Halloween is just around the corner and it’s the perfect time to combine your love of running with your passion for fun costumes! Whether you’re gearing up for a spooky fun run, a themed race, or just want to bring some festive flair to a fun run, you’ll find a ton of great Halloween running costumes in this post. Get ready to have some fun!
1. 80’s/90’s Aerobics Instructors
Leotards, leggings, and headbands? Check, check, check! This is one of the easiest costumes to put together because you might already have some leggings and headbands lying around, and you can easily find other fun gear at thrift shops or online.
My outfit above was clearly inspired by Olivia Newton John’s “Let’s Get Physical”, but you could use any fun 80’s/90’s fitness gear. I love my friend Lauren George’s picture below in her sweet windbreaker attire.
2. Pink Lady from Grease
I love this fun costume idea from Leah! It looks pretty simple to throw together – a pair of black running leggings, a black t-shirt or tank top, and a pink jacket. Add in a little polka dot scarf and some pink shades and you’ve got a Grease-inspired look that’s great for a fall fun run.
3. Guts Participant
Do-do-do-do you have it? GUTS! If you were a fan of this childhood classic back in the 90’s, break it out for race day. Grab a t-shirt and sew or glue on the Guts letters, then draw with black sharpie to create the black background. (Or, go the lazier route a la my friends, and just pin the logo to your shirt 😉 ).
4. Pasta sauce and pasta
I am obsessed with this costume combo, which Allison features on herself and her dog (but I think your human running pal could also pull this off as your partner). You can DIY this using a red t-shirt and decorating it with felt or iron on transfers to make the pasta sauce logo. For the dog (or human) companion, you can use cream-colored yarn or rope to create strings of pasta.
5. Bank Robber (or The Hamburglar)
Another awesome idea that is easy to pull off in a race. Grab a striped shirt and socks, throw on a black beanie, and add a black mask if you have one – and you’ve got the essential look down. Feel free to add a bag of “money” for a bank robber, or carry a McD’s burger if you want to go The Hamburglar route.
6. Mermaid
How adorable is this costume?! I’m sure you could find a great pair of shiny green leggings and a seashell bra online, if you don’t have them already. Layer that seashell bra over a sports bra and you’re good to go. This costume would be great on a warmer weather Halloween run when it’s comfortable to run in a sports bra.
7. Where’s Waldo
Where’s Waldo makes for an easy and fun costume at any race! All you need is a red and white striped shirt, some black rimmed glasses (the Dollar Store is always good for ones like this and you can just pop the lenses out), and a red beanie hat. You might already have these items lying around!
8. Little Red Riding Hood
Technically I wore this for the Running with the Wolves 10K, but it’d work equally well for Halloween. It’d be especially fun for a couples costume when paired with your partner dressed as a wolf.
A red skirt or tutu works well here, though I wore leggings underneath because I’m not about the chafing. Pair it with a red top and a hood (this corset top was part of a set I ordered on Amazon, but you could also use an old red hoodie) and you’re good to go.
9. Ninja Turtle
This was probably the laziest Halloween race costume I’ve done, but hey – it was easy and served it’s purpose. Pair green running leggings with a Ninja turtle t-shirt, and (optionally) a headband. Turtle power!
10. Stone Age Characters
Whether you want to do a Fred/Wilma combo, a caveman/cavewoman pair, or anything else – this makes a fun running costume to do solo or with a friend/spouse. While you can certainly buy a pre-made costume for this, I also think you can DIY it using thrift-store finds (looking for browns, leopard print, etc) or even a large swath of felt that you cut and glue into a dress style. And you can make a bone necklace using the plastic bones from the Dollar Tree!
11. Ghost
A fun and easy race costume to do solo or with a group! Use white t-shirts and draw a ghost face with a black sharpie. Pair that with a white tutu, or make your own using some tulle over a white skirt. Feel free to wear your preferred color of leggings underneath!
12. Superhero
Blog: Confessions of a Mother Runner
Wonder woman, superman, cat woman, spiderman…you name it, you can make it into an easy Halloween costume for your race! All you really need is a t-shirt with the superhero logo or style (many of which you could draw or sew on yourself). Optionally, you could add similar color leggings or shorts, and/or fun socks that match the theme.
13. Skeleton
Blog: Confessions of a Mother Runner
I love this costume because you can buy it or make it – whatever you prefer! If you want to make it, the easiest way is to probably print off white bones on iron-on transfer paper, and apply those to a black long sleeve and black leggings.
Bonus for Pregnant Ladies: Lori from Walking Dead
Granted this one is specific to when I was pregnant, but come on – how fun is this costume?! Super easy to make with a tank top, one of my husband’s button down shirts, and a piece of cardboard just to emphasize the character. 😉
The Bottom Line
No matter your running pace or Halloween enthusiasm, you can find a costume idea that works for you. Lace up those shoes, get dressed up, and hit the pavement in true Halloween style.
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