June 2026 Twin Lobster Half Marathon After Race Report

2026-06-08 by K1KL

Thank you for your service yesterday. It was a huge race with between 1,000 and 1,100 runners on the course.

From the NC perspective communication among us was solid. The W1GLO repeater has been performing very well and our volunteers following protocol for the race was never better.

We are aware of two significant medical emergencies resulting in transport to the hospital. It appeared that dehydration was a factor in both. We were involved in the reporting of one of those emergencies, W1CAF at CP4.

YuKan race support (their van and crew) are working very closely with us behind the scenes and by listening to our net that support is able to respond quickly to situations that we identify. As the YuKan crew cannot transmit on their radio, communication often goes to cell phone between NC and the van. It was a somewhat unusually long race due to the numbers and the speed of the trail-end runners. Kudos to W1PAG in the trail vehicle who is always the last of us to complete his duties in every race.

Thanks everyone for being in position in a very timely way and doing your jobs well. We are always looking for your feedback and suggestions and we'll often share feedback back out to the group if it looks like everyone would benefit from considering it. You can always email us at races@caara.net.

73,
Kevin, K1KL and Lars, N1LKS
CAARA Race Coordinators

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)