There are a lot of fun themes for costume inspiration in the upcoming Springtime Surprise runDisney race weekend. I'm sure there will be plenty of Yetis running the Expedition Everest 5K, and several gourmand rats will surely hit the course for the Race for the Taste, inspired by race mascot chef Remy from Ratatouille. And there are lots of mashup possibilities here, too, if you let your creative juices flow! 

Here are some easy costume starter pieces for those classic furry characters.

White Fur Printed Costume Running Outfit for Yeti, Wampa, Abominable Snowman, etc

Grey Fur Printed Costume Running Outfit for Remy, Mouse, Rabbit, Bunny, Rat, etc

Brown Fur Printed Costume Running Outfit for Emile, Wookiee, Brother Bear, etc

I ran the Lady Track Shack 5K on January 29th, 2022. This was the second time I participated in this long-running and popular local race that celebrates women's health and raises money for mammograms for members of the community in need. I previously participated in 2018.

Training & Goals
Back in July, persistent but manageable knee pain became acute. I've been working on mitigating the pain with stretching and strength training, while also trying to get back into running shape and losing a bunch of COVID weight. Since the beginning of the year, I've been very slowly adding short running intervals into 3x weekly walks. My plan for this race was for a short walking warmup, then following intervals of 45 seconds running with 1 minute 45 seconds walking. I hoped to come in under 45 minutes.

Race Day: January 29, 2022
I already had my race packet, but I left home super early -- to get an awesome parking spot about 10 yards (!!) from the start line. It was extremely cold (for Florida) so I stayed toasty in the car until the last minute. It was 45°F and breezy at the start, feeling like 38°F with bright sunshine. 

Mile 1: 13:58
I was in a sea of pink, a pink nightmare myself in obnoxiously bright leggings and a long sleeve tech top over thermals. It was very congested through the first mile but I was able to keep up my walking and jogging pace without too much weaving.

Mile 2: 13:39
I was lucky to hit the water stop on a walk interval. The dry air made me really thirsty so I grabbed a cup on the go. I kept up my planned intervals, and added a little bit of extra jogging during a couple of slight downhill portions of the route.

Mile 3+: 13:20, 2:00
The course through residential Winter Park is really nice, with a few brick stretches. We ran by nicely manicured homes as we headed back to Mead Garden for the finish line.

I felt really good during the race. I only looked at my watch to check my intervals, and kept pace by feel. I was shocked and pretty stoked to see my negative splits at the end, and I was very pleased to come in under my goal time. Next stop, sub 40! LOL

The best part was that later in the day, and the following day, my knees felt pretty okay. The pain I had been experiencing hours after attempting to run was so unbearable that it kept me from running at all. Maybe I can do this again. Starting over sucks, though.

After the Run
After getting my medal and walking through the finish chute, I checked out the snacks on offer (a good spread of fruit and energy bars) and picked up my finisher gift, a small plant. I looked at some of the vendor booths but I started to feel super cold pretty fast, wearing sweaty clothes in the brisk wind. I took a few photos and then headed back to the car to drive home.

Recommendation
Another fine event put on by Track Shack. Recommended.

Chip time: 42:55
Placement details: 796th place out of 1513 finishers
Race Amenities: Long sleeve hoodie t-shirt, finisher medal, finisher plant, Teleties hair ties 
Cost: $50.29 -- I registered really, really late!

Watermarked photos (c) BB Action Photo

If you're looking for a non-traditional costume idea for an upcoming runDisney race weekend, or another superhero-themed race, I've got a few ideas for you, based on popular Marvel characters and featuring some unique apparel designs available in my Etsy shop.

Following Hawkeye's Kate Bishop and Captain Carter from last week, today I'm sharing some ideas for dressing up as President Loki.  You can find these and other pop-culture-inspired running costume ideas in my Etsy shop here:

WeRunForFun on Etsy

Note that the costume pieces I've been highlighting from my shop, including the President Loki garments, are made to order. Printing and shipment times vary but are clearly stated on the Etsy listing. These ideas I'll be sharing require some thinking ahead, and are definitely not "quick costume ideas."

Vote for President Loki All-Over Print Costume T-Shirt

President Loki Variant Apparel Options and Suggested Costume Accessories

If you're looking for a non-traditional costume idea for an upcoming runDisney race weekend, or another superhero-themed race, I've got a few ideas for you, based on popular Marvel characters and featuring some unique apparel designs available in my Etsy shop.

Today I'm sharing some ideas for dressing up as Kate Bishop, as well as other running t-shirt designs inspired by the recent hit Disney+ series Hawkeye. You can find all of these and more fun pop-culture themed running gear in my Etsy shop here:

WeRunForFun on Etsy

Note that the costume pieces I'll be highlighting from my shop, including the Kate Bishop costume shirt, are made to order. Printing and shipment times vary but are clearly stated on the Etsy listing. These ideas I'll be sharing require some thinking ahead, and are definitely not "quick costume ideas."

Kate Bishop was introduced into the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the Disney+ series Hawkeye. In comic form, Kate becomes the familiar Hawkeye character.

In the series, her costume is a big part of the character, as she finds branding an important part of being a superhero. She tries to get Clint Barton to change his look and improve his recognition among the public. By the end of the series, he does change into a kick-ass costume, but also seems to hand the reins over to Kate.

LadyHawke? HawkShot? Lady Arrow? I have an idea...

Kate Bishop All-Over Print Costume T-Shirt

Dress up like the newest archery hero with this all-over print costume t-shirt inspired by Kate Bishop's look from the comics and popular MCU television series. The young Avenger is played by Hailee Steinfeld in the series.

The design of this Kate Bishop costume shirt uses a comic illustration style. Printed design elements on the front and back include Kate's sleek black archer's sling, badass utility belt, and zippered jacket closure.

Wear this with black pants or a black skirt to complete the costume look. In colder weather, you could layer the shirt over a plum running top. As Kate seems to always get banged up, you could wear bandages on your face just like she does. And, of course, you could carry prop archery tools to add authenticity to your look. Paint the suggested toy set below black, or fashion your own bow and arrows from craft foam.

Hawkeye Mantra Tops for Runners

Want to channel the focus of archers Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, but don't want to go full into costume mode? We've got some fun Hawkeye-themed shirts featuring mantras inspired by the series logo and style.

If you're looking for a non-traditional costume idea for an upcoming runDisney race weekend, or another superhero-themed race, I've got a few ideas for you, based on popular Marvel characters and featuring some unique apparel designs available in my Etsy shop.

Today I'm sharing some ideas for dressing up as Captain Carter; in coming days and weeks I'll highlight some other Marvel-inspired ideas. You can find my Etsy shop here:

WeRunForFun on Etsy

Note that the costume pieces I'll be highlighting from my shop, including this Captain Carter shirt, are made to order. Printing and shipment times vary but are clearly stated on the Etsy listing. These ideas I'll be sharing require some thinking ahead, and are definitely not "quick costume ideas."

Captain Carter, a variant of the WWII-era hero known to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), was featured in the popular animated series What If...?, featured on Disney+.

In this different world, where a single decision made by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Peggy Carter changes the course of her life, and her reality, a woman became a kick-ass super-soldier superhero instead of Steve Rogers (Captain America).

I've got a fun costume t-shirt of Captain Carter in the cartoon style seen in the series. It would be easy to match this colorful and bold printed costume top with other garments and elements to make a fun running costume.

Captain Carter All-Over Print Costume T-Shirt

Are you looking for something different to wear for the upcoming Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend? If you're running but don't want to dress up like one of the race theme princesses, or any princess, for that matter, how about something non-traditional, but still Disney?

Luisa Madrigal is one of the heroines in the latest animated Disney feature film, Encanto. 

The main story revolves around her sister, Mirabel, who wears a whimsical outfit with lace-look trim, flower details, and other pretty and intricate design features. We have a few Mirabel costume pieces available in our Etsy shop. I will share the pieces at the bottom of this post as well.

WeRunForFun on Etsy

Dress up as the strong Luisa, whose magic is extraordinary strength. Luisa works to balance the responsibilities of her gift with the pressures she feels from those who rely on her.

Luisa great character to channel during a runDisney race or other costumed run. Her signature song, Surface Pressure, is a great workout song with a catchy beat -- hum along during your run, or add it to your running playlist!

Luisa is also a perfect companion costume to join up with a Mirabel runner. Pick up Mirabel and Luisa running outfits for a pair of running sisters, or running besties.

Costume running is even more fun when you do it together!

Luisa Madrigal Running Costume Shirt, Skirt, and More

We offer a few different Luisa-inspired costume pieces in our shop. Luisa wears a lilac blouse with red ribbon and lace-look trim at the bottom. She also wears a dark purplish-blue skirt. In addition to a costume shirt and skirt, we have a t-shirt dress, and a pair of Luisa-inspired leggings for those who prefer that style instead of a skirt. These four items are featured below:

Luisa Madrigal Running Costume Accessory Ideas

Luisa makes for an especially easy running costume because she doesn't have a lot of accessories -- there's nothing large to carry or bulky to wear to achieve her look.

She does wear purple bands at her wrists, and a red ribbon in her hair. You can use sweatbands or a headband to approximate this look, with athletic gear, for your running costume. I would probably accessorize with a red Headsweats hat. You could also consider carrying a prop barbell, dumbbells, or even a plush donkey to showcase Luisa's strength. See ideas below.

While I continue to work through knee pain, I haven't really been able to make any running goals. Unfortunately my overall fitness has been a victim of this, but I hope to make some changes in 2022.

Anyway, in 2021 I participated in very few in-person events. I also completed just a handful of virtual events, mostly walking. 

These virtual runs (walks) are mostly completed in my neighborhood or local trail, so they unfortunately aren't particularly memorable; individual reports would be even more boring than the usual race report. I still want to note them, especially to shout out the charities involved, so here are some brief recaps from virtual events I completed in the last half or so of 2021.

Princess Half Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World is coming up at the end of February. Get ready for costumed running fun by dressing up as one of the featured princess characters for this return to in-person princess running. The featured characters are

The main costume garment pieces featured here are from Etsy small business sellers (including us), most offering print-on-demand shirts, tanks, skirts, and leggings. I've picked out accessories to add to the costumes to make your look more authentic and memorable.

Cinderella Scullery Maid Costume Shirt & Skirt

Scullery Maid Cinderella Costume Accessories

When wearing her maid outfit, Cinderella wears a simple white rag in her hair. She uses a broom, and a bucket with rag for cleaning. And, while getting ready for her day, she sings to helpful blue birds and mice.

Princess Tiana Lily Pad Costume T-Shirt Dress

Princess Tiana Running Costume Accessories

Complete Tiana's look with these accessories. A running style athletic headband is a great costume piece that's practical, too. Tiana wears long green gloves and a delicate green jeweled necklace with the lily pad dress. Neither of those accessories is particularly runner-friendly, so depending on your pace, your goals, and your photo op ambitions, choose the accessories that will work best for you.

Warrior Mulan (Fa Ping) Costume T-Shirt Dress

Warrior Mulan Running Costume Accessories

Complete your warrior Mulan look with these fun accessories. Make sure you're comfortable carrying props for the distance you'll be running as Fa Ping, and double check that your props comply with runDisney rules if you're running a WDW race.

You could carry a foam sword like the ones featured below, or check your local dollar store toy section for something similar. Wear your hair up, tied with a green ribbon. Carry Mushu with you for dragon power!.

Are you looking for something different to wear for the upcoming Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend? If you're running but don't want to dress up like one of the race theme princesses, or any princess, for that matter, how about something non-traditional, but still Disney?

Mirabel Madrigal is the heroine in the latest animated Disney feature film, Encanto. Dress up as this extraordinary, ordinary character who saves her family with her own special kind of magic. With costume pieces featured below, you can channel Mirabel's energy and unique look during Princess race weekend or for another costumed run.

Mirabel, born into a magical family, wears a unique outfit that is embellished with fun floral designs and child-like details.

Mirabel Madrigal Costume All-Over Print Polyester Running Costume T-Shirt

This fun cartoon film character inspired costume t-shirt for women is full of details inspired by the iconic top worn by Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto.

This is a printed costume shirt with no actual 3D elements or embellishments (in the film, Mirabel's shirt appears to have embroidery and applique as part of the design) Cartoon-style printed elements on this Encanto shirt include whimsical floral illustrations and a detailed black and white collar across the front and back of the shirt, plus matching detailing on the sleeves.

There is a size chart on the listing page for this costume shirt, as well as shipping information. The shirt is made using a lightweight 4oz 100% polyester fabric. 

This Mirabel Madrigal costume top is an all-over print t-shirt made using the cut-and-sew technique. Each shirt is custom made, once you submit your order, by our printing partner Printify. Due to the custom nature of the garment, be sure to note production and shipping times to be sure you're placing your order in time for your event.

Mirabel Madrigal Costume All-Over Print Polyester Running Costume Skirt

Replica Mirabel Madrigal Costume Sling Purse Bag

If you've got the time, this replica bag could be a perfect accessory for your Mirabel Madrigal running costume.

NOTE: The prop bag ships from China and delivery time is about 30 days!

For less than $8 including shipping (price at the time of posting), you can get your hands on this fun costume bag.

Unfortunately, there is no size information for the bag in this listing. There is an option to purchase the bag along with other costume elements. The entire package is for children, so the bag may be on the small side -- which could work out well as a running costume prop.

This was my fourth time participating in the Lake Helen Stress Buster, always on Christmas Eve. Previous reports: 2016 | 2017 | 2019.

With nearly 700 finishers, this was by far the largest Stress Buster I've attended. It was fun to see such a large and festive group, with many runners dressed in holiday gear or funny Christmas outfits.

Training & Goals
In July my persistent but manageable knee pain became acute and I went to an orthopedic doctor for help. Unfortunately, while prescribed physical therapy exercises have helped with strength deficiencies, my knee pain persists. I'll be trying different treatments to get back on track. Meanwhile, I'm mostly walking. 

Race Day: December 24, 2021
Lake Helen is close to home. I arrived with plenty of time to find a nearby parking spot and get my bib. It was about 55°F with 94% humidity and clear, sunny skies as the race began.

There were a lot of West Volusia Runners at the race. I haven't been going to meetups so I saw a lot of unfamiliar faces join in our group photo. 

Mile 1: 16:15
After a five minute warm-up walk, I decided to try running 30 seconds between 2 minute walk intervals. I met up with my friend Lauren during this mile and we stuck together with these intervals for the rest of the race.

Mile 2: 16:52
Course support is provided by local residents who cheer on the runners as we head through the cute town of Lake Helen.

Mile 3+: 16:31, 1:56*

Recommendation
This is always a nice little local holiday race. The course through Lake Helen is pretty and festive, and the event is well-managed. It's flat and fast for racers looking to PR and it's very walker friendly, too. Recommended.

Chip time: 51:10
Placement details: 32/39 in Age Group, 543 overall out of 693 finishers
Race Amenities: Cotton t-shirt, medal for all finishers, free race photos
Cost: $22.17

*I forgot to turn off my Garmin until well after crossing the finish mat.

Race branded photo and featured photo (c) Almost There Photography
Running to the finish line photo (c) Marieann Bannan