Our Team

The Directors

Brian Nelson

Race Director

Brian oversees all things Unleashed! In addition to directing the main race and Heroes Race on 8/4, he will oversee the Stadium Bowl set up on Saturday, 8/3.

Kelly Nelson

Director of Operations (Offsite)

Kelly manages the daily activities of Unleashed by overseeing all Area Leads and coordinating vendors, sponsors, community partners and hired professionals along with the Race Director.

Amy Porter

Director of Operations (Onsite)

Amy oversees the Area Leads and event activities on race day. She is responsible for intervening if an issue cannot be resolved by an Area Lead.

The Area Leads

Alyce DeMarias

Food Garden

Alyce assists the organizers with food garden vendor contact, food garden setup and take-down, and oversees the operation of the food garden during the event.

Joan Gilbert

Parking Control

Joan oversees the parking area at the Historical Society and Stadium High School. She directs participants, volunteers, community partners, vendors, and the other personnel from their parking location to the field.

Shawndra Michell

Safety & Field

Shawndra oversees safety on the field and stairs by coordinating with the Race Director, Director of Operations,  Race Marshals, and the medical personnel positioned on the field.

Lisa Nordberg

Field Partners

Lisa oversees the interactions of the race participants and wellness partner, sponsor, and vendor booths during the event. She is also responsible for managing the booth layout on the field Saturday.

Chris Schiesl

Packet Pick Up

Chris oversees packet pick up on Friday 8/2 and race day 8/4. She coordinates her team to ensure the accuracy and flow of the process between participants and Timer.

Jane Sobottka

Results & Awards

Jane coordinates race results with the Timer, participants, and Race Director and oversees the results and awards booths during the event.

Donald Turnbaugh

Markers & Signage

Donald, along with Monica, oversees the directional and field signage and ensures all race markers are in place and visible to the participants and partners.

Monica Turnbaugh

Markers & Signage

Monica, along with Donald, oversees the directional and field signage and ensures all race markers are in place and visible to the participants and partners.

FAQ

Sunday, August 4th 2024. The main race starts at 9AM and the Heroes race will start at 10AM. 

1. To raise money for Kindred Souls Foundation programs.

2. To strengthen ties between individuals and build community

Friday, 8/2, 4pm to 7pm – Lakewood Family YMCA (note: volunteers will set up at 3pm)

Sunday, 8/4, 8am to 8:30am – Stadium Field

For those assisting with Stadium Bowl Set Up, you will need to be on the field by 3pm.

You can park in the WA Historical Society parking lot if there is room, or SHS parking lot, or on the street. 

HYDRATE. The field is hot, so you will want to ensure you are well hydrated. We will have water and some food for you on the field.

For visibility – to show who is a safe person to go to if there is a question, concern, or safety issue.

Any of the items that are available by your pre-event function date will be brought by a Lead. We *should* have all items by the first pre-event date (7/31, 8/2, 8/3).

If you do not get your items by your pre-event date, then they will be available on the field race day (specific details will be announced).

You are also welcome to contact us if you would like to pick up in the University Place/Lakewood area and we will do our best to accommodate you. 

Volunteers are authorized to park in the Washington State Historical Society parking lot and are encouraged to carpool due to limited space. If the lot is filled, then you will need to find parking on the street.

Race participants park in the Stadium High School parking lot or on the street where parking is authorized.

The main race participants have two options:

1-Lap = 1,628 steps (814 up + 814 down)

2-Lap = 3,256 steps (1,628 steps up + 1,628 steps down)

The Heroes Race participants will run 1-Lap (1,628 steps) in a weighted vest in under 25 minutes.

Our Wellness Partnership was created to bring together participants from the race and community organizations. An organization secures five members to sign up for the race and provides a complimentary service on to the participants on race day and receives recognition on our website and social media, in our event program guide, and during the race. 

Community Partners are organizations with 5 or more members signed up who volunteer alongside KSF at Unleashed. They must have completed the online form before the deadline to take part. Their organization’s logo will be on the front left chest area of their volunteer t-shirt.

To raise money for a community spay/neuter fund.

To learn more and to set up an individual or team fundraiser or to join a team fundraiser, click here

A Pack Team is a group of friends, family, co-workers, peers, etc who wants to race together as a team. We offer two options:

Largest Pack

  • Minimum of 10 registered participants by close of online registration 7/28/24
  • Team with the most registered participants by close of online registration 7/28/24 gets their team name engraved on a perpetual trophy

Fastest Pack

  • Minimum of 3 registered participants by close of online registration 7/28/24
  • Sum of top 3 finishers’ time, overall lowest time wins
  • Winning team receives a trophy

The Heroes Race is an elite 3-person team event for firefighters, law enforcement, and military persons.

The teams are pre-selected through a vetting process by the Unleashed Race Director and the organizations.

All three members must be able to run the course in 25 min or less wearing a weighted vest (men 40# • women 20# • non-binary vest weight at discretion of team).

No. Only KSF animals are authorized on the field during the race.

Food and beverages should remain in the confines of the Food Garden structure to protect the field from damage. If someone leaves the food garden with food or beverage, you do not need to intervene.

No. People need to leave items secured in their vehicle or in the care of a trusted friend/family member. We are not responsible for stolen items.

No. For safety purposes, all spectators must remain on the field.

No. For safety reasons no earbuds are allowed on the stairs. 

No. For safety reasons no backpacks or loads are allowed on the stairs. 

Hydration packs are ok.

Those participants in the Heroes Race are authorized to wear the weighted vests provided by Unleashed.

Yes. There is signage indicating where to go as you walk down the drive into the Bowl.

Yes! While the race is mostly about ‘Barking Rights’, we do have awards!

Individual awards
For those age groups that have at least two same gender participants competing we will award 1st, 2nd, 3d place medals for male, female, and non-binary. This applies to both 1628 (1-lap) and 3256 (2-lap) races. Age groups: 8-12, 13-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+

To qualify for overall male, female, and non-binary finisher, there must be a minimum of two same gender participants and the winner must finish the race in 14 minutes or under for the 1628 (1-lap) race and 32 minutes or under for the 3256 (2-lap) race. The fastest of those who qualify will receive a trophy.

Fundraising awards
There will be overall individual and team fundraiser gift awards (TBD) donated by one or more of our sponsors.

Pack Team awards
Fastest Pack: A team trophy.
Largest Pack: Your Pack name engraved on perpetual trophy.

Heroes Team awards
The overall winning team will receive a trophy.

Find another volunteer or Area Lead who can answer the question for the person.

If there is an obvious medical emergency (i.e., head cracked open, compound fracture, someone being unconscious) then call 911 and alert the medics. If it is not obvious, then alert the medics who will make the judgement call.

If it is not a situation that warrants a 911 call, then follow these instructions:

If the person is on the field and able to walk, assist them to the medic tent.

If the person is on the field and unable to walk, then ask someone to sit with that person until you can retrieve the medics. 

If the person is on the stairs, then alert the medics at their tent. 

If in any of these situations you can alert your Lead that you are leaving the area, please do, but if you do not have time it is most important to ensure the medics are alerted.

Volunteers will begin take down under the direction of the Leads.

Once the field is cleaned up and the truck is loaded, volunteers can enjoy a drink together at a location TBD. Area Lead, Jane Sobottka, will be coordinating and paying!

Maps & Visuals

Check back frequently for updates!
Scroll to top