brucec@iddic.UUCP (07/13/84)
This past weekend I was in Auburn, CA and the Lake Tahoe area for the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. This is generally acknowledged as the TOUGHEST physical endurance contest in the world, leaving the Ironman, Tour de France, Swim around Manhattan, etc. in the dust (or waves). The race is 100 miles in the Sierra Nevada's in 24 hours, with an altitude gain of 17,000 feet and a loss of 22,000. The temperature ranges from below freezing to 100+ degrees. I was 'crew' for a runner and of course, took along my handheld. Sure enough there was a net on 2 meters covering the race, dispensing and collecting all sorts of useful information. At one aid station a ham had a speaker rigged up to his mobile and had a real crowd listening to runner position information. In terms of EMERGENCY SIMULATIONS, running races are excellent. We had 350 + 'victims' here, with all sorts of medical problems. The logistics problems range from getting food and water to some extremely remote locations to supplying medical aid for: heat stroke, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and all sorts of foot and leg problems to getting clothing. The analogy to a disaster simulation is quite apt. This was a remote and rural locale, but the large marathons in major cities would represent an urban emergency. So next time you hear of a 10 K or Marathon or Triathlon in your city, why not offer to do race day communications on a local repeater (or emergency one if you have it)? Try to get involved with the logistics as well as keeping track of the leaders and laggers. Be sure to have lots of 'listen only' stations around the race to relay BY WORD OF MOUTH to the crowd near them the progress of the race. This one-on-one interaction with an amateur radio operator generates all sorts of good PR, and increases the respect and visibility of your club.