… it’s worth doing properly. That’s what I thought when I entered the 5k race on May the 4th, in Trowbridge, called the ‘Sci-fi 5k’*. I talked about entering it here.
If I was going to do this race ‘properly’ then of course I had to do it in fancy dress. Being old school (or just old) I always think of films 4, 5 and 6 as the real Star Wars, so I decided to chose a character from these films. Hmm – a recognisable female from these films? Of course, Princess Leia.
![](http://georgesjournal.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/carrie_fisher_star_wars_gun_point.jpg?resize=329%2C461)
It’ll be easy to make and run in a Princess Leia costume, I thought. I ignored the many people who suggested Princess Leia in her bikini, and also my children’s many helpful suggestions which included Jar Jar Binks.
![](https://i2.wp.com/starwars.com/img/explore/encyclopedia/characters/jarjarbinks_detail.png?resize=314%2C601)
![](https://i2.wp.com/starwars.com/img/explore/encyclopedia/characters/jarjarbinks_detail.png?resize=314%2C601)
![](https://i2.wp.com/starwars.com/img/explore/encyclopedia/characters/jarjarbinks_detail.png?resize=314%2C601)
Several weeks later (and only a week until the race) this arrived in the post :-
![Piles of white and silver fabric](https://i2.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_114750.jpg?resize=325%2C433)
![Piles of white and silver fabric](https://i2.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_114750.jpg?resize=325%2C433)
![Piles of white and silver fabric](https://i2.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_114750.jpg?resize=325%2C433)
After several days of pondering about quite how I was make the costume, I finally dived in.
![20140428_193327.jpg image](https://i0.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_193327.jpg?resize=329%2C440)
![20140428_193327.jpg image](https://i0.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_193327.jpg?resize=329%2C440)
![20140428_193327.jpg image](https://i0.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140428_193327.jpg?resize=329%2C440)
I then went shopping for ‘accessories’.
![20140429_191749.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_191749.jpg?resize=460%2C345)
![20140429_191749.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_191749.jpg?resize=460%2C345)
![20140429_191749.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_191749.jpg?resize=460%2C345)
Of course, the most iconic feature of Princess Leia’s appearance is her hair. Her ‘space buns’ as I like to call them. Unfortunately I don’t have long, dark brown hair so the pile of stuff above includes brown wool and I also bought matching hair dye. Yes, I was the mad woman in Superdry matching the hair colours to a ball of wool.**
![20140429_204603.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_204603.jpg?resize=338%2C450)
![20140429_204603.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_204603.jpg?resize=338%2C450)
![20140429_204603.jpg image](https://i1.wp.com/www.blackandtabbyruns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/wpid-20140429_204603.jpg?resize=338%2C450)
I just about have a costume now, and I need to have a dress rehersal. Mr B&T won’t be at the race on Sunday so has told me that I need to have a trial run (literally) so that he can laugh see me running in my costume. I just can’t bring myself to step outside my front door wearing this outfit and run. I live in a small village. Word would get around.
Anyone else think I should have a trial run?
* as in ‘May the Fourth be with you’
** I have since seen that Carrie Fisher is to appear in the new Star Wars film, so maybe I should skip the hair dye and just say I’m Princess Leia from film 7, when she’s old and grey?