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Author Topic: EI8AC notes on contest sleep strategies  (Read 135 times)

KH6AQ

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EI8AC notes on contest sleep strategies
« on: July 06, 2022, 08:34:12 PM »

I have been relearning contest sleep strategy after getting back into contesting heavily 8 months ago. Important lessons learned so far:

Avoid sugar (no more cookies during the contest); snack on fruit instead.

No caffeine until the last hours of a 24 hour contest. For a 48 hour contest caffeine cannot be used in excess before the first sleep break.

Take sleep breaks in multiples of 90 minutes so that a complete sleep cycle is be completed.

My CW copying speed drops as fatigue sets in and it's good to have a good margin to keep going near the end.

For the 24 hour IARU (CW) this weekend I'm trying out a new eating strategy as I was taking too much time away from the radio to warm and eat food. For this contest I will have sandwiches prepared and ready, plain yogurt and fruit. I'll have a hot meal ready if needed.

What do you eat when contesting and how do you handle sleep?

Sleep  https://www.mapability.com/ei8ic/contest/48hrs.php
« Last Edit: July 06, 2022, 08:36:44 PM by KH6AQ »
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K3TN

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Re: EI8AC notes on contest sleep strategies
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2022, 03:32:23 AM »

It has been a long time since I did a full-time 48 hour, or even 24 hour, contest. I don't have a competitive station, so I compete with myself on overall QSOs per hour and accuracy rate.

 Even 30 years ago, doing ARRL DX and CQ WW contests or even the 24 hour IARU, I was usually part of a multi-multi or multi-single and many opportunities to eat and sleep. Many other 2 day contests have operating hour limits (like Sweepstakes and WPX) and you plan sleep with those hours.

Guest opping at competitive stations for me, on the US east coast, in most years operating between 2am local and 6am local was the least productive time - if you can't run EU, good time to sleep. On Sunday, I'd either do that again or fatigue would win out and I'd stop earlier.

I'd usually eat dinner before the start of a 0000Z starting contest, or breakfast before a 1200Z starting one and eat breakfast and lunch at the rig - usually trail mix and a sandwich. You're not burning a lot of calories sitting at the rig! Bathroom breaks were when I'd go upstairs and get the food.

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John K3TN

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Re: EI8AC notes on contest sleep strategies
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2022, 02:32:35 AM »

The sleep thing is why I like multi operator contesting over single operator contesting. I get really grumpy when I don't get enough sleep. Because of this my wife usually had to endure a very grumpy man after a weekend of contesting. That is why I decided to make sure I get enough sleep, even if this hampers my score. Either I do contests being an operator at a multi op station, choose a single band entry on a band that closes during the night or simply stop and take a brake to get a decent amount of sleep.

But when I did do full contests, I tried to stick to the 90 minute (or multiples of that) rule as much as possible. I did find it difficult to time though. Usually it takes me some time to fall asleep, so I mostly set my alarm for 100 minutes.
I also discovered that short, so called power naps, also work very well. No longer then 20 minutes because after that you will fall into a deeper sleep and then it is much harder to wake up again.

Food wise, eat light meals and drink enough water. Caffeine has a half-life time of 4 to 6 hours. My experience with caffeinated drinks such as the one with that 'gives you wings', is that when you are exhausted, it only works for 30 minutes or so. After that you will be even more desperate for sleep. 

Nowadays I participate in very few contests. A busy career and a young family has priority these days. I hope to get back in the game once the kids are grown up and my career is past its peak  ;)
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