FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #187 A Veteran-Owned Archery Combat Game For Parties
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Laser tag energy meets real strategy, real movement, and real laughs, except you’re holding a bow and firing soft-tip arrows. I’m joined by Marlon and Adrianne Heron, the veteran-owned, family-owned founders of Hit N Run Archery Games, to unpack how archery combat works and why it’s quickly becoming one of the most unique indoor activities in Fredericksburg, Virginia. If you’ve been hunting for fresh things to do in the Fredericksburg Stafford area, this conversation will put archery tag on your radar fast.
We talk through who shows up to play: birthday parties, corporate team building groups, bachelor and bachelorette parties, reunions, and friends looking for a fun way to settle the score. Adrianne also shares why you don’t need to be athletic to jump in, plus the simple age guidance of 12 and up. Marlon highlights a key option many people don’t expect: you can come as an individual, not just with a big group, which makes this a surprisingly good way to meet new people and build community.
We also get practical about logistics and access. Hit N Run Archery Games partners with local venues like Champion Sportsplex and Gracie Barra Fredericksburg, and they can also run mobile events in indoor spaces that meet their setup needs. Along the way, Marlon and Adrianne share smart advice for running a family business, from defining roles to staying agile, and they don’t sugarcoat the physical side either: this is a total body workout disguised as play.
If you enjoy discovering local businesses, subscribe, share this with a friend who loves trying new experiences, and leave a review so more Fredericksburg neighbors can find the show.
Adrianne and Marlon Heron
Hit N Run Archery Games
(571) 494-5575
Welcome To FXBG Neighbors
SpeakerThis is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 1Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I've got two special guests joining me today. We've got Marlon and Adrianne Heron joining us. They are with Hit N Run Archery Games. Marlon and Adrianne, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3Thank you.
Speaker 1Thank you. I'm excited to dive in and learn more about you and your business.
Archery Combat Explained
Speaker 1So let's start there. Share with me what is Hit N Run Archery Games?
Speaker 3Well, Dori, thanks for having us. And I'm glad you asked. Hit N Run Archery Games is an exciting new concept to the Fredericksburg area. First, picture this laser tag, but instead of lasers and guns, we use bows that shoot soft-tip arrows. Now Hit N Run is a high-energy adrenaline-filled archery camp combat activity. We're veteran-owned business and we bring the sport of archery combat to the Fredericksburg community. Adrian and I own the business with our three daughters, which makes us um, which also makes us a family-owned business. Now we have several game modes. And um the standard style of play though is to essentially stay in the game similar to dodge ball, but dodgeball, by avoid being hit by the projectiles, the archery, the um the foam tip arrows in this case. It's a ton of fun and a total body workout.
Speaker 1This sounds like a blast. It sounds like it's such a fun business to run. It's a happy business to
Ideal Groups And Age Minimum
Speaker 1run. So tell me, who is your ideal customer? Who are you doing this for? Is this, you know, kind of um team building for businesses? Is this, you know, I picture bachelor parties. Uh talk to me a little bit about that. Who's your ideal customer?
Speaker 3It's really all of the above. You touched on some of them. So um, you know, we're giving all of the listeners, all of your listeners and members of the Fredericksburg community in the greater DMV area an opportunity to celebrate birthday parties like Never Before, to enjoy team building activities as well in an awesome setting, to have memorable uh bachelor or bachelorette parties, as well as reunions, right? To do reunions, do something new in any kind of reunion setting, or to just um have a good way to settle the score with with a with a real nice way to do like a friendly dress match.
Speaker 1So much fun. I love it. Is there uh a recommended age, um beginning age range for this?
Speaker 3Adrianne, you want to touch on that one?
Speaker 2Yes. Um we're looking at individuals between it from the ages of 12 and up. And it's not just limited to those that are athletic. It could be anyone. When I first participated in this sport, I was a little hesitant, but once I started, I was in it. I was like, yes, let's go. So anyone of any skills, skill level can participate in this.
Speaker 1I
Fixed Venues And Mobile Events
Speaker 1love it. And so talk to me about how it works in terms of the logistics. Are you going out into uh parks or what does it look like in terms of like the location?
Speaker 3Absolutely. That's a so we offer two different options, essentially. So we have fixed locations with channel partners. We're finalizing agreements with our channel partners, uh, our first channel partners now. The first being Champion Sportsplex, as and the second being Gracie Barra, Fredericksburg. They're right here in the Greater Fredericksburg area, so very accessible to those in your your listening audience. And um by going to our website, it's very easy to see our schedule and then book a time that works well for you for anyone who's interested in playing. So that's the first is the fixed location option. But we're also a mobile business, and so for those who have access to an indoor space that meets our specifications, we can also host our, we can export our services and host those events at those facilities as well. So really flexible options for for our clients.
Speaker 1Nice. I love that, and I love it, it's so smart to tap into existing businesses because you can really do some co-marketing there and uh you're making it really easy on people locally. Um, that's really smart. I love it.
The Family Story Behind The Business
Speaker 1So I want to learn more about each of you and your backgrounds, and I want to learn how you got into this. So, Adrianne, let's start with you. I'd love to learn your background and uh, you know, kind of walk me through how'd you guys come up with the idea?
Speaker 2Well, my background is a business background, actually, an accounting background. So that is my um specialty right there. And I have been in the world of business for about, I want to say 30 years, not dating myself hopefully, but I have done um everything from um a project manager to being an accountant to being an auditor. So that's where my background is. Um as far as the business, um, we started this. We actually had a family trip and we we're a pretty tight-knit family. We did a family outing to um a Dodge combat facility, and we had a blast. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were like, oh yeah, we're gonna do this again. And when we left there, our daughters, we have three, were talking about, hey, this would be so great if we could do this here at home in the Fredericksburg-Stafford area, instead of us having to commute so far to have such fun. So that's how the seed got planted as far as the business.
Speaker 1I love that. Well, you your your business experience definitely is uh uh such a huge part of starting this business. And I love that it's something that as a family you collectively experienced and thought up together. That makes it so much fun. I love it. I love it. Marlon, how about you? Tell me about your background.
Speaker 3So I guess I'm a I'm a techie of sorts, uh, worked in the Fortune 100 arena for a number of years, retired from that career path, and then um decided to serve my country. Most people do the inverse, they they serve their country first and then do something afterwards. And uh currently active duty uh member and um a few years from retirement, but uh that's that's in general my background. But most of most of my background is steeped in technology, in the tech technology realm.
Speaker 1Nice. Thank you for your service. And uh you're gonna have something really fun to do when you retire.
Speaker 3Indeed.
Speaker 1I love it.
Myths About Playing Archery Tag
Speaker 1So do you find that there are any misconceptions that you're hearing about your business that maybe you want to dispel?
Speaker 3Well, Dori, that's uh that's an excellent question. Traditional activities are nice, but if you want to branch out a little bit, this is really something new and exciting. So um one myth that I like to dispel is that the same old experiences or just the maybe the experiences that you were accustomed to last year are the are those that are limited that you're limited to now. So this is something new. Uh, we encourage a lot of folks to get out and try it because uh I think I think that when you try it once, you'll be absolutely hooked. Another misconception may be that um, you know, those wanting to enjoy this activity had to endorse seismic commute. But now that we're here, there's no more wrestling with I-95, which I mean, who doesn't enjoy the idea of not having to cut through traffic? Um I would say maybe a couple other quick misconceptions is that you have to have a large group to play. Although we do have group plans, that's not the only mode of play. In fact, we have individual plans too, which is a great way to come out, try something new, and meet different people in the in the greater Fredericksburg area doing a really fun activity. Last but not least, we're indoors. So all of the venues that that we select are indoors, which is which is key. As you know, the weather here can be forgiving it in in one way or another, especially this time of year. There's rain, there's sun. Um, all of our venues are indoor climate controlled, and so you can really have fun no matter what the weather outside looks like.
Speaker 1I love that you mentioned that there's individual play. I feel like um it seems like it would be such a fun way to meet other people. And I feel like people are really craving that um that social uh interaction. One of the reasons why people love pickleball, right, is because it's social. So I love that you're offering that. That just sounds like so much fun.
Speaker 3Yeah, we think so. We we think our clients are really gonna find this as a a neat way to to establish new connections.
Speaker 1I love it.
Advice For Family-Run Businesses
Speaker 1So here's a question. I imagine there's some challenges running a business as an entire family. You mentioned that you're really tight-knit. And so what would you say to listeners who are thinking about starting a business as a family? Would you have any advice for them?
Speaker 3I would. I would first um be clear about roles and responsibilities. And um, that's really the foundation. We were very clear up front with um roles and responsibilities. And though we each have a focus that we lead, I think we're all happy to dive in and help each other out. So clear leadership, but everybody pitches in. Um, I would say for any entrepreneur though, or um or those thinking about starting a business, keep an open mind, be flexible, be agile, and and and adapt quickly. So um that is absolutely key. Last but not least, network, network, network, especially for those businesses in the Greater Fredericksburg area. I think there's a wonderful cadre of businesses to partner with, both big and small. And it's just a wonderful, we've had a wonderful experience thus far working with and and getting to know our smaller business uh brethren in the area.
Speaker 1I love it. I love it. And what a cool experience you're giving your daughters. Like that's really cool for them to get to learn alongside their parents. And I just I just love what you are doing for them. I mean, it it goes way beyond um just a business. There's so many life lessons uh involved in this. It's really cool.
Speaker 2Absolutely.
Speaker 1I love it.
Low Barrier Entry And Real Workout
Speaker 1So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about Hit N Run Archery Games?
Speaker 3Well, we are accessible. Adrianne touched on it. It's it's for any and everyone, just about any and everyone. Um it's new, it's very accessible. So no matter where in the DFV area you are, although it's easily accessible to those in the Greater Fredericksburg area, it's a short commuter way um for those of for those um either north or south of this general location. And a couple other things is there's a low barrier to entry. So we provide the equipment, we set the battlefield, we give you the rules, and then we just give you an opportunity to have a blast. Now it is a total body workout. I just gotta let you know. So it's a really sneaky way to get a workout in, though, because you're just there, you're having fun, you're moving around, you're trying to avoid the obstacles, and and you're the the opposing team. And I can tell you from experience, at the end of the session, you're gonna be feeling good because you got the total body workout in, a total like cardiovascular experience as well. But the following day, you may be a little sore, and that's something that you may not expect, but sore in all the right ways, and so it's it's just a blast.
Speaker 2I love it.
Speaker 1Bring your Gatorade, bring your Gatorade. I love it. Probably using some muscles you you didn't realize you hadn't used in a long time.
Speaker 2Absolutely.
Speaker 1I love it. I love
How To Book And Stay Connected
Speaker 1it. So if the listeners want to learn more, if they want to, you know, book a program, tell me how can they find you?
Speaker 3Well, you can schedule your next experience at hit nrungames.com. You can also follow us on social media at Hit N Run underscore D M V. That's at Hit N Run H-I-T-N-R-U-N underscore dm.
Speaker 1Amazing. Well, I can't wait to uh experience it myself. And I thank you both for joining me on the podcast. This sounds like the most fun business to run. And I hope the listeners are just as excited as I am to try it out. Thank you for being my guest.
Speaker 3Tori, thanks for having us. Thank you so much for inviting us. It was a joy speaking with you.
SpeakerThank you. Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.