In a marathon, you will see some runners wearing costumes. The running costume ideas and trends have become so common today that no one blinks an eye when a giant chicken crosses the finish line or when Batman grabs a cup of water at the aid station. There is also a running book that features an illustration of a costumed runner on its cover.
For decades, runners have been donning bizarre costumes ranging from a simple can of baked beans to zebras and lions. Most races and marathons around the world have their own traditions for wearing wacky Halloween running costumes, with the ’running waiter’ being the first fancy dress runner.
Roger Bourban, a Swiss-born restaurateur, wore a waiter suit and carried a tray in the 1980s, as he was running a 26.2 miles track under three hours. A lot of prominent names, like Hugh Brasher, who was the London Marathon event director, still remembers him, especially because running costume ideas was considered a very serious activity at that time.
In today’s time, fancy dress has become a major part of any marathon and also something that is encouraged by the organizers; they state that the trend has become extremely popular with the masses.
More...
What are some of the best running costume ideas?
Running a marathon in costumes can be a lot of fun or a complete disaster! This activity is all about finding a costume that not only looks good but allows you to run and perform as well. Here are some great running costumes that you can don for your next running event:
For comic nerds, the Flash
The Flash is an iconic superhero who is known to run faster than the speed of light. Most comic nerds would remember the character who has raced Superman around the world, and the Flash won!
For your running occasion, you can make use of a pair of long-sleeved top and red tights, instead of buying the entire suit. For crafting the logo, you can cut a white circle out of a felt and use a yellow felt for cutting out the lightning symbol. You can use a read beanie or a half-faced mask of the same color if you wish to take the look to the next level.
For retro fans, the ‘80s Jogger
Since neon color is currently in, this is a costume that is an easy option for people who have already embraced the trend. You can opt for the loudest and brightest colors you can find, or make use of a mixture of patterns.
Alternatively, you can also go for the ‘90s chic, like the ‘cool family’. You need to go as metallic as possible with the help of a gold anorak. For keeping this a bit more subtle, you can make use of a Members Only-style warmup jacket and color-blocked leggings. Add a sweatband and wristbands. For brownie points, you can use a Walkman that is clipped to your waistband.
For movie fans, Forrest Gump
It is likely that you must have heard someone or the other should ‘Run Forrest, run!’ while in a training run; hence, it makes so much more sense to don a Forrest Gump costume for your next marathon run.
Additionally, this costume is perfect for bearded people; if you don’t have it, you can easily buy a fake one. Also, you can make use of your comfiest, oldest, and rattiest clothes and convert them into a costume. Alternatively, you can also choose the clean-cut Tom Hanks version. Just ensure that you practice some of the iconic Forrest Gump quotes that you can keep dropping throughout the run.
For sports fanatics, a world-class sprinter
You can choose to pick the style of your favorite runner for your marathon event. Alternatively, you can also choose for a more general ‘runner’ costume by opting for a running kit used by pros.
For this, you can choose a singlet or short-shorts. For adding a more competitive spirit, you can also make use of a medal. Carry a flag or a torch if you want more street cred. You can add style to your party by carrying a Bluetooth speaker and blasting ‘Eye of the Tiger’ while running through the course.
For funny bones, an elderly speedwalker
These are the fabulous ladies that you see speed walking through your nearby park at the exact time, every morning. Their hair is viciously white and perfectly coiffed, with bright tracksuits that were purchased back in the 1990s. Ironically, the fanny pack and the hot pink lipstick are not worn.
For this look, you need a ‘grandma wig’ and a tracksuit. You will find several vintage tracksuit options. You can make use of a color-coordinated fanny pack as well!
For last-minute people, the marathoner
If you cannot find the costume that you are looking for or simply lazy to do so, you can make use of the best running gear and head out for the marathon as your favorite character – the runner.
For this, you can make use of some items like a sweatband for your wrist, a ridiculous sports goggles, the biggest sports watch available to you, a T-shirt from your old marathon, running cap, and high socks. You can also score bonus points for using a marker pen to write down the running strategies and constantly keep chattering about your fueling strategy while running for apples.
For more costume inspirations and ideas, you can watch this video.
What are some tips that can help you run better with the costume?
If you want to make your running experience even more memorable, you can make use of the tips mentioned below:
Modify your costume
While your costume is perfect for a fancy-dress competition, it might not be suited for marathon running. Hence, ensure that you modify your costume and make it fit for running. The dress needs to be as comfortable as possible, without being too heavy.
Train in your costume
It might be too late for making any alterations to your costume on the day of the marathon. Train with the costume and make the necessary changes. Feel like the buttons keep interfering with your legs? Remove or adjust them accordingly. Never include new gear to your costume on the day of the marathon.
Consider the weather
What if you are running in a marathon with your costume on, and then it starts raining? Your costume will get wet and it will slow you down. Hence, you need to take into consideration whether your costume will be able to handle the climate. If not, it can be a danger to yourself and the other runners. Bear such factors in your mind and adapt your costume accordingly.
Conclusion
The above are just some of the many running costume ideas that you can use for bringing some life and excitement to the marathon. While you can buy ready-made costumes online, running becomes much more fun when you wear something that you created out of scratch. Look for people that match the theme of your costume and run together for a great time.
If you liked the article above and found it helpful, you can share it with your runner friends and suggest that they do something similar. Trust us, they will definitely have fun doing so!
Related post:
Leave a Reply