Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)
2019 Herndon Festival 5/10K Race Support
On Sunday, 2 June 2019, SPARC provided safety and radio
support to the 5K/10K races.
Prior to the races, Marty, NV3H, emailed (and I paraphase):
Hi Everyone -
By now you�ve programmed and charged your
radios and gathered your comfort gear for Sunday�s races!
We�re going to meet in the Herndon Community Center Parking
Lot. Arrive NO LATER than 6:30 am. This parking area
is NOT reserved for us, so you might want to come a little early
to ensure you find a close space. We�ll take a picture,
check radios, answer any last-minute questions, and then head to
our assigned stations.
The Herndon 10K starts at 7:30 and the 5K
begins about ten minutes later. We�ve been asked to cover
ten locations along the course of one or both races:
1. Station St / Center St
2. Grace St / Vine
3. Grace St / W&OD trail
4. Herndon Parkway / Cypress
5. Herndon Parkway / Summerfield Dr South
6. Herndon Parkway / Summerfield Dr North
7. Herndon Parkway / Dulles Pl
8. Ferndale Ave / W&OD trail
9. Ferndale Ave / Burkwick
10. Ferndale Ave / Park
We will also use someone as net control: They
will work from the Community Center (can be HT or mobile rig) and
then will open the net, coordinate traffic, possibly write down
messages and runner times, and close the net when done. Note
that except when checking in and out of the net we will use
tactical call signs based on the position number, i.e. �NET
CONTROL�, �RACE1�, �RACE2�,
We should all be done by about 9 am or so, with
earlier positions leaving sooner. In prior years, Herndon
has provided safety vests. It may be difficult to get back
to the community center at the end, so hang on to them and I�ll
collect them at the June club meeting.
Please let me know if you have any questions or
if I�m missing anything. Otherwise make sure your radios are
set to go and I�ll see you early Sunday morning!
Marty,
NV3H
On Sunday morning, the day of the races, the
GROUP assembled.
Chaz, KK4TNO; John P, W3XWT; Jim, N4FAF; Patrick,
KN4PIZ; Mary, KK4HMX; James, KN4BHG; James,
KN4BHF; and John, KK4AHY. Marty, NV3H, was taking the
picture.
After the races, Marty emailed:
* Mary, thank you for helping me
into the safety vest.
* John L, thank you for helping people
with radios and literally �sacrificing your sole�! (His
shoe came apart�)
* James, thank you for staffing the
last position on the 5K (and being net control next year? :-) ),
and thanks to your father for printing extra maps!
* John P, thank you for being part of
the races as a new SPARC member!
* Chaz, thank you for your help with
the net and willingness to work other locations!
* Patrick, thank you for getting your
radio to work!
* Last but not least, thank you Jim
for running an excellent net!
To everyone, I really appreciate your
coming out on time and your patience as things developed.
Please feel free to share any additional feedback (good
and bad) about your experience - if you send just to me I will
summarize for the group and for our very kind repeater
administrator who asked for a debrief.
Marty,
NV3H
Made on 2 June 2019.