Altoona Summer Biathlon
Altoona, PA
- Biathlon
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Altoona Summer Biathlon combines cross country running with rifle marksmanship. Race outline: 5km sprint format. First timers welcome! No experience necessary; all equipment provided. – One runner starts every minute and runs a 1 mile loop. – Using a .22 caliber rifle, prone position, five shots at 4.5” targets … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Jun 20):
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| H (°F) | 80 | 78 | 72 | 76 | 85 |
| L (°F) | 59 | 64 | 61 | 58 | 60 |
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Fun!
Summer biathlon (running and target shooting) was something I came upon in 2017. I competed in my first in 2018 and was hooked. This year, I found one close to … MORE
Summer biathlon (running and target shooting) was something I came upon in 2017. I competed in my first in 2018 and was hooked. This year, I found one close to home. The events are small (30-40 people), but it makes for a great experience for experienced and rookie competitors alike. The biathlon includes a 5k (total) of running and target shooting. You run 1 mile, return to the range and shoot 5 targets from the prone position, run another mile, shoot 5 targets standing, and run a final mile. The goal is to run fast and shoot straight. Easier said than done. Penalty laps or penalty time is assessed for each missed target.
The PA events are very beginner friendly and open to all ages. They are run by people who love the sport and want to share it with others. With the events being so small, almost everyone comes out with a prize of some kind too. I’m sure these type of biathlon events exist in other states. If you have one near you, consider checking it out, or come to PA and join the fun!
The Altoona event was a lot of fun. The running route is a crosscountry type course including a gravel road and grass trail. While you get to run down a long hill to start each mile, you finish by running back up that same hill to the range or finish line. That adds additional challenge when it comes to controlling your breath to shoot well. Yes, you can blow off the shooting and just run fast, but the point is to do both well.