TACFIT
Florida
tactical fitness in florida
what the sport is, which formats actually run in this state, where they happen, and every date we have on the calendar.
Last reviewed . Reviewed quarterly.
What tactical fitness is in Florida
what is tactical fitness in Florida?
Tactical fitness is a competition format that pairs functional fitness work with live fire marksmanship and scores them together. In Florida the calendar is thin and clustered: the largest events run in the panhandle, and DEFCON runs a monthly series in the Tampa Bay area plus a statewide ruck and shoot event in Manatee County.
the calendar
Every DEFCON date we have confirmed. Fields cap, so slots go before match day.
- RUCK.SHOOT.REPEAT
Ruck. Shoot. Repeat. September 2026
Manatee Gun and Archery Club · Myakka City, FL
8:30 AM · $125 · capped at 20
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which formats run in this state
The category covers several different things, and the names get used interchangeably in a way that makes searching for them frustrating. These are the three we run.
TWO-GUN
two-gun match
RUCK.SHOOT.REPEAT
hybrid ruck and shoot AMRAP
where the sport actually happens here
Florida has year round outdoor range access and very few events that combine it with real physical work. The biggest names in the category run their main events in the panhandle, near Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach, which is five to seven hours from Tampa. A shorter one day version runs more often and sometimes lands in Central Florida.
The long-course run and gun format is thinner still. The closest thing the state hosts to a classic biathlon runs near Tallahassee, once a year. For most of the peninsula, that leaves a long drive or nothing.
That gap is why we run monthly instead of annually. Two ranges, both in the western half of the state, both reachable from the Tampa, St Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton corridor.
Ruskin, FL · Hillsborough County
Gun Craft Inc
DEFCON runs monthly TACFIT tactical fitness competitions and monthly two-gun matches at Gun Craft Inc, 2102 24th St SE, Ruskin, FL 33570. It sits in Hillsborough County on the south side of Tampa Bay, roughly 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Tampa, and it is the most regular tactical fitness calendar in the Tampa Bay area.
Myakka City, FL · Manatee County
Manatee Gun and Archery Club
DEFCON runs Ruck. Shoot. Repeat. at Manatee Gun and Archery Club, 1805 Logue Rd, Myakka City, FL 34251. It is a 350 acre facility in Manatee County, inland from Bradenton, with a public line, three action bays, a pistol caliber carbine course, and rifle out to 600 yards. RSR draws entries from all over Florida, so for most people the drive is part of the plan rather than a problem.
if you have never done this
Most of our field started with no competition experience of any kind. Stages are briefed before you run them, a range officer walks every competitor through, and workouts can be modified so you finish. Finishing is the standard, not placing. The FAQ covers what usually comes up first, and the full rulesets are published with divisions, scoring, ammunition restrictions, and safety rules.
reading, in rough order
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from HYROX to tactical fitness: what changes when you add a rifle
HYROX lands in Tampa in October 2026, about 40 minutes from a monthly tactical fitness competition. If you already have the engine, here is exactly what changes when marksmanship gets scored alongside the work.
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run and gun in Florida: the format, and what actually exists here
Run and gun means three different things, which is why searching for it is frustrating. Here is what the format actually is, an honest map of what runs in Florida, and the closest thing to it near Tampa Bay.
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training for the Tactical Games in Florida: where to get actual reps
The hard part about preparing for the Tactical Games in Florida isn't the training plan, it's finding somewhere to practice the format between events. Here is which local matches map to which demands, and what a season of reps actually buys you.
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what is tactical fitness?
Tactical fitness is a competition format that pairs functional fitness work with live fire marksmanship and scores them together. Here is what the sport is, how scoring works, and how it differs from the things you already know.
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run and gun competitions in the tampa bay area
Every run and gun, tactical fitness, and two-gun competition within driving distance of Tampa, with venues, formats, and an honest answer about which one to start with.
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how to train for tactical fitness competition
Tactical fitness training blends conditioning, strength, and marksmanship. Here's how to actually structure months of training so it comes together on match day.
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the ultimate tactical fitness competition packing list
A complete tactical fitness competition packing list: firearms, ammo, gear, and athlete village setup so you compete strong all day.
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what actually happens at a DEFCON event
A DEFCON event is a monthly tactical fitness match in Central Florida that mixes functional fitness with practical shooting, built so first-timers can finish, not just win.
pick a date
everyone welcome, from people who have never held a rifle to Tactical Games athletes. that is not a slogan, it is how the divisions are set up.
Questions? info@defcontf.com