Tackle The Tar
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Tackle the Tar : Rocky Mount 5K Obstacle Course Race
Tackle the Tar is a 5K obstacle course race and family fun day hosted by the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex on May 15, 2027. The course runs through historic Battle Park and the E.B. Grain Company property and includes a mud pit plus 15 or more obstacles. Previous obstacles have included walls, crawl tunnels, tire climbs, rope nets, and pond crossings.
All registered racers receive a T-shirt, medal, one free beer for participants over 21, and a goodie bag. Packet pickup is available on the Friday and Saturday of race week; registered participants will receive email notification with details. Spectator admission is free; spectators may need cash for parking, food, and vendor purchases.
The event supports college scholarships for local students; since 2016 the race has helped raise and award over $825,000 in scholarships. A 1-mile Kid’s Obstacle Race is offered for ages 8 to 13 and includes multiple kid-focused obstacles plus a T-shirt and medal. Age rules for the main event: participants must be at least 14 to run the 5K; ages 14-15 must run with an adult over 18 and are excluded from competitive heats; ages 16-17 may run in fun-run heats with a parental consent form. Most heats are timed; the 1-mile kids run is untimed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.