Running nowhere

I must admit that I am directionally challenged. This is particularly so when I am running in city or course I am not familiar with. I've been lost in farmlands and big cities. It doesn't matter how long I've studied the map, eventually I get turned around.

I guess the positive side of this is that I get a few extra miles in, but I'm usually not looking at that silver lining during the run.

Last Saturday was par the course for me. I went out to run easy for an hour and a half after my one hour swim (it was, for me, my first really tough weekend). There was a nearby park that was near the pool. I'd never run in the park, but knew runners frequented it. I managed to get to the park from the pool with no problem. I even got through most of the run with my bearings. But when it was time to end the run and head back, I must have gone right instead of left. I ended up going on a road aptly called "Scenic Loop."

Eventually I figured out that I was lost and tried to figure my way out (it's a very large park and I really am directionally challenged). Being too embarrassed to stop somebody and ask them how I could get out of the park, I listened for traffic and followed the sound. I ended up finding my way back to the pool a full two hours after I began. The good news was that I felt strong (but not fast) during the run, the bad news was that I was pretty much toast heading into my long bike ride on Sunday (which also turned out to be an adventure).