[CQ-Contest] Contsting Endurance...

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Funny, I was just reflecting on this the other day, when I ran out of 
gas in SS about 10 PM on Saturday - just the opposite of what one should 
do to score well.  Of course, I'm 82, my first SS was in 1954, so maybe 
I'm allowed, but I've never been a 48-hour guy - my best-ever was 37 
hours of CQWW back in the 90s.  I'm in awe - and a little appalled - by 
stories like Rich's, along with all the stories about hallucinations, 
falling asleep on the keyboard, etc.

73, Pete N4ZR

On 11/9/2023 9:25 PM, Richard F DiDonna NN3W wrote:
> There have been a ton of articles on this in NCJ over the years.
>
> My regimen is a little bit of a "playing chicken" strategy.  I will
> purposely stay up late on Thursday before a major contest to ensure I
> am tired on Friday.  I will take that Friday off or QRT from the
> office work by noon.  East coast contests start at 8:00 pm or 7:00 pm.
> My goal is to be "station ready" by 1:00 pm and then go to sleep -
> sleep mask, one drink, white noise maker, cell phone on mute.  My goal
> is to get at least 5 hours of sleep and be up 60 minutes before the
> contest to eat dinner (protein, no carbs), take a shower, and be ready
> to rumble at 0000z.
>
> The expectation is no sleep the first night.
>
> The real "hump" especially for USA contesters is the second night.  Do
> you go QRT between 0200z and 0400z when Europe is largely asleep or do
> you "fight" all the way through EU sunrise and then go QRT for two
> hours between 0700z and 0900z?  Thats a body decision and a rate
> decision.
>
> If I opt for the early track, I will be really dragging (no surprise -
> between 0700z and 0900z).  That usually means a 20-minute power nap,
> and then its off to the races until 2359z.  If I opt for the late
> track, its a battle to physically stay awake until 0700z.  This can be
> done through adrenaline if you're a DX station, but its a murderous
> time for US stations where nobody gives a damn who you are (there are
> 2000+ US hams on...).
>
> The risk is if there are serious station issues on Friday, I might not
> get to sleep until 300 pm or 400 pm local.  That leaves only one sleep
> cycle for sleep.  Not a lot.
>
> 73 Rich NN3W
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 9, 2023 at 7:42 PM Joe<nss at mwt.net>  wrote:
>> A I guess a survey?
>>
>>       I have been into this whole contesting thing since 1975. I was only
>> 18 years old then.
>> And had more energy and stamina than I could ever use. Like this was the
>> "Norm" An Example...
>>
>> CQWW Contests...
>>
>>    * Friday 4 AM I get up and go to work. Do a full days work. A 3 PM get
>>      off work and go home.
>>
>>
>>    * Change clothes, get in car and head off to the guys station I will
>>      be doing the contest at.
>>
>>
>>    * Ohhh a 90 Minute drive or so. Grab some Mc Donalds on the way. Get
>>      there with like 30 minutes before start.
>>
>>
>>    * Contest Starts, do the whole 48 hours. The only breaks taken are
>>      potty breaks. A few minutes here and there.
>>
>>
>>    * Contest finishes Sunday Evening.
>>
>>
>>    * Sit with station owner, discuss contest, eat Pizza, drink more Beer
>>      than should drink.
>>
>>
>>    * Leave station at around midnight, and get home at 2 AM or so.
>>
>>
>>    * Take a shower, and kind of chill out.
>>
>>
>>    * It's now 3 AM, Watch some TV, no sense going to bed, when ya have to
>>      get up at 4 to go to work!
>>
>>
>>    * Go to work,  Get off again at 3 PM, and finally go home. Go to bed
>>      when chilled out.
>>
>>
>> That's being awake for 66 Hours!!!!!
>>
>> Now lets move to 48 years later!  I can not do even a 24 hour contest
>> anymore. Like Field Day or say Sweepstakes.
>> I MUST take a nap sometime during the contest. I remember times when I'd
>> fall asleep at the key.
>> it was on auto repeat, CQing away, I wonder how many people called me!
>>
>> How are you all doing with this issue? Trying to stay awake and alert
>> for the duration of a contest?
>>
>> Is it a problem at all?
>>
>> Or what do you do to be your best to combat the fatigue?
>>
>> Joe WB9SBD
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest