The Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (https://marcclub.org/) is looking for radio operators for the 2024 Parks Half Marathon on Sunday, September 8th.
The Montgomery County Road Runners Club (MCRRC) will be sponsoring the Parks Half-Marathon on September 8, 2024, and has requested MARC provide amateur radio support. This event starts at the Shady Grove Metro and runs down Rock Creek Trail to Beech Drive and Rockville Pike near the Beltway. The Parks Half Marathon web site (https://www.parkshalfmarathon.com/) has additional details on the race and the course.
MARC’s primary functions for this event will be to: provide a communications link between the MCRRC race officials and the County police, Fire & Rescue, and other government agencies; provide a link between the race director and the three course section chiefs, six water stops, and medical coordinator to ensure that all course locations are properly manned and equipped; and provide any other communications requested by race officials and County government officials. A few bicycle mobile operators will be helpful for this event.
We will use the MARC 2-meter repeater (146.955) as the primary operating frequency for this event. Most of the operating positions can use an HT. A couple positions may need a short mast or more power to effectively hit the repeater.
The race will run rain or shine. Fixed stations must be in their assigned locations and be set by 6:15 am to avoid problems with road closures. Net operation will begin at 6:15am. Operators shadowing a race official should coordinate a meeting place and time with that official. This may be earlier than the net begins operation. The race will start at 6:45 and should finish at 10:15 am. Radio operators will be released when their location has been officially closed by MCRRC.
If you simply want to observe what goes on before you commit to working an event, contact us and we will arrange for you to work with an experienced volunteer to observe and understand what is involved in working a public service event. Don’t have a radio but want to participate? MARC has appropriate equipment you can use to participate in an event.
If you would like to help with radio communications, logistics, or planning and administration for this event, please email Paul via his call sign (N3RQV) @arrl.net.
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