Where did he go?

[ZarquonsSandals]

Walking through the park today (drawing provided, not to scale). I was following the footpath from left to right, which is marked in green. It's the only one that runs right through.
A man walked past me as we approached the lake, and continued walking at speed. Because of the lie of the land, I lost sight of him, but didn't really think anything of it. I assumed he'd gone to the hut beside the lake which is used for community events, as by the time I drew level with that, he was not visible.
However, as I passed the play area, he approached from the other side.
There is only one gate in/out of the area where the hut is and there are no bridges/tunnels or other ways to get the other side of the lake, but that is where he came from.
Glitch in the matrix?

Bumping.
Has anyone got any theories? Even accounting for walking quickly I can't see how he managed to get to where he was in the short space of time it took me to 'catch up'.

Can you mark where you were the first time you saw him and where he was and where you were when you saw him again and where he was?

I think it’s probably that your time perception was a little off!
this isn’t a dig or anything we literally all do it :)

He passed me as I drew level with about where the K is on this diagram (on the path). The entrance gate to the hut thing is concealed by bushes .
I walk readonly fast myself so maye 70 seconds to 1m 30s later he walked up the path on the opposite side to where the gate is. He carried on past the play area on the far side of the path.
I walk this route often and this section from end to end takes 4min when at snails pace for me.
Maybe I was on a go slow but it was him appearing from the other side of the Lake that threw me.

Surely he walked fast passed you and then got to a certain point then decided to turn around and walk back? I'm a bit baffled by your description but this is the most logical explanation to me

Maybe he was having a wee behind a tree and you didnt see him?

He appeared from roughly where the line of my arrow pointing to the hut crosses the path. The Lake is around 300m at its widest point, and more of an oval shape than shown here.
It was a busy time of day so I doubt he'd had a wee behind a tree. There are toilets at the entrance (to the far left and not in my sketch).