Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Dressing Up

Do you dress in costumes when you run? I don’t. As appealing as it sounds to run a marathon dressed as a condom or a hotdog (or a condom over a hotdog), I find it hard enough to just finish races without carrying a lot of extra crap around in the form of a costume.

But, Memorial Day is the Bolder Boulder 10K. We always run it as a family. Well – we split up and each take a kid. Emma, age 11,  wants to dress up. No not as a condom - I do have some parental standards. I decided we could do the old “tutu” thing because it is classy and no at all overdone (insert sarcasm). Plus, it is easy.

Being an over achieving mother, I thought I could make the tutu costumes. Actually, it has nothing to do with over achieving and everything to do with not wanting to buy them (cheap ass!) and having put things off to the last minute (procrastinating cheap ass!).

Mind you, I don't own a sewing machine and am not much a sewer. Which is weird because my mom used to make all of my clothes and she is still an amazing seamstress. I prefer to buy cheap clothes made by child laborers or to hem my own clothes with glue and staples.

Anyway, guess what? There is actually a way to make a tutu that requires no sewing. Or glue. Or staples. Check it out:

I am not promising I will actually be productive enough to go buy the fabric and sit down and do this, but I have the best of intentions. 

While writing this, I found myself wondering what some of the best costumes are that people have actually worn for marathons…Here are a few of my faves:

Rhino – This guy should win the whole race just for wearing this piece of crap for 26.2 miles. I bet Lance Armstrong couldn’t do that, unless he…well, never mind. Don’t want to get into a doping conversation.  (NYC Marathon, 2011).

Jesus. Running a marathon really is a cross to bear. (Tokyo Marathon, 2011).

Camel. This is just not efficient in any way, shape or form. Plus the rear hump is heel striking and over striding (London Marathon, 2010).

The Most Excellent Costumes at 2010 London Marathon (42 pics)

Whoopee Cushion. This makes a hell of a lot of sense. You have full permission to thunderously fart your way through 26.2 miles. It is part of your costume, it’s strongly encouraged (London Marathon, 2010).

The Most Excellent Costumes at 2010 London Marathon (42 pics)

Do you ever run in costume?

What’s the best one you’ve ever seen out there? My favorite was this one seen at the Boston Marathon in 2011. I swear it’s not me.

buttpicture

SUAR

51 comments:

  1. I dressed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon as Mulan :) it was really fun! Good luck with the tutus, I am sure they'll turn out great.

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  2. the no sew tutu's are VERY easy! I made one for my 3 year old daughter, and I have absolutely NO sewing/creative skills! It will be a wonderful thing to do together! Have fun! :)

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  3. i plan on dressing up in something fun for my first marathon in february...just not sure what yet!!

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  4. Oh neat, I was going to make tutus for me and my mom for the Bolder Boulder. I'm sure we'll be the only ones.

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  5. I ran as Dorothy for the Garmin marathon in the land of Oz. it was a blast AND I PR'd by 5 minutes.

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  6. I haven't done a tutu but they are easy to make as I've made them for my kids. The sparkle skirt is easy, easy to make! You can get the fabric for less than $5 a yard on sale and the elastic for less than $2-3. A simple sewing job and you have a cute skirt.

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  7. I made and wore a no-sew tutu for a tacky Christmas run this past year...I may be the least crafty person alive, so if I can do it (and actually have it look decent), I know you can!!

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  8. There was a whole team at Ragnar Relay cape cod with the plastic butts! so funny.
    One of our Ragnar Key West teammates made the no-sew tutus to match our team shirts in blue and lime green. You can see him in it here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=265423603524185&set=a.265146670218545.66144.136852819714598&type=3&theater

    but the best ever is this whole team who dressed like Lord of the Rings characters and stayed IN CHARACTER for 200 miles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSE4RUuRPco

    don't miss Frodo fighting with a fish at 4:35!

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  9. I look so goofy when I run, people probably think I'm costume. Oh well. I made these very no sew tutus for my twins and they turned out a little wonky. I got impatient and neglected to watch the entire video. I then went on to underestimate the amount of tulle I'd need (using 3 colors made it harder to get the yardage right) so the tutus aren't very full. I made them way longer than they should have been and I also managed to cut the ribbon a little too short. It was not a good day. Learn from my mistakes: buy a lot of tulle, cut the the ribbon and tulle to the actual length you want, and watch the video to the end in case there is anything important in there. Happy tutu making!

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  10. I agree with you. I couldn't possibly wear anything other than what is necessary. That would bother the living daylights out of me.

    Now onto the cheap ass.....don't you still have to buy the shit to make the tutu? So you spend money there right? Then you have to take time out of your day to sew, staple, glue or at least watch this video which means lost wages because you aren't doing something else to save or earn money. In the end making your own tutus probably costs more than just buying some cheap ass ones made by kids in other countries in completely unacceptable conditions for 5 cents per day.

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  11. I have never, BUTT I am running the Bolder Boulder this weekend. My sister lives in Boulder, it has been years since I ran and we now live in DC. I am really looking forward to it.

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  12. I ran the Goofy and Tink, and was signed up for the Princess, all at Disney. I had my costumes completely planned out and ready to go. Then I got pregnant. It was all I could to finish the Goofy and Tink (hit my wall before the Princess), let alone fit in to the costumes I had planned for months and months and months ahead of time. Can't wait to use them in an upcoming race. Oh-and when the Baby comes, he'll be roped in to family costumes. Poor kid. I'm already planning our family costume for Bay to Breakers next year-mom, dad and baby in the jogging stroller....

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  13. hhahaa. HILAROUS! the butt thing was what i was gonna do for the colon cancer run, but alas, i missed out as i was outta town. What is coming out of the butt, is my question??? saw some pretty funny bedazzled tutu's etc at the spacecoast 1/2 in November too. made me laugh and think they were crazy. all i could think of was chafage!

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  14. I made a DIY tutu for my St Paddys race this year...SOOOO easy..and if you buy rolls of bridal tulle - no cutting beyond just making the lengths.. I posted a tutu-torial on my blog...
    http://www.readwriterunmom.com/2012/03/momday-diy-ultimate-tutu-skirt-for-you.html

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  15. Passed this guy at the Chicago Marathon 2010. I bet he was wishing he wasn't wearing that thing considering it was 85 degrees. http://www.flickr.com/photos/broaddus/5072507815/

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  16. I was a run away bride for a Halloween 1/2 mary one time. But it was pretty easy to wear white and slap on a cheap kids veil. Other than that I'll pass on anything quite as dramatic as that rhino guy.

    I have friends who've made that style tutu. They said it was super easy. I'll pass on that too. LOL!

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  17. I was one of 6 tables in Bay to Breakers last year. We got on the news and in multiple newspapers.

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  18. I ran as a saloon girl and my husband ran in long underwear, a cowboy hat, and an empty holster for a 5k. That way, he had to let me beat him, since he was the half-dressed cowboy chasing his floozie.

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  19. I ran Warrior Dash in a wedding gown this weekend. It was fun, but that dress got soooo heavy after the mud pit at the finish.

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  20. I have worn sparkle skirts and tutus a few times, mostly with my daughter (who is almost 7). I have dressed up as a school girl for a mud run and hubby and I dressed as prisoners also for a mud run. I ran as a 80's rocker for a halloween 10K. It was easy to rip up a cotton t-shirt and wear bright neon spandex with teased hair. Have fun this year at the Bolder Boulder. I would love to go back to CO for it one year, but vacation is hard to get around the holidays.

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  21. When I ran Chicago last year, cramping through mile 18, two guys in caveman garb ran by me. I swear, it really perked me up. But as I slugged along, it pissed me off. Where did they come from? How come they were passing us all up at this point? Then I thought, oh well. At the finish, I asked my family if they saw them, and they didn't. Where did they go? Were they bandits? Good costumes, tho! Kept my mind rolling for those final 8 miles!

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  22. I hope to do BolderBoulder next year!

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  23. The best one I have ever seen was at the Bay to Breakers in SF. It was a hot day and a guy ran all 12K across SF, hills and all, in a wet suit, carrying a surf board on his head.

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  24. I have not yet worn a costume for a run. Unless you call what I'm wearing a costume because I'm impersonating a runner. I can barely cope with the run, especially for anything longer than 10 K, that I have nothing for thinking of, creating, or wearing a costume.

    It's a darn pity that the wrong gender remembers the magic words for success "less is more."

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  25. My two favorites are a guy I saw at the Boston Marathon in '08 I believe who wore a full pink tutu carrying a pink star wand and a guy I ran past in the Hartford Marathon in '11 that attempted (and I believe broke) the world record for the fastest marathon run in a straight jacket. Talk about upping the ante.

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  26. The only race I have dressed up for was a half-marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force base. I wore a blue running skirt, a white running tank top that I had ironed on flag and star appliques, and I had a red hat that had a flag on it. Red, White, and Blue!

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  27. There was a marathoner this weekend at Colfax in Denver wearing a bright yellow thong/banana hammock and had sprayed black paint? on his butt and legs to look like shorts. Except he was super hairy and it really did nothing to disguise the fact that he was in a thong. The amazing part was he was one of the leaders so he had to be fast! How can you possibly run a marathon in a thong?? Wouldn't your butt be totally chaffed by the end? All I could do was stare and laugh.

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  28. Like you, I find it hard enough to just finish the race. The last thing I want to do is call attention to myself when I'm slogging along 26.2 miles. I'm sure there are enough people laughing as it is.

    Besides, I have somehow managed to run several races now where the race photographers completely miss me. Maybe my Garmin is emitting an energy field that makes me invisible to everything but the timing sensors. I keep getting e-mails from the race photography folks telling me that my pics are ready, but they are always shots of the huge field at the starting line. Maybe if I dressed up as a ninja...

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  29. I'm a big fan of the Pac Man costume. It always looks funny in pictures. I've never dressed up myself - heaven forbid that I draw attention to myself.

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  30. Last year at Hood to Coast there was this amazing team of runners, 5 totally hot guys wearing white spandex shorts with white belts, no shirts and clone trooper helmets, and one girl wearing a black sports bra, black shorts and a darth vader helmet and cape. This look only works if you are beyond fit...I have to admit it sure perked me up when the guys ran by...

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  31. Sadly every race I do I automatically start coming up with accessories to dress up my outfit. I was trying to dress up as a Leprechaun for the St Paddy's day race I did but you couldn't tell unless you were up close. I have a women's race next weekend that I plan on wearing my Wonder Woman tshirt to so I thought maybe I could make her tiara and bracelets to go with it. And I'm doing another race in the Fall to raise money for the Nature Conservatory of Canada that I want to put some courgar ears and a tail so that I can sport a tshirt that says "I'm running for the Cougars" hehe. I obviously need to focus my creativity in other ares of my life or I'm going to end up running a race in the future where I'm a human condom haha. Best costume I've seen was The Flash.

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  32. I wore a Goodwill prom dress at a Warrior Dash (it's my header pic). I plan on doing another mud run in October. For that I want to wear my retro swimsuit, a floral swim cap and goggles like a synchronized swimmer.

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  33. I can't even fathom a sparkle skirt while running. I struggle mightily so I think I'll just stay generic.

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  34. I think we're all gonna see each other at the Bolder Boulder.

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  35. I needed a good laugh this morning! Let me know how the skirts work out - I've been wondering how it would be to run with those things. Have a blast! You must be excited.

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  36. Oh man!! I needed that laugh. The Boston attire.......that is priceless.

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  37. I've made my own tutus (for costumes in races). Buy a piece of elastic, some tulle and cut and tie. Super easy. For a Halloween midnight race this last year I wore a full body skeleton leotard. I was miserably hot and felt like a stuffed sausage. But I did look cute.

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  38. Those are freaking hilarious!!!! I hate running in costume- once, we did an 80s theme and I had to wear fishnet gloves, huge hair bow, and a boa... ripped the gloves off in the first mile, lost the hair bow, and I was coughing up boa feathers for months after. Never again!!!

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  39. There was a guy who ran the Marine Corps Marathon last fall dressed as a giant box of Wheaties! There was a hole for his face, and that was about it. My goal was not to come in behind the guy carrying a refridgerator-sized box for 26.2 miles... I think I beat him by about 10 minutes.

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  40. When I ran the Disney Marathon, there was a guy dressed as Jack Sparrow, complete with guyliner, hair and boots! I've never ran a race in costume. If I did, it would have to be super cheap and comfy.

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  41. I ran as a kitty cat once - complete with all black running gear, perky ears, makeup whiskers and this tail attachment. Funny thing was by the time I finished, my tail had lost most of its perk and hung between my legs like "you can guess". I didn't know until I am in the finish stretch and I see my husband falling over laughing! Last costume for me for awhile.

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  42. I've never run a single race in costume. I just can't imagine finding a costume that wouldn't bug me the entire way. I do appreciate the other runners who it though-- lots of good laughs.

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  43. I've worn 80's outfits for a mud run and a Halloween run, but I'm of the same opinion that I can't handle anything more than wearing/carrying only essentials! I've seen a giant Banana, and a full Gorilla costumes in Half Marathons, and both times I was SO glad I was able to pass them!

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  44. A word of advice on the tutus. Too short (there by sticking straight out) and the rub your arms when you run. Too long and the pieces in the front get caught between your thighs and then you end up with an attractive wad of tulle where butt guys tp is. NOT a good look if you are going for the girly. Personal experience.

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  45. LOVE!!!

    Love that:

    video - have used it
    that you all run together
    those costumes

    awesome.

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  46. The pictures were so funny, I've never dressed up myself.
    I better just sick to the essentials for my runs.

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  47. I have never dressed in costume but I would love to get a group of people together and do a spin on Monty Python - one with coconuts and one person as the king pretending to ride. Although only for 5k or less distance - clapping coconuts together could get annoying quickly!

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  48. Funny post. There was a Lloyd Scott who ran a race (Lond Marathon?) in a deep sea diving helmet (or suit).
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14312433

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  49. I dressed up as the Tooth Fairy for my first 10 mile race (October 2011), but I had a tech shirt made that had wings screen printed on the back so I wouldn't have wind resistance.

    At that same race, a guy ran it in a gold speedo with a box on his head, which is a character from an LMFAO video. It was pretty hilarious. Also at the same race, a guy covered himself in little pieces of mirror and was a disco ball. Brilliant.

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