I think he has said he does go down the embankment!
Oh you are so lucky. In the past I have had to carry *everything* with me for the races. I've finally decided that Dasani water isn't going to kill me over a couple hours so I don't wear the hydration backpack, but I do carry my own Clif powder stuff and sports beans and shot bloks and I shudder when I see the Clif gel stuff being handed out b/c that doesn't agree with me even when I'm not joggling (autocorrect did nothing with that word, is it really a word?) my stomach for upwards of 3 hours LOL.
Costumes! What NOT to do. Huge tutus that will scratch others. Wings (fairy style or Buzz) that go out beyond your shoulders from side to side.
Basically have the most irritable runner you know go out with you and try to stay next to you, come up being you, pass you, and be passed by you, and see how much your wings or tutu or whatever bugs them.
Also, with a tutu and shorts combo, have someone run behind you on a training run to make sure the back is long enough. I doubt the women whose running-shorts-clad rears were showing actually knew their tutus weren't covering enough. Not that there's anything wrong with seeing running shorts; it's just that if I think my rear is covered by shorts and a skirt I want it to be covered by both of those things.
And test out running belts. I borrowed one from my friend for Wine&Dine and it pulled my running shorts so tight.
I basically was effectively wearing volleyball uniform shorts the whole run. Embarrassing. I haven't even LOOKED at the photos....
What TO do? The Nemo costume I saw at DL Half was adorable. Orange and white tech shirt. Not sure what was on the lower half. On the arms were armbands with little orange fins that stuck out just enough. I assume one was bigger than the other. Possibly the cutest costume I personally have ever seen. (to me a supercute costume means something I would and could wear, and I'm a highly irritable runner so those things are few and far between LOL)