[CQ-Contest] W2SC - 48 hours

[Jim Neiger]

Kind of how I see it:  it's simply no big deal, either way.

But I agree with Tom W2SC, after decades of doing 48 straight, I'm finding 
it easier with age.  Mental, definitely.  The more you do it, the better you 
get.

Like other fondly remembered past-times.  (Actually I was remembering 
playing baseball).

What we're doing is mediocre compared to what Lance Armstrong is doing. 
Cancer beater, and then pulls off seven straight.  I'll wager that many of 
his younger competitors have more physical skills and stamina.  But it's in 
the mental department that Lance shows his mettle.  Once he figured out how 
to get the first few wins, the advantage over the competition became huge.

And for those who still yearn for the 'level playing field', it simply will 
never exist.  Don't limit yourself with 36 hour band openings, just get on 
an airplane like Tom, me, Jose, Redd, Goetz, Glenn, Norton, Trey, Steinman, 
Crovelli, Big Al (D4B - for those not knowledgeable of Al's stature),  Jim 
Sullivan, Ville, Pekka, Martti, etc etc (too many to give credit to).

And you can set your own goals and limitations.  If you think you 'can cut 
the mustard', go play with the big dogs.  If you just want to go run some 
pile-ups, that's OK too.  Some may even find the 36 hours out of 48 format 
to their liking.

Kind of like my NYU class-mate Griff Morgan opined many years ago:  "If you 
don't have enough on the ball, get a smaller ball".

Meanwhile, I'm looking to working many of you in October (ZD8Z) and November 
(9Y4AA). Forty-eight hours, natch.  Always testing to see if I can still cut 
the mustard....And in any event, it's simply no big deal, but ALWAYS lots of 
fun.  Forget competing, just go have some fun.

Vy 73

Jim Neiger  N6TJ


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Robbins" <w4pa at yahoo.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 1:07 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] W2SC - 48 hours


> W2SC:
>
>>My experience is that, despite the grueling length, 48 hour contesting
> is >still more mental than physical.
>
>>The next hurdles, fatigue, loss of focus, and delusions are mental in
>>nature and there are techniques that can deal with them.
>
>>Delusions are the scariest of all and can only be understood by those
> who >have experienced them, but they too can be overcome.
>
> Not directed to W2SC, just commentary from experience:
>
> Just keep in mind when you start feeling bad (mentally) when doing a 48
> hour effort, that it will pass.  The weird thoughts, the hallucinating
> comes and goes.  It's not real.  It will pass...you'll feel better.
>
> Write yourself dumb notes about how to operate before the contest even
> starts.  I'm not kidding.  After I did a 48 hour effort one time in
> ARRL DX CW and in hour #46 found myself in a confused fog trying to
> remember how to log callsigns with TR-Log and how to tune the around
> the band on the second radio, I vowed to take action for the next
> contest.
>
> Next time, I had notes.  Like:  TO WORK SOMEONE ON THE SECOND RADIO,
> TURN THE BIG TUNING KNOB.  TUNE IN A STATION.  TYPE CALLSIGN, PRESS
> SPACE BAR.  TYPE REPORT.  PRESS ENTER.
>
> And:  NT1Y 5NN 5
>
> And:  WHEN A STATION CALLS, TYPE CALLSIGN.  PRESS ENTER.  TYPE RECEIVED
> REPORT.  PRESS ENTER.  IF NO ONE ELSE CALLS, PRESS F1 TO CQ.
>
> Sounds stupid, yes, but having a simple coherent reminder of what it is
> you're supposed to be doing when you're in a mental drift can be (is) a
> huge help.  I will always do notes for 48 hour efforts.
>
> Another 48 hour contest tip:  Write yourself a note, before the contest
> starts, of what it is you're supposed to do after the contest if it
> involves anything besides going to sleep.  Do you need to remember to
> unplug equipment or antennas?  Lock doors?  Turn on an alarm clock?
> Call someone?  Email?  It's a lot easier reading it from a list than
> trying to remember in a post-contest daze.
>
> Scott W4PA
>
>
> Dump Internet Explorer today - download the Mozilla Firefox web browser 
> http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
>
>
>
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