.
The Big Weekend
On the Saturday morning of the race weekend, many of the participants, including myself, departed from Baan Barefeet. It would be a four-hour drive north-eastward to the district of Wong Nam Kieow. Ben, one of the race organisers had a home there, and he would be our host for the pre- and-post-run festivities. The journey took us longer than expected, as the convoy of several cars became bogged down in various jams, caused by road works and a collision that reduced traffic to a crawl. We finally arrived in the rustic village in the afternoon, and we settled into a guesthouse within walking distance of Ben’s home. Soon everyone had shed the weariness of the long drive together with our clothes in anticipation of some relaxation. Bruce, another of the organisers and NAT stalwart however was having none of it. True to his U.S. Army background, he insisted that there be a final check of the tracks before daylight faded. And so, with two of my new friends, we loaded up onto Bruce’s pickup truck for an exclusive preview of the running route we would be running tomorrow.
As we trundled along the bumpy forest track, we were treated to the sight of many butterflies and wild jungle fowl. To our disappointment (or perhaps, relief), no bigger fauna like elephants or tigers were spotted. The track was found to be clear and we headed back for dinner at Ben’s.
Back at the house, all the guests had congregated around an open dining area. We were treated to delicious home-cooked food and friendly banter around the table. Bank, one of the Thai members had brought along a ukulele and he serenaded us with many delightful tunes. We also found out that we had many other talented musicians in our midst, as the ukulele passed from hand to hand for hours of entertainment. As the night drew on, we finally retired to our rooms in preparation for a big morning ahead.
The Race and Medal Tally
At the crack of dawn, the sleepy participants crawled out of bed one by one and donned their running gear. The organisers drove up to our guesthouse in several vehicles to ferry us to the starting point, deep within the jungle. By about 6:45am, all the runners and walkers for the various distance categories (2.5km, 5km and 10km) had been deployed at their respective starting lines, and away we go!
The jungle track was about a pickup truck’s width, narrowing in some places and sloping in others. It was a challenge to run on, even for more seasoned runners who were more used to a paved track. Thankfully it had not rained too heavily the previous night so it was not too muddy. The participants, both men and women were off to a great start.
At the starting line, some of us decided to go nude, as the jungle track was extremely secluded. Stripping down and carrying our clothes with us in case of any unexpected company, we were running in the crisp cool air. The 2.5km and 5km runners were to run to the end of the trail, where vehicles were waiting to ferry them back, whereas the 10km runners had to do a U-turn and run back to the starting point. In about 90 minutes, the race had come to an end when the last runner reached the finish line. All the vehicles assembled at the starting point, and we all departed for Ben’s home for the finishing ceremony.
By now, the runners had worked up a huge appetite, and our hosts did not disappoint. They had cooked up a huge breakfast of sausages, meat patties and eggs, together with toast and plenty of coffee and juice to wash it down with. Afterwards came the award ceremony, where Gregers presented the various winners with a trophy. Alec was the winner of the 5km category while Non grabbed the prize for the 10km race. All participants also took home a one-of-a kind finisher’s medal, one they would remember for a long time. The World’s First Naked Jungle Run.
Photos by D^A^O & Pim
