Make tracks to Lincoln City for this race

Get an early season boost to your running year at the Tiger Tracks 5K/10K races in Lincoln City on Sunday, May 4.

An event to support the Taft Tiger Boosters, the races are perfectly timed for those entering upcoming longer races, particularly an iconic local event.

“Our race is one month before the Newport Marathon and Half Marathon,” said Beth Towers, race organizer and Boosters president. “So, this is perfect for people that are planning to do either of those races.”

The race, open to walkers and people who prefer to run or walk with their pets, is taking place of another race Towers directed on the same course, which begins and ends at Wapiti Park and runs along country roads east of Highway 101. The previous event, called Fire Aid, raised funds to help victims of the Echo Mountain Fire.

“With this one we’re raising money for the Boosters,” Towers said. “We changed the time of year from the previous event so it didn’t conflict with our fall auction.”

“The money we raise with this event is going to more than sports,” Towers said. “I think it’s important that people know that. We help with programs like music, art, culinary, drama; so many different things. We raised about $70,000 last year and this is a new thing for the program. We even do little things that are still important, like paying for breakfast burritos for a teacher appreciation event.”

Registration includes medals for finishers and a t-shirt with a fun design.

“It’s called Tiger Tracks, so there are little tiger paw prints going across the shirt,” Towers said. “The bibs are also really cool and Noah Lambie who teaches graphic design is designing the medals, so I’m sure those are going to turn out really cool, too. Good race swag is important to some people and I’m one of them.”

Tiger Tracks registration is $40 for the 5K and $50 for the 10K. For more information and a link for registration, go to the TigerTracks 5K/10K page on Facebook.