No, literally. I ran an extra mile (not intentionally) at the Resolution Run 10K (and 5K and 10-miler) in Auburn on New Year's Day.
I am such a doofus. I've done three trail races in the past year and made wrong turns twice.
The first time was last May in the Nitro Trail Half Marathon in Pinole. I was second overall at Mile 11 when both the leader and I got lost. It was a poorly marked trail. We ended up running 14.7 miles; he finished fifth, I finished sixth.
I did not get lost at last June's Dipsea race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach over Mount Tamalpais, mostly because there were so many runners that you just follow the herd.
Then there's my most recent screw up on Friday. I was in fourth place overall in the 10K at somewhere between Mile 4 and 4 1/2. I was coming down a hill to a fork in the road. I turned left and followed a bunch of runners. Those were other 5K and 10K runners behind me. D'oh! I should've turned right.
Long story, uh, longer, I realized my mistake when I noticed the 4-mile mark sign for the 10K (which I'd already passed), cursed my stupidity and made the proper turn the second time around. I ran 7.3 miles for the 10K. But the great thing about the Auburn race is, it's not a huge field, so I still placed second in my age group: 40-49.
My wife just laughed at me when I showed her my Garmin at the finish line. I get lost driving, too.
Despite kicking myself for getting lost, I was pleased that I ran the 7.3 miles with a 7:28 pace. It was a hilly, muddy course (see photo of my calves, post-race) and I live in Davis, where there are no hills.
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