[SCCC] Contesting Endurance?....

[Joe]

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