Early on Sunday morning, Sept. 24, the hills of Potomac will come alive with more than 300 runners and walkers bounding through the neighborhood while spectators cheer them on to the finish line. The event will span the hills of Avenel and then circle onto Persimmon Tree Drive and end back at the Bradley Boulevard school grounds. All are welcome to participate in the picturesque run and walk through the neighborhoods of Potomac and to stay for one-of-a-kind after-race activities.

The young women of the Connelly School of the Holy Child, their parents, siblings, grandparents, faculty and friends are awaiting the starting signal for this fun-filled yet challenging community event. The proceeds of the Tiger Trot 5K run/walk will support both the Cabin John Fire Volunteer Fire Department and health and wellness programs at the Connelly School of the Holy Child.

A trainer from Healthy Baller Speed and Performance Center will lead the race participants in a warm-up prior to the start of the race. After the Tiger Trot, participants can fill their hungry bellies with bagels, bananas, apples, Duck Donuts, granola bars, PowerAde, and bottled water from Roy Rogers. Additionally, there will be post-race party activities including a Vertical Rush Slide where youths can maneuver through the obstacle course, climb the rock wall and whoosh down the 21-foot slide and a bootcamp obstacle course which is a one-of-a- kind experience allowing the participants to have the feeling that they are engaging in a challenge of dexterity – much like American Ninja Warrior. Participants will make their way through the brick wall entrance, down the path of stone pillars, crawl through passageways, until they reach the rock climb wall leading to the teeter-totter pivoting bridge, then down the slide to the finish.

“I have run in the Tiger Trot every year since it started,” said Charlotte Barry, assistant cross country and track coach at Holy Child. “It is a great event that brings the community together to have fun, get some exercise, and raise money for a school that we all love. This year Holy Child's Cross Country team will be participating as a team; they are very excited to be sharing the sport that they love with the rest of the school.”

Co-chairs Maria Welsh and Rosina Aguiar enjoy coordinating the yearly event because it promotes health and wellness, empowers children to be strong and healthy and, most importantly, gives thanks to our emergency response teams from the Cabin John Fire Department.

The Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department is grateful that they have been the chosen to receive substantial funds from the Tiger Trot for several years. Deputy Chief Corinne Piccardi said, “These funds are utilized directly towards ensuring that our apparatus and personnel are ready to respond to the 911 call. We have been able to provide training opportunities for our personnel and most recently added a Rapid Deployment Boat for response in flooding conditions and on the Potomac River. One of our firemen is training for the Marine Corp marathon and looks forward to participating in this 5K race to help with his training regimen.”

Leslie Whitaker, Holy Child’s physical education department chair, said, “The Tiger Trot is a wonderful way to show appreciation for the Cabin John rescue team and promote the wellness philosophy of our curriculum through purchases such as BOSUs and body bars. This helps us expand our program using a variety of fitness tools to keep our students challenged in addition to traditional sports.”

Some of the sponsors for the Tiger Trot are Criswell Auto.Com, The Brickman Family, Charles Schwab, The Crivella Family, Potomac Soccer, Hard Times Café, The Roustamov/Kotova Family, Tamara Kucik Team, New Age Electric, Safford Automotive Group, United Technologies, Healthy Baller, The Allen Family and The Washington Auto Show.

Register for the 8:30 a.m. race at https://runsignup.com/Race/MD/Potomac/HolyChildTigerTrot. Pick up race packets at the school from 1-4 p.m. on Sept. 23.