Miles 413-421: Umstead Wanderings

When James and I were first dating, we used to go hiking in the surrounding parks of the Southern Illinois's Shawnee Forest.

Often on the way to these parks and sometimes while in them we would, so to speak, get lost.

I don't like to say "got lost" because if you are on a road or on a path, you aren't really lost. You can always use a map to find your way back.

So....I had to laugh when I pulled Sunday's Garmin info. What do you see?

If you see not one but two times when the path we followed wasn't the exact route, you win our prize.

I've mentioned before on this blog that I cut my running teeth on the paths of Queeny Park near my parent's home in Ballwin, Missouri. That park has the distinct advantage of having - at it's widest circumference - a path that is no longer than 4.25 miles.

Meaning, if you happen to stray and take one of the dissecting paths, you will find yourself back on track fairly quickly and only have the added a mile or two to your run.

Umstead, however, is a different (a wonderful, I might add) beast.

At it's largest circumference, the path is can traverse (best I can tell) close to 10 miles. Meaning, if you happen to <<ahem>> stray and take one of the dissecting paths, you may find yourself heading towards the second of two park exits and staring down the last miles of an unintended trail half marathon.

Luckily, my "whoops" radar went off not to long after we had passed the first left turn-off (which, as James pointed out, was the marker we were looking for) and we turned back after half a mile.

(James's proclamation: "Next time we bring the damn map!")

It should be noted that my cheerful tendency to believe that you're not truly lost when you're on the path works okay for hiking, but can be a bit of a disaster when you've already been running hills for six miles on a cool but humid Sunday morning. We were positively parched upon arriving back at the car.

Nevertheless, all in all, the near nine miles we ran were absolutely glorious. A wonderful post-Chicago long run, complete with the faintest smell of fall, rain, and wind.

Miles 413-421: 100ish minutes running through a park I'm quickly falling hopelessly in love with.