In four weeks, the Covington Rotary Club will host a first-of-its-kind event in Cobb-Parr Park.
The club’s Obstacle Course Race, which will take place on June 8, will challenge competitors to complete a dozen obstacles on the Covington Confidence Course as a fundraiser for the organization.
“This is a great way to compete in an event like this without ever having to leave the county,” said Joe Mack, the event’s organizer. “It will be fun for people of all ages and it will be fun for people to watch people they know tackle the confidence course. This will be a great event for years to come.”
How hard is the course?
The Covington Confidence Course is on 83 acres of property, commonly called the Newman Property, owned by the City of Covington.
The seven obstacles currently located just off the walking trail behind the Jaycees building are not easy to complete.
They look simple enough – jumping stump-to-stump, walking inclined logs, climbing large wooden structures – but looks can be deceiving.
Modeled after other off-road, obstacle course events, Mack said the course isn’t intended to be easy.
“These builds are built to Army specs.”
Who should participate?
The 2019 OCR is open to teenagers and adults who wish to compete individually or as part of a four-man team.
Individual participants can choose to run the obstacles only or the obstacles with a two-mile run. Teams will relay through the obstacles to close out the event.
“We want to encourage teams as much as possible and we want those teams to challenge other people, like the football team challenging the track team.”
Registration fees run from $29-$99. Participants can sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Covington/CovingtonRotary2019OCR
There will be an admission charge for spectators.
Here are other ways to help
The club is looking for sponsors for the race and there will be spots for vendors whose businesses and organizations are health and wellness related.
For more information about the event or sponsorship and vendor opportunities, please call Mack at 901-592-7644.
What does Rotary actually do?
Rotary International is known, largely, for its efforts in the eradication of Polio, but there are six areas of focus: maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment and water and sanitation.
Since 1967 the Covington club has contributed to these causes through various outreach efforts, such as participating in the collection coats for children in the winter, toys at Christmas and school supplies in the summer. For many years the club partnered with the Tipton County Education Foundation and distributed dictionaries to local third graders and continues to partner with and support other local non-profits.
“This fundraising event will allow us to continue our mission in Covington and Tipton County doing work which supports Rotary International’s focus,” said club president Mark Heaston. “We’re really excited about this and know it will be a great event.”
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