Long-range shooting/running biathlon

[fmillik]

I was watching a Youtube video on the Vortex Optics Extreme (https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-extreme-registration-2019.html), and it made me wonder if anyone knew of or participated in any long distance running/shooting events. Essentially like the Olympic Biathlon, but running instead of skiing and shooting at targets from 100 - 1000 yards (rather than 50 m).

 

[Simonsza1]

Just bought a biathlon sling today and am setting up 22 spinner targets on my property. We have some good exercise trails we run on our land and I’m pretty excited about it. Told my wife today my plan and now she thinks she wants a sling as well so she can participate.

 

[TACC]

Maybe there are some other competitions along the lines of the Monmouth?

 

[buffalowinter]

Wife and I have done both winter and summer biathlon. She was Colorado State Champ for Winter Biathlon and won both a run/shoot and bike /shoot biathlon two years ago. She crashed on the mountain bike, ran with her arm in a sling she improvised, and still won. The run/shoot and bike/shoot were run one right after the other on the same day. Coming up again in June. Anschutz 1827 and Krico 360S grip activated Biathlon guns.

 

[Simonsza1]

Wife and I have done both winter and summer biathlon. She was Colorado State Champ for Winter Biathlon and won both a run/shoot and bike /shoot biathlon two years ago. She crashed on the mountain bike, ran with her arm in a sling she improvised, and still won. The run/shoot and bike/shoot were run one right after the other on the same day. Coming up again in June. Anschutz 1827 and Krico 360S grip activated Biathlon guns.

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That is so freekin cool! I wonder if there are any of those on the East coast

 

[chamberbrake]

That is so freekin cool! I wonder if there are any of those on the East coast

Anyone reply about something like this on east coast?

 

[O-Town]

Anyone reply about something like this on east coast?

Where on the East Coast? I used to live in Massachusetts and there are a good number of biathlon programs in New England. Used to race both summer and winter biathlon at Harvard Sportsman's Club. A few very good clubs in NH and Ethan Allen in Jericho, VT is among the best known biathlon venues in the US.

 

[chamberbrake]

Where on the East Coast? I used to live in Massachusetts and there are a good number of biathlon programs in New England. Used to race both summer and winter biathlon at Harvard Sportsman's Club. A few very good clubs in NH and Ethan Allen in Jericho, VT is among the best known biathlon venues in the US.

Maybe PA, VA etc. I thought this looked interesting. We have nothing close to this in OH region.

 

[Simonsza1]

I’m in WV will have to look into it and see if there’s something. I actually had heard there was winter biathlon up in Vermont and New Hampshire

 

[chamberbrake]

I’m in WV will have to look into it and see if there’s something. I actually had heard there was winter biathlon up in Vermont and New Hampshire

Awesome

 

[fmillik]

I think I would find a winter biathlon more interesting if you are shooting at distant targets and could use a bigger rifle. I do a fair amount of Nordic skiing, and it would be easier to carry a heavier rifle that way.

 

[chamberbrake]

Wow lov

Great

 

[O-Town]

Maybe PA, VA etc. I thought this looked interesting. We have nothing close to this in OH region.

Check out: https://www.teamusa.org/Home/US Biathlon/Clubs and Programs
Apparently there's a club somewhere in PA:

http://www.pabiathlon.com

 

[fencewire]

Could do the running part here in TX but not near enough of the white stuff... looks like it'd be fun though.

 

[fmillik]

Though I have run marathons/half-marathons, I find running just for the sake of exercise really dull. If you could break up the monotony with shooting, that would help. I would also be more motivated to put in miles with a specific goal in mind (like training for a mountain hunt or a competition like a biathlon).

 

[fencewire]

I would imagine that the running would lead to a lot of chaffing toting around the gun... but from the pictures above the gun isn't toted... are they just left at the "shooting area" and you run a loop or something? That would be much more interesting...

 

[Simonsza1]

Update, so course is pretty well set up as far as my targets go. 9 solo spinners and 3 of the little 3 target spinners. I did try out the biathlon sling from tab and it seems like its going to work fine I do have to keep one hand behind my back just for that little extra help so rifle doesn’t move around at all. The loop on my property is about 2.5 miles of very mountainous terrain so I can’t run all of it have to walk a few of the uphills. My wife also does it with me so I’ll try to get a couple pics or a short video or something but so far it’s an amazing new way to make getting some workouts in around the house too much fun.

 

[fmillik]

I would imagine that the running would lead to a lot of chaffing toting around the gun... but from the pictures above the gun isn't toted... are they just left at the "shooting area" and you run a loop or something? That would be much more interesting...

I thought about that, but when I run trail marathons, I do all my training on backcountry trails. So I have to carry all my gear in a small backpack that carries a lot of water and some other necessary supplies. If you distribute the weight correctly, and keep it tight (so it doesn't bounce), I never had an issue with the pack chafing. (More often it's in your nether regions from your legs chafing your bits )

It also would somewhat defeat the purpose to run a race without the gun. At least for what I have in mind. Biathlons were started by the Norwegians as an alternative of training for the military.

 

[fmillik]

Update, so course is pretty well set up as far as my targets go. 9 solo spinners and 3 of the little 3 target spinners. I did try out the biathlon sling from tab and it seems like its going to work fine I do have to keep one hand behind my back just for that little extra help so rifle doesn’t move around at all. The loop on my property is about 2.5 miles of very mountainous terrain so I can’t run all of it have to walk a few of the uphills. My wife also does it with me so I’ll try to get a couple pics or a short video or something but so far it’s an amazing new way to make getting some workouts in around the house too much fun.

I would love to see your setup!

 

[Simonsza1]

I’ll get some pics up one of these days.

 

[Kamerad]

I would love to see your setup!

Yes, this interests me, too!

 

[earthquake]

Competition Dynamics used to do them...not sure if they still do or not. I ran one back in 2012 iirc, and it was an ass-kicker.

I lived in Colorado at the time and I believe it was just across the border in Wyoming. Anyway, there was a target array out to 1k or so yards. Engage targets near to far, and for every miss, you had to do 2 burpees with your rifle, then run a mile out and back with your gun, then shoot the array over again, repeat. I think there was 2 - 3 iterations. It sucked but was "fun" too. I have photos somewhere.

@TBACRAY was there.

 

[NGCSUGrad09]

So not necessarily long-range, but there are a growing set of matches called Run and Guns. Sometimes called combat biathlons by a few of the match directors, it's carrying a carbine and pistol along a route, shooting stages as you run up to them. Half of your score is your run time and the other half your shooting performance. They've quickly become one of my favorites, along with others like the Competition Dynamics stuff, Mammoth and other more physically demanding rifle matches.

Here's an AAR I wrote up for one this past weekend. I've got a lot of additional info I've been compiling on my page as well. http://practicalsharpshooter.com/17southrng-5k-1/

 

[Simonsza1]

Looks fun, what’s the best way to find these types of matches? I’m in southeast WV if anyone knows of some that aren’t super far.

 

[NGCSUGrad09]

Theres a FB group called RnG discussion that has the latest info. You just missed one in KY 2 weeks ago.