Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Visit RunSignUp and select “My profile.” Scroll down to find Sound to Narrows, and select “Manage Registration.” Then, select the “Transfer Event” option from the right navigation menu and proceed with the following screens.

Packet pickup will be at Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026 from 8am-3pm. Alternatively, packets may be picked up at Vassault Park on race day beginning at 6:30am.

You may pick up packets for friends and family members participating in the race.

Thank you to our volunteers for lending a hand on packet pickup day, and to the Tacoma Rainiers for being our official packet pickup sponsor.

For more than five decades, Sound to Narrows has celebrated health and wellness in our South Sound community. Now, we’re taking that commitment one step further by supporting food security for our neighbors in need.

All donations from Sound to Narrows support MultiCare’s Center for Health Equity & Wellness nutrition and food security programs across Pierce County.

Your donations help fund essential initiatives like Mary Bridge Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Programming and the Mary Bridge Summer Meals Program — both dedicated to ensuring families have access to healthy, nourishing food.

We encourage carpooling, mass transit and bicycling to the start line. If you must drive, please park in nearby neighborhoods, being mindful of driveways. Many roads will be closed; please take note of closure signs.

Support the Silas High School’s girls’ basketball team, who will be providing parking at Truman Middle School beginning at 6:30am. The cost is $10 per vehicle, $20 for VIP parking – cash and credit card accepted.

As much as we love our dogs, we kindly ask that you please keep them home on race day. Service dogs are always welcome.

No. Our race policy does not allow for your registration to be transferred to another individual.

We can, however, change you to a virtual participant to ensure you receive your shirt and medal. Items will be mailed out after the race to the address provided.

Please email requests to [email protected].

Yes. We ask that strollers and joggers start at the back of the pack to allow safe starts for our 12K and 5K running groups.

Please also stay to the right so other participants may safely pass. As you enter the finish line area, please stay to the sides.

Only runners/walkers participating in the virtual Sound to Narrows races will receive their packets in the mail. If you register by:

• On or Before May 15: Your packet will arrive around the first week of June
• After May 15: Your packet will arrive after the race

For active military units that would like to participate in the 12K military run, please contact Bruce Antonowicz at [email protected], Director of Sports, Fitness, Aquatics & Special Events at JBLM.

We provide a guide for determining the best fit for you, and offer unisex (XS-3XL) sizes and youth (S-L) shirts.

We allow shirt exchanges after the race. There are no shirt exchanges prior to the race.

If you’d like to exchange your shirt, please do not run in it. Bring it to the big registration tent where we can exchange it for your desired size if available. We cannot guarantee we will have your size, but frequently have extra shirt sizes available.

If you registered in June, we cannot guarantee sizes or availability.

We do not mail shirts to participants that are unable to make it on race day.

Additional shirts can be purchased after the race for $10 if available.

Spectators and personal cheerleaders are welcome to cheer, clap, dance, whistle, wave flags, hold encouraging signs and play music (“more cowbell!”) along the perimeter of our racing routes.

Only runners and walkers may be on the course(s) during the event. Keeping everyone safe is our top priority.

We now have a nonbinary category in addition to male and female. When you register for a Sound to Narrows race, you can select “male,” “female,” “nonbinary” or “prefer not to say.”

If you would like to change the gender listed in your RunSignUp profile for the current Sound to Narrows race, as well as future races, follow the instructions on RunSignUp’s website.

We have awards for the top three overall nonbinary runners for the 12K and 5K races. Winners will be recognized on the Awards Stage at 9:45am on race day.

If you do not wish to participate in overall awards, please select “prefer not to say” for your gender in your registration.

MultiCare Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will have medical teams available at our finish line. Tacoma Fire EMTs will also be positioned along our 12K route within Point Defiance Park.

Water aid stations and portable restrooms are staged every two miles along both the 12K and 5K routes.

Time limits are imposed for runners/walkers who exceed a 20-minute-mile pace on the 12K and 30-minute-mile on the 5K. If you exceed this time, you will be asked to move to area sidewalks to allow roads to be reopened. Vassault Street opens at 10:30am.

We are grateful to area neighbors, police and course marshals for keeping roads cleared and participants safe while on the 12K and 5K courses.

Yes, you will have the option to do so when registering online. As a bonus, teams of 30* adult racers or more have the option to add a canopy tent and signage at the finish line. Must meet minimum number of team members by May 15.

*Note: Children and diaper dashers not included in team count total.

For those participants who register in June, we cannot guarantee shirt sizes and availability.

Thanks to our hotel partner, Silver Cloud at Point Ruston, who has graciously offered discounted rooms for persons needing hotel accommodations during race weekend. Use this link to book your stay to access the discounted rate.