In 2014, a spark was lit in the heart of Utah — and it all started with a conversation. Michelle and Joe Guttenplan met Brent Pease while training at Dynamo Multisport in Atlanta. There, they first heard the inspiring story of Brent and Kyle Pease.
“We knew we wanted to work with Brent as our coach first,” Joe said. “As our relationship grew, we asked how we could help the foundation.” Knowing that Joe and Michelle were moving to Utah, Brent suggested launching a KPF chapter there.
Inspired by Kyle and Brent’s mission, Joe and Michelle set out to bring something powerful and lasting to their new home state.
KPF Utah comprises six push-assist athletes and a dedicated group of volunteer runners. While the overall roster includes 50–80 runners, a core team of approximately 25 consistently supports and races alongside adaptive athletes.
“We loved hearing Kyle and Brent's story, and we were excited to create a similar community in Utah,” says Freyja Robinson, Race Coordinator for KPF Utah.
As an extension of the Atlanta-based KPF, KPF Utah shares a simple but powerful mission: to give assisted athletes the chance to feel the wind on their faces, experience the excitement of the starting line, and celebrate the joy of crossing the finish line — side by side with their teammates and able-bodied participants.
Built on grit, heart, and a strong sense of community, KPF Utah may be small, but its spirit is immense. Joe and Michelle serve as Team Captains, while Freyja manages nearly every aspect of operations — race coordination, athlete-runner pairings, scheduling, logistics, and relationships with local race organizers. Her husband, Shad Robison — lovingly dubbed the “Equipment King” — keeps the gear in top shape and leads race-day setup with help from dedicated team parents.
“We were grateful to meet Freyja and Shad,” Joe said. “They’ve been essential to the Utah chapter, managing races, working with families and volunteers, and really driving everything forward.”
With a state covering 84,899 square miles, Utah ranks as the 11th largest in the country. That geography presents a unique challenge — athletes are spread far and wide, but it hasn’t slowed the team down. Instead, it’s become part of their identity. KPF Utah brings races to all corners of the state, ensuring no athlete is left behind.
“In Utah, we have a huge running community, and we love how willing they are to donate their bodies and hearts to our in-chair athletes,” Freyja says. “The running community has embraced our team, and it’s the best feeling ever.”
KPF Utah thrives through visibility and word of mouth. They grow by showing up at races, spreading joy in action, and sharing their story. The energy, the smiles, the cheers on race day are infectious, but getting to this point took determination.
“Lots of conversations with parents and running groups. We always share our events on Facebook,” Freyja says. “We’re working to attend even more events, so we can tell our team’s story and help more families commit to racing and having fun.”
KPF Utah may be small, but their impact is growing every day. If you’re in Utah and want to be part of something life-changing — whether you're an athlete, runner, volunteer, or just someone who wants to make a difference, reach out. There’s always room on the team because … together, we race as one.
