Tackle The Tar
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Tackle the Tar - Race overview
Tackle the Tar is a 5K Obstacle Course Race and Family Fun Day hosted by the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount on May 16, 2026 at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex in Rocky Mount, NC. Proceeds support college scholarships for local students; since 2016 the event has raised and awarded more than $510,000 for scholarships.
The course leaves the sports complex and runs through historic Battle Park and the E.B. Grain Company property. The event features a mud pit and more than 15 obstacles. Examples of course elements listed by the organizer include rope climbs and nets, tire mountains, culvert and truck crawls, pond and slip slides, walls to climb, and multiple mud sections.
Distances and race formats
- 5K Obstacle Course Race
- 1-mile Kid's Obstacle Race for ages 8 to 13
Participants receive a T-shirt, a medal, a goodie bag, and one free beer if over 21. Age rules: runners must be at least 14 to enter the 5K; children ages 8 to 13 may enter the 1-mile kids race. Participants aged 14 to 15 must run with a parent or guardian over 18; 16- to 17-year-olds may run in the fun run only with a parental consent form. Race packets are available on Friday and Saturday of race week. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
