Pawnee Run and Gun

 

Intro:  

The Pawnee Run 'n Gun is a biathlon – competitors will have the choice of a 5K, 10K, or 15K run combined with a shooting competition. The event is a test of man and equipment alike. It is intended to give participants an idea of how being hot, exhausted, and challenged by the environment affects their shooting, and to test the effectiveness of their gear under field conditions. This event is not intended for inexperienced shooters – all participants are expected to be familiar with the operation of their firearms, and to observe basic principles of firearm safety at all times. With the exception of emergencies, Range Officers (ROs) are not allowed to help participants in any way. Good attitudes are a must. If you are the type of person who gets upset when minor changes are made to a plan or when you don’t always get your way, this is not the event for you.  This event is being hosted by very generous individuals on their private property -- all participants must show strict respect for the owners and their property.   

Basics:  

Participants will receive both a score for their run based on how long it took them to complete the course, and a score for their shooting based on how long it took them to clear each course of fire. The run score and shooting score will be equally weighted in determining the participant’s final score. This is true run-what-you-brung field-style shooting, with no equipment classes.  For the most part, if you want to carry it for 5 or 10 clicks, be our guest.  Shooters are expected to have all their firearms sighted in and all their gear ready to go on the morning of the shoot. There will be no zeroing at the event. Think of this as a test of how you and your equipment would perform in a Second Amendment situation if you had to go take care of business at your current state of readiness, whatever that is. Run order will be more or less random. We will try to be accommodating to participants who wish to share firearms or equipment (we can have one person run in the morning and the other in the afternoon), or to those who wish to run together.  

Equipment:  

The only equipment that is strictly required to participate is a safe center fire rifle, a safe center fire pistol, enough ammo to clear the course (at least twice the minimum round count from the Course of Fire is recommended), eye protection, ear protection, and some form of stopwatch. Everything else is up to the participant, but water is highly recommended. Shooters may use any type of gear they want to carry their equipment with, the only requirement being that pistols must be carried in a secure holster that covers the trigger if they are to be carried loaded. Rifles may be carried any way you like, as long as they remain pointed in a safe direction.  Targets designated as rifle targets may be engaged with rifle OR pistol unless the Course of Fire states otherwise.  Targets designated as pistol targets may only engaged with pistol.  Your pistol must fire a pistol cartridge, and may not be held or braced by anything other than your hands when firing.  Firearms or ammunition that we believe would damage our steel targets will not be allowed at the event, at the organizers' sole discretion.  This would include belted magnum rifle cartridges of any kind, and tracer or armor piercing ammunition that has a bullet with a hardened penetrator core.  Mild steel core ammo like M855 and 7N6 is OK.  Non-AP ammo in any common service cartridge, past or current, should be OK.  If there is any question regarding the admissibility of any firearm or ammo that you plan on using, ask.    

Rules:  

First and foremost, all participants will be expected to comply with basic firearms safety at all times. If you demonstrate inability or unwillingness to follow basic firearm safety, you will be asked to leave, with no refund and no apology. Muzzles must be pointed in a safe direction at all times, and fingers must be off the trigger unless the firearm is pointed at a target. Rifles shall only be loaded when a shooter is at a rifle stage, after the RO has given the “load and make ready” command, and shall be unloaded immediately upon completing the stage. Shooters discovered to be running with a loaded rifle will be immediately disqualified and will receive a run score of 0.  Shooters who point a loaded firearm at another person will also be immediately disqualified from the event.  Shooters may leave their handguns loaded at all times. However, loaded handguns must remain securely in a holster unless the shooter has been given the “fire” command on a shooting stage.  Some stages will be active, involving moving and shooting.  Firearms may remain loaded during movement, but all firearms must always be pointed in a safe direction.  Rifle safeties must be on while moving.  

Procedures:  

Every shooter will be given a score card that he will be required to carry through the course.  The card is how we record your score.  Do not lose it or we will not be able to give you a score for the event.  When a shooter approaches a station, he will be required to show a RO an empty mag well and empty chamber on his rifle. If another shooter is currently on the stage when he arrives, the one who just arrived will be instructed by a RO to start his stopwatch to keep track of his wait time (this will be subtracted off the participant’s run time when his run score is calculated). It is purely the shooter’s responsibility to keep track of his wait time.  Adjusting or manipulating gear is not allowed while running wait time -- make sure your gear is set up the way you want before you start your wait time.  When the shooter is ready to shoot the stage, he will hand the RO his score card, and the RO will record his wait time if any. The shooter will be given a quick summary of the course of fire.  If the shooter is on a rifle stage, the RO will give a "load and make ready" command.  At this point the shooter may load his rifle.  The RO will ask if the shooter is ready, and then give the “fire” command, at which point the shooter may begin shooting the stage.  All stages will have a zone where the shooter must fire from -- either a particular hole in a barricade that you must shoot through, or a marked zone on the ground, which every part of your body or equipment which touches the ground must remain inside of when you fire.  Hits made from outside the designated area will not count toward completion of the course of fire. Every shooting stage will have a time limit.  This is to keep the runners moving and to prevent large backups of shooters waiting to shoot a stage.  If a shooter does not complete the stage under the time limit, he will receive a score of 0 for that stage.  If for any reason the “cease fire” command is given, you will immediately cease fire, holster your handgun, and unload your rifle.  You will do likewise when you complete a stage, or time out. The RO should tell you your time for the stage. The RO will record your time on your score card.  Every shooter must show a RO an empty mag well and chamber on his rifle before leaving each stage. A RO will give directions on where to go to continue down the trail. Shooters are NOT required to leave their rifle’s bolt open during the run… this is actually discouraged, as it will allow lots of that beautiful Oklahoma red dirt to accumulate inside the action. There will be ample opportunity for this to happen on the course.  

The Run:  

Participants will have the choice of signing up for a 5K, 10K, or 15K run.  Distances are approximate.  You will make this choice when you buy your ticket(s).  The 10K course involves an extra loop of trail and two bonus stages -- see the course of fire.  The path for participants to follow will be marked with brightly colored flags and/or tape.  A good deal of the trail will be down a gravel county road.  Keep to the left edge of the road and watch for traffic.  Shooters must stay on the marked path. Do not cut corners.  Failure to follow the marked trail may take you into the impact area of a hot range!!!  If the trail takes you through some difficult terrain, this is on purpose!  Certain obstacles and other challenges may be encountered along the way.  These must be completed, or you will receive a run score of 0.  Accepting help or water from a RO will also get you a run score of 0.  Participants should prepare to get dirty, muddy, and wet.  

Your Fitness:  

This event is in a remote area, and you need to be aware of over-exertion.  We should have some folks with medical skills on hand, but your health is your responsibility.  If you start having problems, slow down -- drink some water -- listen to your body!  There is no shame in walking the course -- know yourself and your limitations.  Ask for help from a RO or other event staff if you believe it would endanger your health to continue with the event.  Transportation will be arranged for you.  

Accomodations:  

Attendees may park in the designated parking area in the pasture South of the house. Camping is allowed at the range Friday night before the run.  There will be people on site all day Friday, as the ROs will be running the course.  Porta-potties will be on site.   

Sign Up:  

The registration fee for the Pawnee Run 'n Gun is $100 for the 5K and 10K, and $160 for the 15K. Registration is handled through EventBrite, which charges an additional fee of a few bucks per ticket.  To register, click on the "Sign Up!" button at the top menu of this website.  Make sure you are familiar with all of our rules and proceures before signing up.  Tickets are non-transferable.  Sign up now to reserve your spot.  Included with the purchase of each ticket is a T shirt and a meal.  We will attempt to provide everyone with a shirt in their selected size, but this is not guaranteed.  New for 2020: In the interest of minimizing participants waiting to run, each participant will be randomly assigned to run in either the morning or the afternoon.  After you purchase a ticket, we will email you to notify you which you are assigned to.  We will attempt to accommodate groups of people who wish to run during the same time of day.  Contact the organizers to arrange this.  We will assign those who purchase tickets on the same order to run during the same time of day unless you request otherwise.  Procedures:

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New for 2020: On the day of the event, participants must register at the registration table before they can participate.  For participants assigned to run in the morning, registration will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.  For those assigned to run in the afternoon, registration will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.  At registration, runners will be issued score cards and randomly assigned a run order within their assigned time of day.  Those who miss registration will not be allowed to participate, so be on time.  Immediately after registration, there will be a runner's meeting for everyone running during that time of day (this will be at 7:30 for morning runners and 11:30 for afternoon runners). Following the meeting, start times for each shooter will be posted.  Morning runners will start being released at 9:00 a.m., and afternoon runners will start being released at noon. 

Directions:

The GPS coordinates for the event location are:  36.402088,-96.853346.  You should be able to get good directions by entering these coordinates into any of the major online map websites or your GPS navigator.  Bing Maps, Google Maps, Mapquest, and Apple Maps all give good directions.  There is a map to the range on our Eventbrite registration page.  Old fashioned directions:  The event location is about a 15 minute drive from the town of Pawnee.  From Pawnee, take Highway 18 North approximately 4.5 miles to the intersection with Highway 15.  Turn left (West) on Highway 15 and follow it for exactly 3 miles.  Turn left (South) on N3450 Road.  This turn is easy to miss.  There is an old sign for a church at this intersection that can be read going the other direction (East) on Highway 15.  Take N3450 Road South 0.6 miles.  The driveway to the event location is on the right.  Signs should be posted.

15K Event:

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This event is for those special folks among us who want to volunteer for an extra grueling challenge.  The 15K event will consist of a 5K and 10K run back-to-back, with a 15 minute re-supply break in between.   Each run will be a separate entry in the 5K and 10K race, and the participant with the highest combined score between these two runs will receive a special 15K trophy.  There are no special equipment requirements for the 15K.  

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Juggernaut Challenge:

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The Juggernaut Challenge is for those who don't think a regular 5K or 10K is hard enough, and who want to test their protective equipment under difficult conditions.  To participate, you must run the 5K or the 10K with plate armor and a helmet.  Plates must be NIJ Level III or IV rated, or SAPI/ESAPI rated. All plate materials which meet these ratings are allowed.  You must wear both front and back plates.  Helmets must be hard, but ballistic helmets are not required -- bump helmets are fine.  All shooting stages must be completed with plates and helmet worn.  The winners in each division will receive something cool.

No AR Challenge:

The special challenge for this year's event will be the No AR Challenge.  To participate, shooters must complete the 10K using a rifle that is not an AR-15 and which does not accept AR-15 magazines.  ARs chambered for full size cartridges such as AR-10s are acceptable.  The winner will receive a special trophy. Refund/Cancellation Policy:  

In the event of cancellation, a half refund, minus Eventbrite and Paypal fees (if any), will be given until 30 days before the event for 5K and 10K orders.  No refund will be given after that.  No refunds will be given for 15K orders.  To cancel, contact us by e-mail at okrunngun@gmail.com.  Out of courtesy to your fellow Run 'n Gunners, please notify us as quickly as possible if you need to cancel so we can offer your spot to someone else. 

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Contact:

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If you have questions that aren't addressed on this site or otherwise need to contact the organizers, email okrunngun@gmail.com.