ARROW Communications Association

As of May 2008 I have successfully topped 10,000 QSOs in only 6 years running 5 watts maximum on HF and using only wires and verticals. I haven't done the stats, but probably 96%+ of that was in contests, which involves another goal - to score among the top ten nationally in the QRP category, and I have done that at least once and maybe several times (CQ scores take a year to compute, ARRL scores a bit less) ...

I have a file tracking such things ... time to take another look at it. So far:
I was 9th QRP/single-op in the US in CQWW DX SSB 2005 after an 11th in 2004.
I was 11th QRP/single-op/unassisted in the 2007 SSB Sweepstakes, missing 10th by about 20 Qs and 4 mults.
I was 13th QRP/single-op in the US in CQWW DX CW 2006, after a 13th in 2005 and 14th in 2004.
I got top 20m score in the Great Lakes division in one of the CQ contests - a surprise ...
I do think I will do well in the late 2007 CQ contests and the 2008 WPX, but the scores won't be out for a while.

I admit: I would have done better if I'd been a bit more tenacious in the contests. There's a point, when you've been on the air for 12 hours or so, when it is easy to say "What in the @#$% am I doing this for?? Why am I burning myself out like this? Is this really ... FUN??". There's also a point, usually after many hours or when the bands are just NOT cooperating, when your wife calls downstairs, sweetly saying "Honey, can I make you a tasty drink?" or "When are you going to take a break, sweetie pie??" or "Mike and Salli's big party is going to start soon - are you coming?", and your months of determination and enthusiasm just fade away.

It has been tough, even scheduling my contest time 6 months in advance, to persevere in the actual event, even when I knew my 11th or 13th place finishes in the past few contests could have been pushed into the top ten with just a couple more hours at the mic or key. In every big contest I go in with the attitude that I will push and work those extra few hours ... but ... burnout happens. THIS fall, however ... Look Out!