Kirsten Garwig from Lewisburg won overall female finisher and Steve Temple from Muncy won overall male finisher during Saturday's annual Muncy Monster Dash 5K Run and Walk on Saturday morning at Myers Elementary School.

MUNCY – Ward L. Meyers Elementary School in Muncy was very busy Saturday morning. Festivities began at 7 a.m. in front of the school for the third annual Monster Dash 5K Run and Walk. Hosted by the Organization of Parents and Teachers, all proceeds went to supporting programs, supplies and activities for the students at the school.

This year a health fair was held indoors to coincide with the race. Featuring health and safety tips, vendors from the community welcomed over 325 registered runners and their families.

Students also decorated the school and painted pumpkins that they created as story book characters and wrote book reports on them.

Also new this year was an obstacle course designed for ages 12 and under for the Kids Run with obstacles to pass over, go under, go around, and finish behind the school as parents cheered and prodded them forward along the sidelines. Many of the kids were dressed in costume. Jessie Delany, a volunteer mom, and Seth Roller from the FBLA at Muncy High School assisted the young ones as they came over the hay bales.

The 5K Dash started at 8:30 a.m. and trophy awards were given out at 10:00 a.m. before the one mile Kids Fun Run at 10:30. Prizes that included adjustable jump ropes, fitness mat bags and strength toning balls were also given out to the best teams.

During the Kids Fun Run on Saturday at Myers Elementary in Muncy, obstacles were placed along the one mile course for ages 12 and under.

Overall winners for the 5K were Steve Temple from Muncy and Kirsten Garwig from Lewisburg. Temple who finished at 19:02 as overall male finisher, recently completed the Boston Marathon. When asked about his experience there, especially with the bombings, the 40 year old runner replied, “I was waiting on the subway for my shuttle to return to my hotel when it happened. We have photos of the finish line about an hour before the bomb went off.”

Garwig, who is 13 and the overall female finisher for the race, said she likes to run and participates in many races. “I like running,” she said and wants to keep doing it. “People who come here don’t expect to win,” added Temple. “They expect to beat themselves or beat someone else they know.”

Over 325 runners were registered in advance according to race director and president, Nicole Meyer. “Last year we welcomed 261 participants. This year we surpassed those numbers.”

Various prizes were offered by participating sponsors for the third annual Muncy Monster Dash on Saturday morning. Winning teams chose from adjustable jump ropes, fitness mat bags and strength toning balls.