Skin is In theme set for Jackson 10K

By Ham Strung

The 26th Annual Jackson Covered Bridge Footrace, to be held Saturday June 7, figures to be a memorable one. By a three to one vote Sunday evening race officials agreed to change the format for the popular event, making it now totally topless. For years, runners and walkers alike have had to option of donning T-shirts or not for the race, but this summer athletes are advised to load up on sun block at they'll be totally topless. The race, cited as "One of New England's Top 100 Road Races" in 1999 by New England Runner Magazine, has always lived up to its billing and now will be asked to live up to its new motto, "Getting back to Nature."Larry Shoestringmaker, of of the Jackson Chamber, who voted for the change to more skin felt the race will certainly put the town further on the map. "Skin is in' and what better way to celebrate the arrival of summer," he said. "This is a race for all ages and one we'll all remember.Bundles O'Clothing, voted against the new race attire, or lack there of. "It's insulting," she said. "We're a small town with small town values and to force people into something like this just isn't right. If people want to run topless, let them, but not in our town. Jackson should be known for a little more than being where 'Skin is in,' I can't believe this is an issue." The challenging 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) course started at the Jackson Covered Bridge passed through town and followed the scenic "Five Mile Circuit" road passing farms, inns, Jackson Falls and the white church crossing the stone bridge and ending at the ball field. Following the race a kids "K" fun run, started in 1999 to promote health and fitness of young people, will be held and in the past has attracted a ton of children 12 and under. The 26th Annual Covered Bridge Footrace, started in 1976, enjoys the support of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Grammar School PTO and cash and merchandise donations of nearly two-dozen other community organizations.Oliver Clothesoff, race organizer, believes the Jackson Covered Bridge Footrace can continue one of the best family events around. "Keepen (his wife) and I were on a trip a couple years ago and we talked about taking over this race," he said. "One of the first things we did was made a long list of everything that was positive about the road races we'd ever participated in and wanted to make sure it was in this race. We want people to want to come back here every year to run."If you strip them will they still come? Stay tuned.