Confession...I broke one of the commandments today

Did my first race of the year this morning, Steelcase Grand Duathlon in Grand Rapids (MI). I'll be posting a race report later, but it was an absolutely perfect day here in W. Michigan. Severe clear skies with temps in the low 60's to start. Set PR's on both the first 5K and bike. But....forgive me my brothers and sisters, for I broke one of the commandments on the second 5K: THOUGH SHALT KNOW THY COURSE.

Being in the zone on the first 5K, I was just following the pack and it was a sort of odd out-n-back loop-and-a-half course that circled back over itself in the middle of Steelcase's large mfg complex, where all of the buildings looked exactly alike, at least to me....On the second 5K, I was pretty wiped but still keeping a very good pace and again "in the zone". Got to the circle-back part along with 5 or 6 fellow runners and we all had an "oh s**t" moment not knowing which direction to take. The high school kids at the water table pointed us in the wrong direction and, by the time we realized what had happened, we were basically committed to another ~1.5 miles. DANG IT!!!!!!!

At the end of the day, it didn't cost me any hardware but would've put me 6th in my AG instead of 8th and 32nd overall instead of 61st.....VERY important lesson learned here, and one of those I'll never forget!