FAQS
Stadium High School Bowl
111 N E Street
Tacoma, WA 98403-2630
Sunday, August 4th, 2024
Main Race: Start Time 9am
Heroes Race: Start Time 10am
Registration entry fee is $50, $40 for those with a military ID & first responders, and $25 for anyone 8-17 years old.
Online registration will open 5/1/24 and close at midnight on 7/28/24. No registration will be taken the week before the race date and no race day registration this year.
Registration is online only and entry fees are non-refundable.
Yes! We offer Largest Pack and Fastest Pack options.
Largest Pack:
• Must have a minimum of 10 registered participants NLT than July 28, 2024. No registration is taken after July 28 and there is no race day registration.
• Verify your team before registration closes on the 28th as there are no changes/additions afterwards.
• Both 1628 and 3256 racers are eligible for overall largest pack.
• The overall largest pack will receive their Pack name engraved on a perpetual trophy.
Fastest Pack:
• Fastest pack is only open to 1628 (one lap) racers. No split-time option for 3256 (two lap) racers.
• Verify your team before registration closes on the 28th as there are no changes/additions afterwards.
• Top three finishers’ times are totaled for overall time, lowest time wins.
• Minimum of three registered participants by July 28, 2024 to be eligible, no maximum on participants.
• The winning three racers will receive a team trophy.
Yes! New this year, we are encouraging you to help animals in our community by fundraising! 100% of the revenue raised through peer-to-peer fundraising will go to cat and dog spay/neuter services. You can fundraise as an individual or a team. To learn more, click here
8 years or older. Each participant under 18 must have a parent/guardian at the race to supervise and make medical related decisions on his/her behalf should that be necessary.
Yes, packet pick up is offered and highly encouraged! You may pick up a packet on someone’s behalf only if 1) they have signed the waiver and 2) you bring a hand signed permission note from them or our authorization form (with the exception of a parent/guardian picking up their child’s packet).
No phone call or text permissions/authorizations will be accepted. The authorization form or a permission note must be a hard copy and signed by the participant and authorized individual. The authorized individual’s photo ID and a copy of the race participant’s photo ID must also be presented to release the race packet.
Pre-Packet Pick Up: Friday 8/2 from 4pm – 7pm | Lakewood Family YMCA
Race Day Packet Pick Up: Sunday, 8/4 from 8am – 8:30am | Stadium Bowl field
All waivers must be completed at time of online registration. If someone else is going to register you online, then ensure they use your email address during online registration so that you receive an email with the link to the online waiver.
The route will go up one 60-step flight over and down the next 60-step flight. You will either run up or down every step inside the Bowl for a total of 1,628 steps. For those who want an extra challenge we are offering a 2 lap option – 3,256 steps! Check it out here: Race Route
There are 814 stairs up and 814 stairs down (total 1,628 steps / total 3,256 steps for the 2 lap option). The steps range from about 6 inches to 11 inches high.
Participants will line up fastest to slowest mile time. While not a perfect measurement, the mile is the distance many people will know–and it is a likely indicator of how quickly one will complete the race. We do reserve the right to move some people into slower time slots if we believe that it is a safer place for a participant to run. The race will begin following the national anthem at 0900 and will start with a cannon shot. Racers will leave on a 5-10 second interval. Individuals will leave with one or two other racers, depending upon the number of racers. We ask for your patience and understanding during this process. Walkers will follow the last timed runners. We intend to create a safe competitive event.
If you have registered, but have not picked up your race packet prior, then you will need to arrive at 8:00AM. Packet pick up on the field is from 8:00AM-8:30AM.
I ran the one lap route with iMapMyRun and it is .73 miles. Do not expect to get anywhere near your ‘personal best’ for a mile time in this race. One-lap averages 22 minutes and two-lap averages 45 minutes. Check out the 2023 winning times!
Yes. Official chip timing will end at 10:45am. If you have not crossed the finish line by this time, you will not receive a chipped time and will not qualify for a medal.
To qualify for ‘Overall’ male, female or non-binary you 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.
Run stairs. Unlike many tower races, participants will go down as well as up. We encourage running stairs at local stadiums. Surprisingly the ‘downs’ tend to hurt more. Stair climbing equipment at gyms never train stepping down, and those muscles will certainly be exercised during this race.
New for 2024: The Tacoma Center YMCA is renting the bowl each Saturday in July from 7am-10am and is graciously inviting anyone to come and train! You do not need to be a YMCA member, but you will need to sign a waiver that they will provide on those days.
No problem. Move off of the stairs and sit on the bleachers until you are fully recovered. Then simply walk down the bleachers and exit onto the stadium field.
Yes. Hydration is important. There are water points along the race path and water at the finish line and food court. We do highly encourage hydrating prior to the race.
Please be aware that a hydration pack is hands-free hydration like a Camelbak. It is not a weighted load. Loads (i.e., backpacks and rucksacks) are not permitted.
No. At this time, the only participants allowed to wear a load are those participating in the Heroes Race. A loaded race may be an option at a future date.
Yes. To mitigate the risk of injury, drink water and please review the Rules page.
Yes. The start/finish line is on the football field. All participants and spectators will remain on the field during the race. There is no entry fee for spectators, so come watch and cheer on the racers! Please encourage your friends and family to attend. This race is unique for spectators as they will be able to see the entire race unfold. Bear-crawling, walking, air-sucking like a Dyson vacuum cleaner…a pleasure to witness. We highly encourage a supportive, cheering crowd to motivate all the athletes.
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.
Stadium High School has a three-tiered parking lot. Entrance for both spectators and participants is a short walk down North Stadium Way. All steps are part of the race, so no one is permitted to enter via the gated entrances to the Bowl.
No. Please keep valuables secured in the trunk of your car or invite your family/friends to watch the race and ask them to hold your items while they cheer you on!
On the football field only. Spectators are not permitted on the stairs for the safety of the racers.
No. Spectators will be permitted on the field only. Spectators are not permitted on the stairs for the safety of the racers.
No chairs allowed, but towels and blankets are encouraged. Marked chairs and benches will be in and by the food garden which is covered by a tarp to protect the field per the school district rules.
No. Per Stadium High School rules, food is not permitted on the field with the exception of the food and beverages provided by Unleashed.
No pets are allowed except those brought by Kindred Souls Foundation. No exceptions as per the rules of Stadium High School.
Yes. Our Wellness Partners will be on the field offering free services such as massage, yoga, ice baths, stretching, compression sleeves, etc. to race participants. A medic tent will also be on the field.
Yes. We will have photographers and videographers capturing the action.
All results will be posted online after the race.
For more information on the Partner opportunities, please click here
Visit our sponsor page