2nd Annual!!!

It's official, the Monster Dash is ON for 2013! We will again be "dashing" on the Saturday before Halloween. This year, it's Saturday, October 26th. Race day details are still being hammered out, but you can bet we'll have a 5k race and a Little Monster's Dash. Come back and visit us often, or "like" us on facebook to stay updated on the details as they emerge.

Hooray!

Monster Dash Pictures!!

We just received digital images from the Monster Dash, and they are WORTH THE WAIT!

"Best of the Monster Dash" photos

Kids Dash photos

Finish Line photos

Photos are stored in Picasa. If you have trouble downloading, just send us an email and we'll see what we can do.

THANKS for supporting the Inaugural Run of the West Seattle Monster Dash!! Next year, cross your fingers for better weather!

Thanks and feedback invitation

Hello Monster Dashers!

You folks are amazing. You turned out despite an unbelievable downpour, many in costume, and almost all with a smile on your face. So many of you thanked me for a great race, but it’s you that deserve the thanks. We blew past our fundraising goal of $1,500 – and almost doubled it! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for supporting West Seattle’s Co-Op Preschools. More specifically, thank you for supporting our amazing kids and teachers.    

The planning team is now turning our thoughts to next year – whether or not to hold the Second Annual Monster Dash, and if so, how to make it even better. Towards that end, we have developed a survey to solicit your feedback. It’s only 10 questions, so should not take too much of your time. You can find the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PSMHY85 . Please submit your feedback by Saturday, November 10.

If you have more to say than the survey allows, please feel free to email westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing your suggestions.

With gratitude,

The Monster Dash Race Committee

Race Results and Pending Pictures!

Folks, thank you SO MUCH for coming out this morning in the pouring rain to run the Monster Dash and support West Seattle's incredible Co-Op Preschools!

We have our final two awards to crown:

• Fastest teacher: Wendy Eckert, with a time of 27:17
• School with the most registrants: Arbor Heights

Congratulations all around!

Our official photographer, James McDaniel Photography, is going to get me the high-res digital images as soon as possible, and he will be posting a "best of the Monster Dash" on his facebook page. I'll post here in the next few days with instructions on how to download images of the day.

And finally, be sure to check your race time. There were a couple of glitches with our system, so if you see a discrepancy in your time, please be sure to email westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com with updates.

Hope to see you next year!

Get Ready to Run!

Hello Monster Dash 5k racers!

We are so excited that you’ve signed up to participate in our inaugural run! Here are a few details that may be helpful to you as you prepare for race day…

Bib pickup and race start:

• Bib and t-shirt pickup open at 8:00am on the morning of the race, and will be open until 8:55.
• Seattle Parks Dept has moved us up north a tad to Shelter 5, directly across from the kid’s wading pool. Signage should direct you right to us.
• At 8:45am, Annette from Fitness for Vitality (Monster Dash Gold level sponsor) will take us through a quick warm-up to prepare for the race. You won’t want to miss it!
• Race will start promptly at 9:00am

Course:

• We are doing two loops around the upper trails of Lincoln Park, starting at the Wading Pool and working our way counter-clockwise around the park.
• Our course will be well marked, and there will be guides along the way to help make sure no one gets lost.

Kid’s dash

• Kid’s dash will start at 10:00am at the wading pool/shelter #5.
• If you have a child running in the kid’s dash, please be sure to sign a waiver on their behalf. Look for the kid’s dash registration table.
• Kids will be running in two waves: the littlest monsters dash will be just over 100m, and will run first. The slightly bigger monsters dash will be just shy of ¼ mile, and will start after the little kids finish.
• Kid’s dash is open to anyone in the single-digit years (9 and under), and there is no charge to run.
• Kids t-shirts will be available for $5 each on race day
• Prepare for ridiculous amounts of cuteness.

Awards

• We will be awarding prizes for the top 3 male and female finishers, top 3 adult and top 3 children’s costumes, and best group costume
• Awards will also be given to the co-op school with the most pre-registered runners, and the top finishing teacher/parent advisor

Other stuff

• We still have a few openings for on-site registration, so feel free to invite your friends to join us!
• After the race, runners can help themselves to water, bananas and bagels made fresh by Zats A Better Bagel (Monster Dash Bronze level sponsor)
• We will have a licensed massage therapist available to work over your sore muscles; all donations go directly to our preschool fund.
• There will be an unsupervised, leave-at-your-own-risk bag check available to runners, in case you have a few items you don’t want to carry along the route.
• We will accept cash or check only for purchases (registration and t-shirts) made on race day
• Be sure to check our website westseattlemonsterdash.blogspot.com for race results and race day photos! These should be posted in the days following the race.

And finally, we send our deepest gratitude to our race sponsors! We are in awe of your generosity, and encourage all of our racers to show them a little love.

GOLD Sponsors: Center Studio, Fitness for Vitality, Running Evolution

SILVER Sponsors: Kae Dental, Run with Jill

BRONZE Sponsnors: Zats A Better Bagel, The Little Gym West Seattle, Biojunction Sports Therapy, Rebecca Michi Children’s Sleep Consultant, Alki Sunshine B&B, Corren Consulting, Kudozy

FRIENDS of the Monster Dash Sponsors: Alki Mail and Dispatch, Costco, Curious Kidstuff, Elliott Bay Brewing Co, Pockrat, Proletariat Pizza, West Seattle Body Works, West Seattle Runner

Early registration ends soon!

Register NOW (or before midnight on October 14th) to take advantage of our early registration price (only $25!), and you are guaranteed one of our Inaugural Monster Dash 5k T-shirts!

Register here!

Register on October 15th or later, and T-shirts will be first-come-first-served on race day, until we run out.

It's Time to DASH!

Calling all runners, walkers, crawlers, and stroller riders!!

You are enthusiastically invited to participate in the inaugural run of the West Seattle Monster Dash on Saturday, October 27^th 2012. 5k starts at 9:00 am, Little Monster Dash (kid’s run) starts at 10:00am, and awards will follow shortly thereafter.

Fun details:

·         It’s a Halloween theme, so costumes are STRONGLY encouraged. Prizes awarded for best individual costumes and best group costumes!

·         Get your friends to register – award for the co-op site with the most participants!

·         Get your teacher to run – award for the fastest teacher!

·         Run fast – awards for top 3 male and female finishers!

·         Kids run for FREE at the Little Monsters Dash!

·         Race map and course info available at our website: http://westseattlemonsterdash.blogspot.com/

Registration details:

·         $25 if you register before October 14

·         $30 if you register before October 26

·         $35 for day-of registration (Opens at 8:00 am)

·         Register for the 5k at Active.com. They do charge a $3.25 registration fee. http://www.active.com/running/seattle-wa/monster-dash-5k-and-kids-dash-2012

·         RSVP your child for the Little Monsters Dash here! http://new.evite.com/l/WWFCKTGIVM

Miscellaneous details:

·         Kid’s t-shirts will be available for purchase on race day for $5.00.

·         The course is stroller-friendly, although we will be mostly running on trails.

·         Runners, strollers, walkers, movers and shakers of all kinds are welcome. Canine companions (with the exception of service dogs) are not.

Not interested in running? Still want to help support our event? We’d love to have you as a volunteer! Please contact westseattlemonsterdash@gmail.com

All proceeds will benefit the South Seattle Community College Co-Op Preschool Program, an amazing nonprofit that has touched lives for decades in West Seattle

Not sure if you are ready to run a 5k? Running shoes a little rusty? Here is a sample “Couch to 5k” training plan from one of our AMAZING sponsors, Running Evolution: http://runningevolution.com/5-training-schedule-list-of-races/