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Running and Gunning

By Beacon Staff

Depending on your skills, the hardest part of the Seeley Lake Summer Biathlon might not be the one-mile run or the three-mile bike ride. It could be unloading a five-round clip into a target 50 yards away with a pulsating heart rate.

The first annual Seeley Lake Summer Biathlon will be held on July 25 at the Wilderness Sportsman’s Club shooting range. The race is a cousin to the Scandinavian-originated winter biathlon, an Olympic event that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. There have been two consecutive winter biathlons held in the Seeley Lake region, attracting 25 participants two years ago and 45 last winter.

“Everybody had so much fun at the winter one, we decided we should do a summer one,” said Cheryl Thompson, one of the biathlon’s organizers.

Thompson said the format for the summer biathlon is essentially the same as the winter version, except people choose to run or bike instead of cross-country ski. Contestants will either run one mile or bike three miles in a loop before arriving at a shooting area with racked rifles awaiting them. This is done twice.

The rifles are racked for both novice and experienced shooters, unlike the winter biathlon, Thompson said. In the winter race, rifles are only racked for the novices. The experienced shooters carry their own guns while skiing either classic or skate style.

After the first loop, contestants shoot from the prone position, meaning they are on their stomachs. The target, located 50 yards away, has holes at which the contestants aim. Each shooter gets five shots. Rifles must be .22 caliber with no scope.

If a shot hits a hole, a door flips up that signifies to spectators that the shot was successful. The door doesn’t move if the shooter misses. For each missed shot, the contestant is given a 30-second time penalty if they’re running and a 90-second penalty if they’re biking. In the winter version, Thompson said, shooters who miss must take penalty loops of 100 yards or so instead of taking a predetermined time penalty.

Contestants then repeat the loop again and return to the shooting area, where they get five shots again, but this time from a standing position. Shooters must decide if they are willing to give up a few seconds to let their heart rate slow and steady their aim, or if they want to shoot right away.

For those who haven’t pre-registered, there will be a registration period the morning of the race on July 25. It runs from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Then at 9 a.m., there will be a mandatory safety class for anyone who has never taken a biathlon safety course before.

A race meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by “zero hour” at 10:30 where participants have an opportunity to practice shooting. The running portion of the race begins at noon. Biking starts at 1 p.m. The running course is flat, while the biking loop has a slight incline, Thompson said. Anyone is welcome to attend.

“This really is a spectator sport,” Thompson said. “It’s not like other races where the racers disappear.”

The event is sponsored by the Seeley Lake Nordic Ski Club and the Wilderness Sportsman’s Club. To get to the shooting range, where the race is held, turn east on Morrell Creek Road just north of the VFW flagpole. Continue until you see the airport on your right.

Registration is $25 for people with biathlon experience, $20 for novices and $5 for youth 54 inches or taller up to 16 years old. A guardian signature is required for youth registration. Except for rifles, participants are required to bring their own equipment and water.

For more information, call Cheryl Thompson at 210-3541 or e-mail her at [email protected].