Pajama-clad competitors tested their endurance, speed and bedtime fashion in a grueling race around the Brain on Sunday.
Dickinson Community resident assistants organized the “Holiday Pajama Fun Run,” which drew seven fierce competitors to fight for the decorated honor of first place.
The $3 suggested donation for the run, which lapped the circular walking path surrounding the inner academic part of campus, benefited prostate cancer research, as decided by the event’s organizers.
After claiming the first-place title by a large margin, Konner Smith, an undeclared freshmen, boasted about his win.
“The other competitors were in my dust,” Smith said.
Smith edged out his opponents with a time of eight minutes and 34 seconds, almost two minutes faster than second best. Dressed comfortably in flannel long johns and his high school track sweatshirt, Smith also bragged about his outfit.
“These pants have more of a pop than my competitors’ outfits,” he said.
The stress of the competition was high for some, while other competitors left the event satisfied to have had a chance to show off their fashionable racing pajamas.
Coming in a close third place, Joe Howard, a sophomore majoring in computer science, swore the competition was rigged.
“Someone should check that guy out!” Howard said, pointing to the winner.
Runners competed wearing a variety of pajamas, including plain and plaid long johns, comfortable-looking sweatshirts, Ugg boots, a backpack and even Spongebob Christmas long johns, worn by Stephanie Artusa, the runner who claimed first place in the female category.
Artusa, a senior in the Decker School of Nursing, said she had a tough decision choosing between the long johns and her New York Giants sweatpants.
Though he wasn’t the fastest runner, Howard believed he knocked out the competition with his wardrobe choice.
“Everyone should wear flannels all the time. My buffalo plaid is kind of killing the competition right here,” Howard said. “I may have lost the race, but I am winning in fashion.”
Smith said all of the participants received “some pretty weird looks along the way.”
Both female and male first-place winners received a gift basket with Frosted Flakes, power bars and Tostitos donated by an anonymous friend to the cause.
Bryan Gitto, an RA in Rafuse Hall, and Alex Zoitos, an RA in Digman Hall, both seniors majoring in accounting, organized the event.
“They are trying to set a goal within the time and beat their goal,” Gitto said. “That is something that we preach.”
Several of the runners decided to take it slow on their journey around the Brain. After 20 minutes had elapsed, the crowd watching the race began to wonder where the runners were.
Right before the remaining runners became visible to the race’s spectators, Zoitos received a text message from a runner informing the event’s attendees that they were “on their way.”
As they finally appeared in the distance, marked by Artusa’s bright yellow Spongebob pants, Zoitos could have sworn they were carrying food.
“We made a stop at Denny’s,” Artusa joked.
Competition was stiff at the Holiday Pajama Fun Run, but all competitors displayed good sportsmanship toward their opponents, complimenting one another’s hip outfits and finishing up the race with a smile on everyone’s face.