Athens to Atlanta - Course Info and Pre-Race Thoughts

So I was going to just post links to Facebook for the courses I made, but I thought it would be easier to put links here, along with instructions.  A2A is so well-marked you really don't need a map or anything - you just follow the course markings.  But I like knowing how far ahead the next turn is (without digging out the turn sheet).  I also like my watch to alert me if I'm off course.

After a lot of experimentation, I finally figured out how to add waypoints to the course - I know this will work on a Fenix 5X if you're navigating using "follow course" mode.  If you have any other device, your results may vary.

While we're on disclaimers, if this wrecks your device - not my fault.  If you get lost - not my fault.  If anything else bad happens as a result of reading this blog post - not my fault...  :-)

With the exception of the 38-mile course, I chopped the courses up into multiple pieces.  The Fenix 5X has a limit of 50 waypoints.  The turns alone for the 87-mile course are around 80.  By the time I added in waypoints for the aid stations, and alerts for RR crossings, steep downhills, etc - it was over 100.  Garmin needs to get their shit together and remove this artificially low limit.  (The Garmin Edge bike computers allow 200 waypoints, I think.)

Anyway...  Here's how I get the courses onto my Garmin Fenix 5X...  For non-Garmin devices you'll almost certainly want GPX format instead of FIT - and you're definitely on your own as far as getting it onto the device and using it...

1. Click the URL for the course
2. Click Menu->Download
3. Format:  FIT   /   Course Pt Limit:  50   /   Turn Warnings:  NO
4. Click Download
5. Plug the watch into your computer with the USB cable
6. Copy the course(s) to the Garmin\NewFiles folder on the watch
7. Disconnect the watch

Using the course varies based on your device - it's even different across Garmin devices.  For the Fenix 5X, I do the following:

1. Press the Start button on the watch
2. Pick my activity type (Skate)
3. Hold the menu button
4. Pick:  Navigation
5. Pick:  Courses
6. Pick the course you want to follow
7. Pick:  Do Course

At this point, you still haven't started the actual activity.  You'll hit the Start button again when you're ready to do that.  So you probably want to go through these steps maybe 2-3 minutes before the start.

If you're doing the 49 or 87-mile event, you'll need to switch the course you're following partway through.  To do that, you just follow steps 3-7 above.  You may need to "stop navigation" before you can select a new course.

It's probably a good idea to "practice" all this before the day of the event!

The courses were created from the "Full Course PDF" posted here:  https://a2a.net/about.htm  I also found an older turnsheet (https://www.a2a.net/old/directions/turnsheet.html) that told me where some of the tricky downhills were, etc.  DON'T USE THE OLD TURNSHEET.  Forget I even mentioned it.  Seriously - you will not make it to the real finish line if you use the old turnsheet.  I'm only mentioning it so people know where I got the info. 

With all that in mind, here are links to the courses I created in plotaroute.com...

87-mile, Start to CP4:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/702474
87-mile, CP4 to Finish:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/702479  
(I removed a few of the 'go straight' alerts to get it under 50 waypoints.)

38-mile, full course:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/702487

49-mile, Start to CP5:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/702490
49-mile, CP5 to Finish:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/702491


49-mile, full course:  https://www.plotaroute.com/route/696405   
(77 waypoints)

I accidentally deleted my full 87-mile course when I made the 49-mile course.  So if you have a device that supports more than 50 waypoints - sorry, I don't have a full course for you.

The weather looks great for Sunday.  I'm going into this probably the most under-trained I have ever been.  I have skated a whopping 113 mile total since November of last year.  So we'll see how it goes.  I know the hills are going to SUCK.

But that'll give me an excuse to hang out more at the aid stations.  :-)

Good luck to everyone that's making the journey - and thanks in advance to all the volunteers!!!