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Cover your eyes! It's the Santa Speedo Run

ATLANTA,None — Nothing says Christmas like Santa Claus, in a Speedo.

Midtown Atlanta played host to the third annual Santa Speedo Run Saturday. About 200 participants tossed on their Speedos and various other clothing, took off from the Hudson Grille on Peachtree Street and completed the 1.6 mile-run through the streets.

"One of my friends told me about it and I was immediately intrigued," runner Hunter Swindell told Nelson's News on wsbtv.com.

Swindell wasn't alone. For many of the participants, this was their first Santa Speedo Run. There were plenty of people there to spectate, too.

Proceeds from the Santa Speedo Run were slated to benefit Bert's Big Adventure this year. The nonprofit was started by Q100's Bert Weiss and his wife, Stacey. Each year, Bert's Big Adventure takes chronically ill children and their families to Disney World. Run organizers hoped to raise $75,000.

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"It went pretty awesome," Swindell said. "A lot of Santa Clauses in a little bit of clothing, except for me, but it was pretty awesome."

Swindell wore a full body Santa suit, including a mask, for the run.

"It was a lot more difficult running in this outfit than I thought (it was going to be)," runner Kristin Olson, whose outfit include Christmas tree branches and ornaments said. "I just kind of put it on and hoped for the best. I just tried to finish and not lose all my ornaments and I made it with three, so I'm happy."

"From now on, this is where I'll be on this day every year," Swindell noted.