Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
My name is Lex and I’m a 34 year old living in New Hampshire with my husband Bobby and our two dogs Kal and Ruby. I have been a nurse for about 9 years, but I will be graduating with my doctorate in nurse anesthesia this month (April 2026) and thus will officially become a nurse anesthetist. Fitness has been my favorite hobby for well over a decade and I exclusively workout in our home gym.
How did you first hear about tactical fitness type events?
I think the first time I heard about tactical fitness style events is when Jacob Heppner started competing in The Tactical Games. I followed him from his CrossFit days and thought it was super cool that he was jumping into this new sport.
What was your first Tactical Fitness event?
The Tactical Games Skirmish at Sig Sauer in New Hampshire.
Did you have any doubts or concerns going into your first event? What were they?
I just didn’t want to look like an idiot! I was worried I would have a malfunction that I didn’t know how to clear, or that I would forget to properly perform the clearing procedures and get disqualified over something like that.
How did you prepare leading up to the competition? (training, gear, mindset, etc.)
I watched some YouTube videos of The Tactical Games competitors going through their gear and explaining why they went with certain gear/any changes they’ve made since starting out. My husband has been shooting for over 2 decades so he was also able to guide me in choosing my firearms and modifications for competition. For training, I kept up with my strength and conditioning style workouts with the addition of some sandbag work and grip strength. We also purchased a C2 bike erg because I’ve noticed TTG loves those. Finally, I participated in the Fitness and Firearms Online (FAFO) online competition this spring. The first 2 weeks were just before my first event so it was perfect timing to work on combining fitness and shooting.
What was your first impression when you arrived at the event and saw everything in person?
I’ve been to Sig Sauer several times and went to the The Tactical Games Regional event there as a spectator last August so I had an idea of what things would look like. It was certainly different as a competitor! First impression was that a lot of thought and effort went into setting everything up and making it a worthwhile competition experience for everyone.
How did it feel completing your first event?
I was super nervous going into my first event, but after finishing all 5 stages (and getting 3rd place in my division) I was super proud of myself for handling the day well without any mishaps (or injuries!) I kept telling myself that the day was simply a way to get my feet wet in the sport and to treat it like a form of data collection – what worked, what didn’t, things I need to work on for next time, etc.
What part of the event challenged you the most, and why? (physical and/or mental)
The weather was not ideal and there was about 3 hours between each stage. That messed with me mentally and physically. It was frigid and windy between stages so my body/joints were getting cold and locked up. Without having any real way to warm up before each event it wasn’t ideal going from standing around in the cold to going hard in a workout.
What advice would you give to someone who is on the fence about signing up for their first event?
If you are undecided about signing up for your first tactical event, I would encourage you to just do it. If you wait until you feel ready, you’ll be waiting forever! A Tactical Games Skirmish is especially a great way to ease into the sport. Most of the people there were first time competitors and the ROs are super helpful and encouraging. The shooting community is awesome and you are bound to learn a lot both about the sport and yourself.
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