May 2026 Barns and Blooms Half Marathon After Race Report

2026-05-09 by N1LKS

Thank you to everyone who helped out in today's Barns and Blooms Half Marathon! We could have asked for better weather but it was otherwise an uneventful race. We had two runners drop out around checkpoint 1 and walk back; there were no other dropouts or other incidents reported. The race started on the dot at 8:00AM; the final runner crossed the finish line at 11:12AM.

Thanks to Peter AB1PL for handling two checkpoints today!

This race can sometimes be challenging from a communication perspective. The pre-race information indicated that a mobile radio and antenna would be necessary; I suspect a standard HT with a raised antenna (car top, or on a mast) may also have helped. I was working the race with an HT connected to a mag mount antenna on top of my van; I noticed a distinct drop in quality when I switched to a regular HT antenna when I needed to leave the van.

I'd like to remind everyone that when communicating with net control during a race, you should identify with your tactical callsign. For example, if I was working checkpoint 1 and needed to call net control, I would say:

Checkpoint 1 to Net control

I would not say:

Checkpoint 1, N1LKS, to Net control

Close your conversation with your FCC callsign to meet identification requirements. A simple conversation might look like this:

CP1: Checkpoint 1 to net control

NC: Net control answering checkpoint 1

CP1: Two runners have dropped out of the race and are walking back to the start line. N1LKS clear.

NC: Net control confirms two runners have dropped out of the race at checkpoint 1. N0CAL clear.

We're currently in need of two additional checkpoint volunteers for our next race, the Twin Lobster on June 7. If you are able to help out, please email races@caara.net. If you know someone else who would like to get involved in amateur radio public service, please point them at the race support website, https://sites.google.com/view/caararaces.

May 2026 Twin Lights Half Marathon After Race Report

2026-05-04 by N1LKS

Thank you for your help running the safety net for the Twin Lights Half Marathon this past weekend! It was a smooth race and there were no major communication problems. There was some wind-related excitement at the very end of the race that may have caused me to miss a couple of final messages.

We had two folks drop out of the race early and make their own way back from mile 3, and we had one runner drop out at mile 9.5 who was able to get transportation back to the finish. I'm not aware of any medical issues.

We have a number of slots open for the Barns and Blooms race this Saturday! If you know someone who might be available to help, point them at the staffing sheet (https://sites.google.com/view/caararaces) and tell them we'd love to have them involved.

April 2026 Marblehead Half Marathon After Race Report

2026-04-15 by K1KL

Great job on Sunday, guys. Marblehead is our most difficult race to run a safety net. Issues are the urban terrain, traffic, number or runners (950 on Sunday) and getting enough volunteers. All in all -- we did it! The only medicals I am aware of was minor first aid, post race, at the finish line.

Please forward your observations or suggestions for improving our safety net next year in Marblehead and/or other races.

Your volunteerism is greatly appreciated by CAARA, YuKanRun, and the race participants.

December 2025 Happy Holidays Half Marathon After Race Report

2025-12-08 by K1KL

Great job yesterday, guys. Very smooth communications effort. It was a great way to finish the season.

I got a nice letter today from the YuKanRun Director thanking all of you for your great service this year.

Your volunteerism is greatly appreciated.

I plan to call out your efforts at the CAARA Holiday Party again this year. (January 10th, 2026)

Here is a look at the tentative YuKan race schedule for 2026. Basically the same set of races with the Marblehead Half-Marathon racecourse getting a redo based on this year's experience with traffic issues.

I will be getting out next year's sign-up emails right after the Holiday Party in January.

Thanks, again, for making this a great year for the CAARA-YuKanRun Race Safety Team.

Kevin, K1KL

Proposed 2026 YuKanRun Race Schedule

All Half-Marathons

(Preliminary 12/8/25)

November 2025 Ocean View Half Marathon After Race Report

2025-11-03 by K1KL

Thank you CAARA volunteers for another successful race.

First, the reported medical was not, in the end, a very serious situation, but the ambulance transport was critical. Job well done.

Overall things seemed to go well -- we were fully staffed and it was a beautiful day for a race, maybe a little chilly for us non-runners.

We had some equipment issues with the CAARA trail vehicle, but because Paul was up on RaceJoy the YuKan people and we had a constant read on location. Net Control had some issues getting into the repeater and it might be that the Start/Finish area was a bit of an RF hole. Generally though, the Topsfield repeater performed well with its recently enhanced footprint. We will have to do a better assessment of repeaters and each operating position for next year's Ocean View. We might consider a different repeater so we will do a complete pre-race assessment.

As always, I ask for your observations that might help us to improve our net for future races. One idea I have is to do an on-the-air mini-tutorial for all of our stations just prior to the start of each race -- just a 3-5 minute review of the most critical aspects for a successful net. I will be working on a script to cover essentials-- so please forward your suggestions. I am thinking to cover the following (from the Guidelines for Volunteers):

During the Net ALL Net communications must go through the Net Controller unless a “direct to…” communication has been approved by the Net Controller.

If you have traffic for the Net, call the Net Controller and ID with your tactical call, e.g., Checkpoint 4, then wait to be acknowledged by Net Control before you send your traffic. When Net Control has confirmed receipt of your message, you can end with your callsign (W1ABC clear) to meet FCC requirements.

Keep all communications on the Net as short as possible and do not use the Net for “chatter”. Use the text group for non-essential communications.

Immediately report medical or serious incidents to Net Control and wait for any direction from NC. If there is any delay in reaching NC and getting a response, call 911 (EVEN IF IT MIGHT be a serious medical emergency), First responders would much rather show up and be unneeded than to be called later and be unable to administer timely aid and transport.

If you have an emergency at your location or need other assistance, identify your location by its cross-streets (intersection), or street number. ("CP2 to Net Control", (wait for NC response) "runner in need of EMS at Lake Street and Apple Street. Runner is lying on the side of the road and is conscious but in distress, complaining of chest pain."

If you are Checkpoint 6, and you are near a mile marker, DO NOT report that you are at any particular mile--- always identify by Checkpoint Number. Only mobile units report being "at mile 8, etc.") Again, if asking for assistance give your cross-streets (intersection), or street number.

Please read the "Guidelines for Volunteers" document before every race.

What else?

Many thanks for your work on Sunday -- practicing emergency radio skills and teamwork, and for helping to keep runners safe!

73,

Kevin, K1KL
CAARA Race Coordinator