I’m fine with getting lost. Really … I am.

I am trying not to beat myself up. Getting lost or turned around happens to the best of us especially when on new trails. It just so happens to me a lot – on Nose Hill.

It’s so frustrating when a simple, mindless run turns into a frantic hunt to find where I started or more specifically where I parked my Qashqai. This was (almost) never the issue when I lived across the street from Nose Hill. It really didn’t matter because eventually I could re-trace my steps and find my way back to my street.

In September I moved away from Nose Hill. Now I have to drive if I want to run the hills. I really love running there so I try to go as much as I can. Usually I go after work on Fridays since I get off at noon. My office is just a few kilometres from Nose Hill.

I have a few options to park – along 14th Street , on John Laurie or further near Edgemont. I usually started around the John Laurie parking space when I lived in the area so I know those trails pretty good.

Nose Hill has both paved and off road trails. Generally speaking if you stick to the paved trail you should be fine. It’s when you start doing offshoots that you can get yourself into trouble. I’m still relatively new to the hill so it never gets boring.

So this past Friday, I parked at the first parking lot – where 14th Street meets 64th Avenue. Last week it was super icy and windy so I was thrilled with +7 and little wind.

I started heading up the hill with a spring in my step. It was going to be a great afternoon. I thought I would do a little loop around the hill because I am not a big fan of out and backs. I started on a trail that I am sure I have never run on before. Honestly I can never really tell because all the trails look the same.

The trails were a lot better shape than last week. Snow was melting forming little puddles made for jumping. Thankfully I didn’t have to worry about slipping on ice. I just tried to keep my feet as dry as I could at least at the start of my run.

Things were going well for about at least seven or eight kilometres when I suddenly got it in my head that I was lost. I started to panic because I had no idea where I parked. All I could see around me were hills and snow and more snow. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t eat much on Friday but I was completely disoriented.

I wanted to cry because I felt so stupid. I already feel like a fraud and this was just not helping. How could I be so dumb? After retracing and second guessing my retracing, I came across a woman and her dog.

I explained that I was a little confused about where I was in relation to the parking lot. She was headed to the parking lot too but she was taking a roundabout way so she pointed me out the directions.

So I took off running back where I had come from. A few minutes later, and I am not totally convinced I am going in the right direction. I looked around for more people and I could see a few people in the distance. I crossed over a little river and made it up to two women and a dog.

I explained once again where I was parked, and how I was confused. Thankfully this one woman asked the right questions – Did you park up the rocky road or at the lights? She also said head for the airport (Duh! Why didn’t I think of this?), and I would pass the rocky road parking lot first.

You’re reading this so you know how the story ends. I found my Qashqai, parked just where I left her. Two hours later. So my short run turned into a mini-breakdown and lesson in navigation.

Yes it is easy to get lost on Nose Hill, especially when you have your head down listening to a podcast or singing along to a playlist. All the trails look the same or different when it’s not completely covered in snow. With some perspective now, I know it wasn’t a big deal. What’s the worse thing that could happen? It was a beautiful day.

Have you been lost on trails or streets in your own city? I would love to hear your tricks for not getting lost in the comments below.