Parcour course - That time I got lost a whole bunch

It's Saturday. And what's a Saturday without a little adventure?

I investigated the Parcour trail on the base today. Above is the completely useless map. My run did not go like this at all!

I wasn't really sure what to expect. I just knew there might be "obstacles"

So there are these signs periodically around the trail. You're supposed to stop and do the exercise pictured on the sign. I ran past a wall from a Marine Mud Challenge from days past, but did not climb it - didn't think I should attempt that without someone else around just in case. As I entered the woods I ran high knees through some tires. Stopped at a few of the signs and did the exercises. Easy stuff. 

Came up to this thing. Lift the logs as pictured on the sign. I thought this was pretty cool. Not difficult though.

After this point things got interesting. The trail kept branching off and I took a few wrong turns. Once I was sure I was in the right place, the trail pretty much became nonexistent. Bushes, fallen logs, and trees were all over the place! It was obvious no one had taken care of the trail in many years. I felt like I was going bushwhacking instead of trail running. I prayed none of this stuff was poison ivy. At least 5 times I had to stop running to push aside a branch, climb over a tree, or simply just figure out which way to go.

This was literally the trail. I knew I was in the right place because I could barely see a white sign underneath all that mess. Also, wooden thing that used to be something.

  

I tried to go through this by going towards the left. But it eventually got to the point where there was no way to get through it and even be sure I was still on the trail. Since getting hopelessly lost in the woods wasn't on my agenda for today, I turned back and made my way back to the fork in the trail. At this point I was back on the main trail which was a wide dirt/sandy road. Came across some balance logs, but half of them were really old and rotten. So I hopped across the safe looking ones before running onward.

Back into the woods for more signs with exercises, a log that you had to hop over side to side, then I emerged onto the great sandy road. Running in sand is hard! But it's good for me.

And... Logs! The military loves their logs, apparently. These were the things I fell off of at Marine Mud Challenge, only they were covered in mud. However these logs were dry, so I had no problems today. The first 2 you could climb over, but the middle 2 were higher so I had to push myself up and roll over. Then there were 2 more small ones. I completed this twice.

Now for more sandy roads! And some hills! The road branched off SO many times. I would take one path, find a dead end, turn around, pick another - rinse and repeat 4 times. Eventually I found this

I've conquered alot of fears since I began my adventures over a year ago. Heights being one of them. But for some reason I still have a fear of balance beams. I've never been talented in this field. So I figured it was high time to Spartan up and make these logs my bitch. I chose the 2nd from the left log to be my buddy. The first time I got midway up and just froze. Ended up coming back down. I told myself I can't let some stupid logs get the better of me. So, attempt #2. Turned off my thoughts. My body knows what to do. So it did. I got to the top, but then hopped off. 3rd attempt - climbed up, got to the top, used my arm as a support, and climbed down. Then I climbed up and down 3 more times. It may seem a silly thing to fear, but I just do not like balance beams. But I faced it, and am now just a little bit stronger.

After the logs I got lost at least 3 more times. I kept hitting dead ends with every path I took, and all the right leading paths would have taken me back towards the woods with all the bushwhacking nonsense. So at this point I started trying to make my way back to my car. But not before - getting lost some more!

Made a wrong turn and found this. It was a really pretty view.

After crossing this path I went downhill and ended up in a clearing that looked like this.

Where the hell was I??? Was I still on the base? Really confused! Since there was no way out I went back the way I came...

I took the lefthand path that I should have taken before. And eventually it did lead me back, past both sets of logs, and to the main trail once again!

Done! 3+ miles (I stopped my watch a few times while I was bushwhacking/trying to figure out where the hell I was going)

This was a pretty cool experience. Still undecided on whether or not I'll be coming back here again. I was kind of hoping to find some climbing walls or ropes. But if I ever want practice at balancing or climbing over logs, or even running through sand, I can come back here! I now have a general idea of where to go (avoid the right half of the trail and stick to the sandy road) but I still would need to anticipate getting lost alot. 

After the run I walked around the PX enjoying my awesome post workout feeling. My husband showed up, we got breakfast, then went shopping for plants and some more marble rocks for landscaping. I actually had fun lifting the heavy bags of rocks. What have I become ... lol!

Soon I think we're gonna head to Mellow Mushroom, where I shall chow down on their awesome Jamaican chicken sandwich!