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?

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