Hubris

I got complacent and sloppy yesterday, and I'm still recovering.

My local ARES group, Fayette County ARES, along with the local ham radio club, KK4GQ.org, routinely supports races, triathlons and other charity or public service events in the county. Yesterday was the annual Southern Conservation Trust Run The Ridge 5k & 10k race. I've helped with this race for years, even served as the communications coordinator a time or two. But yesterday I was just a checkpoint monitor - stuck out by myself on a trail intersection to make sure runners keep heading in the right direction.

For a few days before the race the weather reports called for cold temps and a chance of rain, but I didn't pay attention. Since I've worked this race before, and since my house is only about a mile from this race (as the crow flies) I got cocky and complacent. I packed either the wrong stuff, or the bare minimum of the right stuff. 

I hit the race location around 0700. It was cold, misty and drizzling. I told my wife it reminded me of central Germany in the late fall. Not super cold, but always damp and drizzly enough to make the cold a bit more miserable. And for that, I was not properly prepared. My coat was not waterproof, my boots were not waterproof, my trousers were not heavy enough, I didn't have any rain gear, no plastic bags to put important items like the trail race map into. I didn't even bring a folding chair and had to borrow one. Didn't much matter, because I had no way to shield it from the rain when I wasn't sitting in it. A poncho would have been useful. Also, no hot beverages. I've got a closet shelf full of thermos bottles, but didn't think to fill just one of them with coffee. About the only thing I did right was bring along a waterproof HT (an Icom ID-52, which was better prepared for the weather than I was).

Like I said, I got cocky and complacent. Because of that I ended up standing in one spot for almost three hours, cold, wet and while not quite miserable, certainly uncomfortable.

Cold, wet, lonely and borderline miserable

Lessons learned. Next time pay more attention to the weather and the mission, and be the Boy Scout (Be Prepared). 

• Thinsulate or Gore-Tex boots. I normally wear Merrell Moab hikers. I got cheap on my last purchase and opted for the non-waterproof version. I won't make that mistake again.
• Rain gear. Just a simple set of inexpensive and lightweight Frogg-Toggs (jacket & over pants) would have worked great
• Gloves, even just a thin pair of mechanic's gloves, would have worked great
• Wide brim hat or cap to keep the water dripping from the trees off my head and neck
• Flashlight. With the overcast weather and early race start, I ended up using my phone to illuminate the trail map and the deep recesses of my backpack
• Collapsible chair that can be carried slung over the shoulder
• Waterproof bags. Just gallon-sized zip-lock bags will suffice
• Poncho or lightweight tarp to cover all the gear
• Small thermos with coffee
• Compass. Compass? Yes. I needed to orient the trail map to my location to make sure I was sending runners in the right direction. I used the compass app on my phone, but I hate relying on electronic devices in situations like this, and my phone is not weatherproof. A simple orienteering compass would have fit the bill nicely

This race was a painful and embarrassing reminder that I need to pay more attention to prepping for even the simplest events. What's even worse is that, except for the waterproof boots, I have all this stuff sitting stacked in my man cave. If I had given it half a thought I could have grabbed it all on the way out the door. But noooo, I'm too smart and experienced for that.

I guess it's good to know I still have room for improvement 😣

W8BYH out