John and Mike instruct runners on gun safety.

Marathon week runners were treated to a special program offering when Craftsbury members John Madigan and Mike Gibson (both heavily involved with The Ethan Allen Biathlon Club) welcomed a handful of campers to the shooting range in Craftsbury. Coach Greg Wenneborg and six runners were instructed in gun basics and safety, prone and standing shooting, tactics, and tips for the sport of biathlon. Our eager group of runners practiced prone shooting with what Greg reports as "surprising success." Runners were then put into teams for a mini-biathlon relay. The thrill of running combined with target shooting was a true rush and an amazing experience.

Greg reported that the standing shooting portion of the relay lesson wasn't as triumphant as the prone. The runners were definitely humbled by the difficulty of hitting a target the size of a small plate from 50 yards away without the easier rifle support of the prone position. Lots of empty, unsatisfying plinks were heard during standing.A recharged group of newly-minted summer biathletes flitted back to camp via the Duck Pond Trail, reveling in their new-found skill while recounting their prowess (whether supported by statistical evidence or not) in marksmanship. Coach Brett Ely has a new nickname: Sniper!

Many thanks to John and Mike for making this introduction to biathlon such a wonderful experience.

Fast Hearts and Firearms