Marathon costume

[HopeJacob]

Hello, I'm looking for ideas for a costume I can create / get made / buy to run a marathon in this year (to distract people from my slow pace!)

I don't want to be a rhino, telephone box or something equally bulky and challenging, but nor do I just want to don a tutu and call it done. I'd like to be easily recognisable but be able to move easily.

Other than a disney princess, does anyone have any ideas they'd share?

Are you raising money at all and we can link the costume to the charity? Are you running alone or are two people costumes and option? Good for you, a marathon is a huge achievement whatever the pace.

I will raise money, but haven't decided where these will go yet, maybe just to the marathon funds so would prefer to not connect the two. thank you!

I did vegas half as Wonder Woman as it was a pretty easy costume to run in to be honest!!

Most superhero costumes would be easy to run in. Or the green goddess (from early breakfast tv), ‘80’s workout gear - leggings, leg warmers etc. think “Fame” era.

whatever you do make sure you do a long training run in your outfit, to make sure it’s comfortable and find any bits that chafe.

I have seen some fake/illusion leg costumes which I think look pretty cool

www.instructables.com/Heavy-Load-Costume/

You'd have to google a bit more but they look really funny when you are running along

Have you run a marathon before, OP? If so then you know exactly how uncomfortable you're going to be, and will have a good idea about chafing, extra weight, etc. If you haven't then you really need to give this some proper consideration!

From my own experience, even "normal" running clothes that feel perfectly comfortable over 15 or 18 miles can result in chafing and bleeding over 26, with all the extra sweating, effects of weather, time on feet and so on. Any sort of costume is likely to do the same.

My advice is therefore to go for something as simple as possible and in as lightweight, breathable and non-bulky a fabric as possible.
Think about where you're going to put your energy gels and anything else you might want to carry (phone? Keys?)
Think about going to the loo in a tiny portaloo. And consider layering if possible- eg something you can take off if it becomes too uncomfortable altogether.

I know people run marathons in costumes all the time, but some of those are extremely slow and mainly walking, while others are very fit and experienced runners who have done plenty marathons before and know what to factor in (eg one guy I ran with at the London Marathon who was dressed as a beer bottle - he'd done countless marathons before and wasn't going at anywhere near his PB pace). If you're a steady runner and/or a first timer I would be quite cautious about committing yourself to something uncomfortable.