// First-Timer Guide
Your first run.
Everything a new competitor needs to register, prepare, and finish their first Twilight Biathlon with a smile.
// Before You Register
Are you ready?
You should be an experienced shooter before entering. This is not the place to learn the basics. You need to be comfortable with:
- → Loading, unloading, and making safe your rifle and pistol
- → Engaging targets from standing, kneeling, and prone positions
- → Moving with loaded firearms
- → Basic firearm malfunction remediation
You do not need to be a fast runner. Many competitors walk significant portions of the course. The community is welcoming and the atmosphere is encouraging — finishing is the goal.
// Which Division?
Pick your night.
Saturday 2Gun — recommended for first-timers
White-light division. Bring a rifle, pistol, headlamp, and weapon lights. The course is completely dark, but you control your own illumination.
PCC
Pistol caliber carbine. Good option if you don't want to manage two firearms — uses a single primary; pistol is optional.
Friday NV divisions — experienced NV shooters only
NV 2Gun and NV PCC. Require night vision devices and prohibit white light. Not the place to use NV for the first time.
// Gear Checklist
What to bring.
Carry all gear from start to finish. No resupply at your vehicle.
Firearms & Carry
- ▸ Rifle — center-fire (2Gun) or PCC (PCC division)
- ▸ Pistol — center-fire (2Gun); optional in PCC
- ▸ Rifle sling / retention device — must stay attached to body
- ▸ Rigid pistol holster covering the trigger, retains while running
- ▸ Dedicated magazine carry — chest rig or belt mag pouches
Ammunition
- ▸ Rifle: 30–50 hits needed (bring 2× that)
- ▸ Pistol: 40–60 hits needed (bring 2× that)
- ▸ Loaded magazines ready to go
- ▸ No tracers, incendiary, armor-piercing, or steel/tungsten-core projectiles
Lighting
- ▸ Headlamp (primary navigation light)
- ▸ Weapon-mounted light on rifle and pistol
- ▸ Backup flashlight
- ▸ Fresh batteries in all lights + spare batteries
Safety & Medical
- ▸ Eye protection
- ▸ Ear protection (electronic strongly recommended)
- ▸ Tourniquet / IFAK carried on your person
Timing & Tools
- ▸ Stopwatch or watch with timer function
- ▸ Knife or multi-tool
- ▸ Basic weapon servicing tools, electrical tape, zip-ties
Hydration
- ▸ Water / hydration — hands-free pack preferred
Clothing & Personal
- ▸ Weather-appropriate clothing — layers for night temps
- ▸ Trail runners or boots for uneven wooded terrain at night
- ▸ Gloves — liner or trigger-finger gloves
- ▸ Change of clothes for after — you will be dirty and/or wet
- ▸ DEET bug spray (warm-season events)
A light failure on course costs time.
Your headlamp is your most critical piece of non-firearm gear. Bring a backup. Fresh batteries. Test everything before you leave the parking area.
// Seasonal Conditions
Plan for conditions.
Don't just react to them. Twilight runs after dark — dress for the night, not the daytime high.
Spring / Fall — Mild & Rain
Twilight's most common months and the most comfortable for running, but Oklahoma weather is volatile and you run after dark, when temperatures fall further and you can't see weather moving in.
- ▸ Volatile by nature: a 70°F sunny afternoon can become 40°F and storming quickly — and night lows drop further after sunset. Dress for the night, not the daytime high.
- ▸ Layering system: moisture-wicking base, light mid-layer, and a packable wind/rain shell that fits in a pocket or under your rig. You can't see a front coming in the dark, so carry the shell if there's any chance of precipitation.
- ▸ Creek crossings run deeper and faster after rain — expect wet feet and plan footwear accordingly.
- ▸ Mud affects footing on hills and embankments — lugged-sole trail footwear is strongly recommended over road shoes, and matters more at night when you can't read the ground ahead.
- ▸ Check the forecast the morning of, but don't rely on it — the daytime forecast undersells the night low. Dress to manage both outcomes.
- ▸ Lightning: the Match Director has sole authority to suspend the event. If you hear thunder on course, find cover and wait for official calls from staff.
- ▸ Ticks are most active in spring — DEET works; do a full check after the event.
// On Course
What to expect.
- 01
Check-in
Arrive during the check-in window (see the Register page for event schedule). You'll get a start time. Be ready before that start time.
- 02
Shooters meeting
Mandatory. The Match Director briefs the entire field on safety, course layout, and any changes. Ask your questions here.
- 03
Your release
Competitors are released individually every 3-5 minutes. When your name is called, move to the starting area to start your run.
- 04
The course
A marked 5K route through Oklahoma fields, woods, hills, and creek beds. Follow the markers. It's dark — that's the point.
- 05
Shooting stages
You'll hit 4 stages across 2 laps (odd/even rotation). At each stage, wait in the stage waiting area until the RO calls you. The RO supervises your entire course of fire.
- 06
Finish
Cross the finish line. Your total time (run – wait times + stage times + penalties) is your score.
// Tips From Past Competitors
Hard-earned advice.
Don't rush the stages
Penalties add up fast. Taking an extra couple seconds to settle your breathing and confirm your sight picture saves time.
Hydrate before you start
The course is 5K through fields and woods. In Oklahoma spring/fall weather, dehydration is real.
Test your gear the night before
Run around your neighborhood in the dark with your kit (your neighbors will love it). Does the sling chafe? Does the holster retain at a jog? Does your headlamp bounce? Find out before the event.
Walk when you need to
Nobody judges you for walking. A steady pace with clean stages beats sprinting and missing targets.
Have fun
The Twilight Biathlon community is one of the most welcoming in competitive shooting. People will help you, cheer for you, and swap stories after the event.
// After the Event
Scoring, awards, t-shirt.
- Scoring. Scores are usually ready within an hour of all stages reporting in after the final competitor completes the course.
- Awards ceremony. Top 3 in each division — presented Saturday night after all scoring is complete (usually very early Sunday morning). Stick around.
- Your t-shirt. Every registered competitor receives a Twilight Biathlon t-shirt at the event.