[CQ-Contest] Contest Burnout

[Barry W2UP]

I feel like a kid compared to you guys - I'm 65  :-)

Anyway, I, too, no longer have the competitive contesting bug.  I was never
a fan of doing 48h marathons.  However, in the 2000s decade I decided to
put in the effort and try to win a few and I succeeded.  Twice each, I won
SOA in CQWW CW and ARRL CW.  I met my goal, then never put in a full-time
effort again.  Thirteen years ago, when I retired, I moved from PA to CO,
to a condo, where I now run 100W to a fan dipole.  I made the decision that
it was more important to me to be an hour's drive from the world's best
skiing as opposed to being able to run Europe at 200+/hour.  I can get my
run fix with Morserunner anytime I want.

You may want to consider joining a multi-op crew.  I've done some of that
in recent years, both in person and remote, and enjoy the time spent (as
long as I operate the EU run hours as opposed to hunting for S. Americans
during the slow afternoon hours).  :-)

73,
Barry W2UP

On Sat, Dec 3, 2022 at 6:03 AM K8MR via CQ-Contest <
cq-contest at contesting.com> wrote:

> I'd think of it as "contest mellowing out".
>
> As a one radio/tribander guy in Ohio I long ago realized I'd never beat
> bigger, better equipped, and in some cases better operated, stations from
> W1. So I like to get on, run QSOs for the thrill of running, call some
> people if things get slow, including people who I consider my friends after
> years of contesting and many eyeball QSOs at Dayton, etc. I don't sweat it
> if someone, or lots of people, have bigger scores than I do.
>
>
> I pick my contests. I don't seriously operate 24 hour or longer contests.
> (Though multiple efforts in 24 hour contests - "Single Op Multi Station" as
> I have done many times in CW SS - are still a blast.)
>
>
> 10 out of 12 hours in an NAQP is fine. I enjoy the state QSO parties,
> especially if I can be mobile in-state, getting good rates and in many
> cases passing out a multiplier that I know that people will appreciate.
> When operating them from out of state, again it's a lot of making an effort
> to work friends, which include people who follow me around when I'm out
> mobile.
>
>
> So get on the air, make QSOs, have fun, and don't feel bad about not being
> in first place. Don't lose sleep over it - both figuratively and literally.
>
>
>
> 73  -   Jim   K8MR
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: w1rm at comcast.net
> To: CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> Sent: Fri, Dec 2, 2022 6:21 pm
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Contest Burnout
>
> I would like to have a serious discussion regarding contest burnout.  I'm
> not interested in nasty or snide comments but rather a real discussion on
> those, like me, who are suffering from it and have overcome it.
>
>
>
> I have been a serious contester since the late 1960s.  I am a CW guy and
> have won CQWW, ARRL DX, and a bunch of others.  I have been a regular
> participant in many of the majors for a very long time and have a wall full
> of plaques for my efforts.
>
>
>
> After 66 years of contesting, I'm faced with ben there, done that.  At 80
> years old, I am not going to win anything, and I know it.  I don't have the
> stamina.  My station used to be very competitive, and it still is, but I
> don't do SO2R, I only have one beam/antenna per band.  I do have top-grade
> gear, though.
>
>
>
> So, I would appreciate some honest thoughts about how to combat contest
> burnout.
>
>
>
>
>
> Pete Chamalian, W1RM
>
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