The costumes seen at a Run Disney race are incredible. Some crafty and creative runners spend the months prior to the race planning their costumes. From the ornate and over-the-top to the group costume, it can all be seen at a Run Disney race.
I’ve also seen runners tossing tiaras out of frustration and ditching costumes on the course. Running in a costume can be great until you are 6 miles into the race. Personally, I’ve had costumes cause chafing or headaches. It might seem like a great idea to run in a pencil skirt for an Ariel mermaid costume, but you might quickly regret it!
So before you drive to the nearest Halloween store, check out my race costume tips to make sure your planning a creative and comfortable costume.
My Run Disney Costume Guide:
Know The Rules Before You plan
Many runners don’t bother to check the official Run Disney costume rules, but your costume could become a hazard to others on the course if you don’t follow them. With the new Star Wars and Avengers race weekends, many runners wonder if they can carry a faux weapon. The bottom line, your costume can’t be a safety concern or offensive. Read the official rules HERE.
My first running costume was a tutu!
Research Who You’re Buying From
So many runners turn to Etsy for running costumes. I love Etsy and have used it many times myself for costume pieces. But not all sellers are equal! Read seller ratings and shipment policies. Sometimes Etsy sellers become burdened by too many orders and can’t deliver product in time for the event.
Plan a Costume That Inspires You
Last January, I ran as Lightening Mcqueen for the WDW Half Marathon. The “Cars” character inspired me to run with a little extra pep in my step. Some runners pick characters from the newest movie or plan a group costume with friends.
For the Glass Slipper Challenge, my friends and I did a Frozen group costume.
Make it a Running Costume
If you plan to design and make your own costume, be sure to use fabrics that are sweat wicking or breathable. Using a fabric that is too hot can cause dehydration to set in quickly and will affect your running performance. So think twice before planning a head to toe fur Chewbacca costume.
One of the simplest costumes I made was Lightening McQueen. Less than $35 to make!
Take it for a Test Run
Try to plan your costume to be ready a few weeks prior to the race. You can use several taper runs to test the costume. That way you’ll know if any adjustments need to be made and you’ll have time to correct it.
Notice how I’m holding my cape in my hands? Yea..it didn’t work well during the race.
Have you ever run in a costume? Do you have any running costume tips?
Becky @ Disney in your Day
Monday 26th of October 2015
These are all great tips! Especially the last one - I always take my costumes for a test run no matter how silly the neighbors might think I am ;) I was actually Anna as well for last year's Princess half and it was due to the test run that I realized my cape was also a pain, so I was able to safety pin it into place for the actual race!