WASHINGTON – Each year before Halloween, hundreds of men dress in drag, put on stilettos and dash through the streets of Dupont Circle.
It’s the 17th Street High Heel Race, and it’s become a welcome tradition in Washington, D.C. The event took place Tuesday evening.
Heavy makeup, big hair and high heels was the dress code, and real names were left at home as participants preferred to be called by their “stage names.”
“It’s a fun race, I think I did pretty good. This is my first year running in high heels and I lost no fruit this year,” said one runner who called himself “Mr. Chiquita Banana.”
Mayor Vincent Gray was the grand marshal for the race, which was over only minutes after it started.
First place went to “Inertia Dulce,” making the 1/3 mile run in only 43 seconds.
For others it wasn’t about the running, they just wanted to have a good time.
“Oh honey, I don’t race, I sashay,” said “Hilda Seeview” — as in “‘Girl, watch out, because one day he’ll deceive you,'” explained Seeview of his stage name.
At the conclusion of the race, spectators flocked to the runners who posed for photos.
Organizers say throughout the night, thousands of people took part in the event. D.C. police shut down some streets and kept the peace as after parties commenced.
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