What would you do?

I did a similar thing yesterday (but turned around much sooner thanks to a helpful volunteer).

In general, I try to follow these rules, in order of priority:

1. Pavement markings (if they exist).

2. Signs.

3. Volunteers.

4.  My gut.

In my case, I asked which way to go but the volunteer said nothing.  There were no signs or markings, so I went with my gut, which was wrong.  Another volunteer on a bike saw me and biked me down and turned me around.

And yes, both of us should have studied the course in advance.

I acknowledge that it can be very hard to ignore your gut in those situations.  I can't promise that I wouldn't have followed my gut even if the first volunteer had answered my query.

My interpretation was that the other runners also went off course.  I can very much see the temptation to follow them, especially if my gut was also telling me that it was the right way.

This is exactly the situation where I see RD's cover their a$$es with the "it's up to the athlete to know the course" BS. When you are directed by OFFICIAL race personnel, and it's wrong, that IS the race's fault. How are you supposed to not know it isn't a last-second course change?

I most likely have done the same thing.

I remember a stage race I did in Wenatchee. Two miles into the first road race, the lead car takes a right turn. I KNEW the course went straight. Three other riders went straight with me, all the while questioning me if I REALLY knew that was the right way. But eventually we turned around and caught back up to the pack JUST as they were stopping to turn around and get back on course. What would have happened if we'd just kept going? Well, aside from having a very lonely and tiring 60 miles, we may well have been able to pull off a huge win. As long as we weren't DQ'd for not following the official lead vehicle.

That's a tough one. (Kind of moot to ask what I'd do since I am perpetually lost and always better following someone else's advice unless I am 100% sure of the course).

Yes, it's the athlete's responsibility to know the course, but like Dave said, I think that's a lame excuse for race officials--and volunteers are officials in this capacity--to MISdirect athletes.

This happens in so many races--it almost seems like if there's any room for error at all, this will happen to at least one person during each race (certainly from lack of marking if not actually from an official). Not sure what the answer is (not another rule), but for each individual race, if a director/organizer/official, mark as much and as best as possible? Extremely clear briefings for vols(ha ha)/officials especially but also athletes?

In your position, I think I also would have followed the leader(s) (one assumes he/she of all people would know?)

I'm sorry that happened! You are very tolerant ... even if it is the rule. That's actually very good sportsmanship (but that is also what you are like).

My coworker volunteered at an aid station and new absolutely NOTHING about the race, start times, waves, course, or even that there was also a DU and 10k race going on at the same time.  All she knew was that she was supposed to hand out water.  The next day at work she was asking me how some old ladies beat me...and I had to tell her that they only had to run 10k...and they started only 30 minutes after I got into the water for my Oly.

But understandably so...not every volunteer needs to know every detail of the race.  So anytime you openly ask a random volunteer for instruction...whether it's which way to go on the run, what time your wave starts, etc...you have to think for yourself a little if you should believe their answer is correct information.  I understand while you're running...you don't have time to ask follow up questions to make sure the volunteer indeed is giving you the right info...so yeah...that sucks for the OP.  I honestly think that RDs should have cones and cardboard signs with arrows on them to point every turn...so volunteers are not the primary source of direction.  Seems like there was a failure there...and I agree with the poster above that the "responsibility of the participant to know the course" excuse is BS.

What would have been interesting is if the OP trusted his gut, did not ask the volunteer which way to go (because he may have done the race the last 10 years), then the volunteer starts screaming at him he's going the wrong way.  What would you do?

I'm sorry that happened to you, too

That happened to a guy here at the Bali Tri yesterday but he was 2nd OA out of the water. Pulled a smokin' fast Oly bike course and had the fastest 5K run split for the sprint. The organizers gave him his own podium award ... too bad though, the top prizes here are worth around $5000 or more and there's a little cash, too.

However, here there are organized swims, rides, and runs for both courses in the days beforehand, and you can always take a taxi around it for cheap, so there really isn't any excuse.

That was CapTexTri in Austin, TX. If I recall correctly, Andy was the only person in the pro male wave that ignored the jetskier because Andy was the first out of the water minutes ahead of the pack. Some of the pro women caught the pro male pack.

No, not yet, although I will later today.

I was not quite so level headed about it yesterday and knew that "heated discussion" wasn't the way to go about things, so I just went home. Plus there were a couple of the other guys that went off course already throwing a fit, which I figured would be best if I didn't add to.

Much thanks guys.

I am happy with the way the race went overall btw

And besides, now I have an excuse to take off early from work the day before. "MUST SCOUT COURSE!"

Sure for the middle of the back.  When you know there is a good chance the volunteers might have left before you get to the turn you have to know the course.