Eliada's First Annual Monster Dash A Complete Success

Over 160 runners took part in the inaugural Monster Dash 5K on Eliada's campus.

October 28th- Asheville, NC There were ghouls and ghosts, butterflies and bumblebees. The cheerleader topped the clown, and the tortoise beat the hare.

Costumes of all shapes, sizes and subjects dotted the landscape around Eliada Homes Saturday morning at the inaugural Eliada 5K Monster Dash and Family Fun Run.

Daniel Amick won the overall competition with a time of 18 minutes, 19 seconds. The 23-year-old Asheville resident crossed the finish line dressed in a cheerleading costume.

Representing the self-made character “Roofa Toofa the Clown,” Randy Ashley, 41, of Asheville, took second place in 18:54 on the undulating course. While his multicolored suit didn’t cause problems, Ashley said the route was nothing to laugh at.

“It was a very challenging course, but it was very well put together,” he explained, noting the costumes were a great addition to the atmosphere. “I’ve run a thousand races, but never one as Roofa Toofa the Clown. It’s fun. You can get out of your car and look silly but be taken seriously because it’s Halloween.”

Eliada running coach Amanda Chase, who’s married to Ashley, finished third — first among all female competitors — in 20:17. Though her results were impressive, Chase, 26, was proudest of her student participants, all nine of which started and finished the 5K.

“We’ve been training on and off for six weeks,” she said. “It’s a hard course. They were working through it, and they were happy. I was psyched that they all finished!”

Eliada's running team was founded four years ago and has been a staple in the agency's athletic program ever since. Students participate in community 5K events across Western North Carolina, including the Biltmore Kiwanis Classic, the Maggie Valley 5K, and the Bent Creek 5K. In the past, student runners have traveled as far as Walt Disney World to participate in the Disney 5K and half-marathon. Running is particularly helpful for children who suffer from anxiety, addiction, or self-confidence issues. Many of Eliada's student runners also appreciate the goal attainment that they feel when they complete a 5K race.

Proceeds from the race will benefit various programs at Eliada, a century-old nonprofit that offers day treatment and educational programs for community-based and residential students.