Byline: Laura Ruggeri The Register-Guard
Bees and sharks and Cindi Lauper, oh my!
Those were just some of the costumes worn by dogs and humans during Saturday's Monster Dash in Eugene, sponsored by The Slocum Foundation and Team Ortho, a nonprofit organization focused on orthopedic research.
This year's second annual event featured a 10-mile run in addition to a 5K fun run and walk, and the 5K-9 doggie dash.
The first person to cross the finish line with a dog was Colleen Wedin of Eugene and her black lab, Porter, who were the defending champions from 2007.
Wedin sported a painted face, black running tights with white bones painted down the legs and bone gloves. She had painted white bones onto Porter's black fur as well.
He doesn't like to wear stuff, Wedin said of Porter, adding that he prefers to run naked. "We could feel it in our bones today was going to be a good run," she said.
Wedin and Porter finished in 20 minutes, 14 seconds, their fastest time ever, she said.
Other winners included Jason Tavakolian of Eugene in the men's 10-mile, Shannon Harty of Eugene in the women's 10-mile, Todd Bosworth of Eugene in the men's 5K and Beth Armstrong of McMinnville in the women's 5K.
Inspired by one of her favorite shows, "Deadliest Catch," Amanda Gomez dressed in yellow plastic overalls and raced with her Doxie, Lita, dressed in a lobster costume.
Gomez found the lobster costume on the Internet, she said, adding that last year they ran together as cavewoman and dino dog.
As for the overalls, "the plastic holds the heat in," Gomez said.
Beckie Ard reused part of an old costume she made last year for an event in Bend called the Pole, Pedal, Paddle. It was a shark head made with spray insulation and silver glittery fabric. It was pretty light, she said, but it did jiggle while she and her golden retriever/lab, Kitty, walked the race.
The head of the shark sat on the front of the kayak in the multi-sport event last year, but Ard had it perched on her shoulders during the Monster Dash. Kitty also sported a shark costume, complete with fin, although not as elaborate as Ard's.
It was Ard's first year in the Monster Dash.
"It was really fun," she said. "I've never been to a race where they gave out candy."
It was Heidi Knight Meigs' first time at the Monster Dash as well. Knight Meigs, her 8-year-old daughter, Savannah Knight Meigs, and their lemon Beagle, Scout, all participated in the race dressed as pop star Cindi Lauper. The trio's theme was "Girls just want to have fun run," Knight Meigs said. They came up with the motto in the car on the way to the race, she said.
Scout didn't have any wardrobe malfunctions, Knight Meigs said.
"I'm so proud of her for tolerating this today and humoring us," she said.
Missy Bates and her black lab mix, Mateo, were running in the race for the second year. Bates was dressed as a beehive and Mateo as a bee, complete with pipe cleaner antenna. Bates said she and Mateo run together all the time. For the Monster Dash, she and her friend, Sarah Foster, ran together, along with Foster's dog, Brody.
Foster was dressed as a bee and Brody as a ladybug.
Brody was going to be a bee too, but his costume didn't fit, Foster said.
She made a last-minute trip to Fred Meyer and found the last small dog costume they had, which was a ladybug, she said.
Last year, Foster and Bates ran as firefighters and dressed Mateo as a Dalmation, Foster said. She is 4' months pregnant so they're already figuring out how to decorate the stroller for next year, she said.
"We get so into it, but it's so fun," Foster said.
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