Photo Courtesy of Visit the Northshore Event Page
A morning on the trails, a medal to take home, and a chance to help local students, the Gator Tail 5K Trail Run brought all three together on October 17. Tamanend returned as a sponsor of the eighth annual event, joining runners and neighbors at Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) in Lacombe, Louisiana.
The connection to Tamanend was part of the course itself. From NTCC’s Lacombe campus, runners made their way across gravel, dirt and grassy paths, through wooded trails and along the southwest perimeter of Tamanend before returning to campus. The changing terrain offered a different experience from a road race, with the surrounding woods providing the setting for the morning.
For Tamanend residents, it was also an opportunity to take part in a Northshore tradition right outside their doors. The course connected the college campus with the landscape around their neighborhood, giving a familiar setting a different role on race day. For others taking part, it was a chance to explore the trails while contributing to a local cause.
To help bring the community together for race day, Tamanend offered residents a 50% registration discount. It gave neighbors an opportunity to enjoy the trails together while supporting NTCC students. The offer was a way to invite residents to be part of an event taking place so close to home and to share the experience with others in their community.
D.R. Horton also invited residents and runners to a post-race event at the Tribute Community’s pool and clubhouse, offering an opportunity to spend time together beyond the course and celebrate earning their medals.
The race also supported local students in pursuing their education. Proceeds benefit the Northshore College Enhancement Foundation’s scholarship program, helping NTCC students pursue their education and prepare for future careers. Each year, the event gives participants and sponsors a way to contribute to educational opportunities in the same region where they live and work.
NTCC is a neighboring institution whose work reaches students across the Northshore. Supporting the Gator Tail offers a way to contribute to that work while sharing an experience with the wider community. The race brings the college, sponsors, and participants together around a purpose they can all help advance.
Tamanend looks forward to future Gator Tail races and more opportunities for neighbors across the Northshore to come together. Whether returning to the trails or participating for the first time, residents will have another chance to share in a tradition that keeps local students at its heart.