For most people, finding yourself in your underwear at school sounds like a nightmare. For the Boise State students who participated in the annual Undie Run, it’s a casual Wednesday night.
On August 27, hundreds of students gathered outside Chaffee Hall, rallied by Boise State junior Carson Winter who was wearing nothing but his underwear and a Batman mask.
After a few minutes of spirited chanting, the run began on Winter’s countdown. Students took off, leaving the surrounding area littered with discarded sweatshirts, pajama pants and baggy t-shirts. At first, students looked around anxiously, hesitant to remove their array of shirts and sweatpants, but by 10 p.m., what students lacked in clothing was made up for in energy.
The eighth annual Undie Run brought students together to run a predetermined 1-mile route through campus, along the Greenbelt and back to Chaffee Hall. As students stripped down to their underwear, the clothing left behind was placed in bins and donated to the Boise Rescue Mission.
While it remains unknown who started the event at Boise State, the Undie Run has been a tradition at several other universities for decades.
Boise State juniors Austin Julian and Carson Winter became the event’s organizers after volunteering to run the Undie Run’s Instagram account. Both participated in the run in 2024 and had the torch passed to them by the previous organizer, Paula Vivas, who graduated in May 2025.
“Being a part of a seemingly short list of people who get to not only experience an event like this, but coordinate such a unique and fond memory for everyone is such an honor,” Julian said of his first year leading the tradition.
Vivas volunteered to organize the Undie Run during her sophomore year and continued to do so throughout her time at Boise State. She recalled the success and turnout of the event during her years as a student and is excited to see the tradition continue.
“Everyone loves a good tradition, and I loved being a part of it,” Vivas said.
Vivas noted that while the Undie Run is not affiliated with the school, students seize the opportunity to do something “raunchy” and “exciting” that also gives back to the community.
Many students attending the run were underclassmen and succeeded in connecting with other participants, as well as feeling a sense of involvement within the university and Boise community at large.
Freshmen Peter Bamer and Michael Clocksin met and ran alongside each other at the Undie Run. Both emphasized the importance of new experiences during their first year at Boise State, which compelled them to participate.
“It’s my first year of college, you’ve got to go out and do everything you can,” Baker said. “This is something fun, a little different. I’ve never done anything like this, so that’s why I wanted to show up.”
Some students, like sophomore Hope Dickmann, attended the Undie Run after participating in 2024. Dickmann brought her friend and fellow sophomore Regan Baker to “relive freshman memories” and connect with other students.
“I would have loved to experience it as a first year coming here, but even experiencing it now is a great way to socialize,” Baker Said.
Julian and Winter donated all clothing from the Undie Run to the Boise Rescue Mission on Thursday, August 28, to support the needs of community members in the Boise area.
“Hosting something like this has been a blessing in disguise, and I hope that those who carry the torch in the future think so too,” Julian said.
