Blue lights flickered across University Heights as campus police paused traffic, holding cars at the intersection while a line of glow-necklaced runners gathered outside the Student Recreation Center. It was just after 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and instead of winter layers, many students stood in athletic shorts,“nearly naked”, waiting for the signal to start.
The Nearly Naked Mile, revived for the 2026 Homecoming week, asks participants to donate at least one article of clothing before they run. The tradition blends spectacle with service, collecting clothing to support the Asheville community through the Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministry (ABCCM).
For organizers, bringing the event back was a response to a shifting campus culture. Brian P. Davis, Associate Director of Financial Aid and event advisor, noted that staff had seen a growing desire for shared experiences among the student body.
“We have noticed amongst the students more a desire for traditions, more of a desire for different events and fun events,” Davis said. “And so we thought that actually this group of students would be the great group of students to bring it back with”.
The event first launched in 2013, seeing nearly 200 participants in its inaugural year. While advertising for the 2026 return was limited to just a few days, the mission remained clear: supporting unhoused individuals across ABCCM’s multiple locations in Buncombe County.
Before the race, sophomore Jacobi Ennis emphasized that the “naked” aspect was secondary to the cause.
“It’s an awesome cause to donate some clothes for people in need,” Ennis said. “I’m excited to see this school do good as well. See everyone come out for a good cause”.
The event followed strict guidelines, requiring participants to be currently enrolled students or recent alumni and to abide by North Carolina indecent exposure laws. Safety was a priority, with participants required to wear glow necklaces while running the University Heights loop.
Despite the chilly air, the atmosphere at the finish line was high-energy. Runners Blake Hawks, Jalen Connie, and Sam Reed described the one-mile “fun run” as accessible to all.
“It was light work,” Reed said, noting he even kept a brisk pace while wearing a walking boot. “It was beginner friendly, so if people are scared about pulling up because of that, that shouldn’t be a reason for ’em”.
The route itself was designed to be manageable, avoiding the steepest of Asheville’s hills. “I think the route was actually pretty good,” Connie said. “It kind of avoids hills and at the end you finish downhill, so it’s easier at the finish”.
After the run, students gathered for a post-race celebration featuring s’mores and marshmallows and hot chocolate around open firepits, a final reward for clothing the community.
