I’ve got the Shamrock Shuffle race coming up in a couple of weeks and I know this race will feature people with painted faces, wigs, and crazy costumes. If 
you are considering wearing a costume for a race, here are a few things to think about. Doing so will help make your costumed race experience much more enjoyable.
Chafing
The biggest problem you’ll have while running in costume is chaffing. Those wigs, ill-fitting clothes, and other accessories can wreck havoc on your skin. Be sure to liberally apply Body Glide or Vaseline before suiting up.
Weather
Don’t forget to adjust your costume for the weather conditions. Face painting might make the costume look more authentic but if it’s raining, the makeup could run into your eyes. The rain might not require you to skip face painting all together, but you might want to avoid painting above your eyes. Wind is another consideration. If it is a windy day, you might want to rethink the big bulky costume and go with something less wacky, like a crazy t-shirt & painted face.
Performance
If you wear a costume, you will not run as fast. Just accept the fact and move on. All times you get in costume should be looked at as PR’s while in costume. Refrain from comparing them to your non-costume performances.
People’s reactions
The crowds will usually love you and you’ll get lots of great comments. Even some of the runners around you might “show the love”. But not everyone likes to be beat by a guy in a bozo outfit (or someone juggling for that matter). And some runners are complete snobs who see costumed racers as a plague on the sport. Be prepared to hear a few insults. I simply smile and focus on all the good reactions that I get.
If you are going to stand out, be prepared to have someone try to shoot you down.
Running clothes at the base
To best prevent post-race pain, be sure to wear running clothes underneath your costume. This will help reduce the chances of chafing and can also help you maintain some mobility. Tights like Under Armour are excellent to wear under a costume. Of course, this works better when the weather is cooler. For hotter days, stick with running shirts and shorts.
Try it out first
One of the best things you can do is to go for a short run before race day wearing your full costume. This will help you identify the adjustments you’ll have to make and it will also give you a good sense of what it will be like. I once wore a Greatest American Hero outfit during the New York Marathon and got way too hot. At mile 17, I took off and threw away my running pants. (I was wearing shorts underneath). If I would have tried it on before I would’ve known to get a different pair of pants.
Costumed runners make races more fun and entertaining for the people watching the race. If you follow some simple precautions you can make it an entertaining, fun and memorable way to do a run.
Be sure to check out the 25 best costumes in the 2009 NYC Marathon.
Have you ever run a race in costume? Leave a comment below and let us know what you wore?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
My first 5k race was called “Walk Like a Pirate Day”. Inspired by the similarly named holiday, participants were encouraged to dress up like pirates. It was a fun, informal, and humorous event, just the thing for a nervous first timer like myself.
I had been training in a sun hat, t-shirt and sweatpants, so I added a garish peasant blouse and sash to the ensemble, wore pajama pants with a skull print, and bent and tied my sunhat into a tricorn shape, adding an ostrich feather. Keeping it as simple and as similar to normal as possible seemed prudent. I didn’t want to pile on a lot of stuff and risk overheating.
It was nice that the event was in Autumn as costumes can get hot and uncomfortable. I wouldn’t want to do such an event in high summer.
Of course, there was a great deal of spirited pirate TALK as well, as that was half the fun.
Great story! Sounds like a fun race.
Keeping it as simple and as similar to normal as possible seemed prudent. I didn’t want to pile on a lot of stuff and risk overheating.