The History of Dress Up & Run

If you’ve participated in the 10k before, you are probably prepared to see some crazy, extravagant, and creative costumes out there on the course. Judging has gotten really tough over the years. We’ve seen it all – from Indiana Jones to a “Smurfette” and from Chiquita Banana to the Ninja Turtles.

If you haven’t participated before, you’ll see what we mean when you check out the photos below. Maybe you’ll smile, maybe you’ll laugh, and maybe you’ll be inspired to take part in the Dress Up & Run Contest yourself.

Let’s go back the very beginning – the birth of the Richmond Times-Dispatch Dress Up & Run Contest in 2003. The records are very sparse, but we do know that Shirley Mecanko won first place for her costume, “Dorothy.”


The group “Big Fun” was also a winner.

In 2004, the newspaper tried something a little different by creating categories for the DU&R competition. They were “Comic Strip” and “Other.” Creative, right? And the winners were…

Comic Strip:
1. John Nahm’s “The Flash”
2. Alison Baker & Berkley Hubson’s “Wilma & Betty”
3. Denise Flanagan’s “Minnie Mouse”

Other:
1. Big Fun Runners Gone Wild
2. Brian Smith’s “Baby Got Back”
3. Gary Hearn’s “Banana Man”
In 2005, the Times-Dispatch went back to having non-specific categories and announcing winners in both the individual/duo division and the group division.

Individual/duo:
1. Karen Reilly’s “Running Water”
2. Wayne Schroepfer’s “Galactic Football League”
3. Shirley Mecanki’s “Leprechaun”
Group:
1. Yin Ling the Dragon (** NOTE: No photo)

In 2006, a total of 22 individuals/duos and 3 groups entered the Times-Dispatch Dress Up & Run Contest, totaling 51 participants.

Individual/duo:
1. Stacy & Harold Lane’s “Ball & Chain”
2. John J. Nahm’s “April Fool”
3. Matt Kren’s “Sponge Bob”
Group:
1. Runaway Brides
In 2007, the number of groups doubled and the total number of participants grew to 81.

Individual/duo:
2. Matt Kren’s “Fred & Dino”
3. Gregory Maciog’s “Roadrunner & Wile E. Coyote”
4. Jill and Paige Schildkamp’s “Purple People Eaters”
Group:
1. Austin Powers and gang
2008 was a huge year from Dress Up & Run with 179 total participants among 41 individual/duo competitors and 17 group competitors.

Individual/duo:
1. Boren Eam’s “Ultimate Warrior”
2. Dr. Wayne Mancari’s “Triathlete”
3. Sara Campbell’s “Smurfette”
Group:
1. The Tooth Troop (** NOTE: No photo)

Due to the huge growth the year before, the Times-Dispatch began to give out multiple group awards in 2009.

Individual/duo:
1. Dr. Wayne Mancari’s “Indiana Jones”
2. Gary Hearn’s “Resume Man”
3. Mathieu Rogez’s “Achilles”
Group:
1. Tim Carroll & friends – Ms. Pacman
2. Jenny Heyboer & friends – Ninja Turtles
3. Lori Atkins & friends – Simply Irresistible
And in 2010, contestants got even more… well, let’s just say LARGE.

Individual/duo:
1. Leonard Tengco’s “The Squirrel”
2. Greg & Christa Wood’s “Pirate Ships”
3. Bobbi Lewis & Pam Kemp’s “Dorothy & the Tornado”
Group:
1. Kenneth Mason & friends – “Rub a dub dub, Three men in a tub”
2. Jenny Heyboer & friends – “Aaron Roth & friends” a.k.a. RVA Curling
3. Virginia Essex & friends – “Oompa Loompas”
And so you have it – the history of the Dress Up & Run Contest. It has really grown into something special over the last several years. Do you have a favorite costume?

Creating your own training team?

Training with others provides accountability. It’s much harder to skip a run when there is a group there waiting for you. A group also provides a social outlet – you get to talking and don’t even realize how far you’ve just run. It’s a great way to meet people that have similar interests. You develop life-long friendships with your training buddies. And, most importantly, training groups have built-in motivation. Everyone has the same goal and will help you through the ups and downs of your training.

Sports Backers offers the YMCA 10k Training Team held on Saturday mornings at all 15 local YMCA’s beginning on January 22. Individuals of all levels interested in running or walking with a specific goal in mind—the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k (that’s 6.2 miles) on Saturday, April 2—will work together in a group setting to reach this goal. The registration fee is $55, which includes entry into the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, a 10-week training program with a detailed written schedule, guidance form experienced coaches, organized weekly group runs/walks, a special YMCA 10k Training Team shirt, and special clinics on subjects like running shoes and nutrition. Non-YMCA members receive a Guest Pass for 10 free YMCA visits during the Training Team period.

If the YMCA 10k Training Team doesn’t work with your schedule, there are also dozens of independent grassroots training teams all around the Greater Richmond region. Or, if you are interested in creating your own training team, here are some tips on how to do it:

1. Designate a captain that will rally the troops and encourage people to join. This person needs to be well-respected and capable of motivating others. If the group is expected to be large or have multiple training levels, the captain can recruit assistants to help.
2. Secure a meeting location with adequate parking and bathrooms.
3. Design a 10k training plan or search for one online. It generally works well if you pick one day a week for the group to run together and then distribute guidelines for an individual workout schedule for the rest of the week.
4. Based on the training plan you come up with, design safe routes. Map My Run is a great program to use for this. When designing your routes, be weary of traffic patterns and always give cars the right of way. It always helps to run the course before the group does.
5. Make sure you provide water during group runs or encourage runners to bring their own.
6. Find a good way to communicate with your training team. We recommend Facebook groups or e-mail distribution lists.
7. Provide weekly communication to team members with routes and motivational words. Sometimes it’s nice to include tips on apparel, nutrition or other pertinent topics.
8. Keep it fun and lighthearted.

And… If you’re looking for ways to make your training more exciting, here are some ideas:
- Consider fundraising for the VCU Massey Cancer Center or another charity of your choice. Team members could get pledges for each mile, bring a canned good to each training run, etc.
- Come up with a theme for your group runs (or even just for race day). You can design shirts to wear and really have fun with it.
- Plan an informal activity after the group runs (maybe brunch at a local restaurant?) to give runners incentive to work hard during the training session.

The opportunities are endless! Good luck training 