Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3.2; Flight Crew Total 414; Flight Crew Type 387.5
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Ground Excursion Runway; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
I was doing pattern work in calm wind with excellent visibility. During my first landing; I felt the airplane pull to the left when rolling out; but otherwise nothing was unusual about my landing or taxi back. During my second landing; the plane pulled hard to the left. My efforts to correct the course back toward the center line and slow down using rudder and brake made the roll out feel erratic and out of control. With no other aircraft on the parallel and drifting toward a short stretch of flat grass without obstacles; I chose to go over the grass and onto the parallel rather than exit at the appropriate taxiway. There was no damage to the aircraft or property (Only my pride.) I expect that the cause of my unusual runway exit was being distracted by thinking about a complicated day of work ahead and; although the wind was calm; there must have been enough of it that I should have been doing more to correct for it.  I had a discussion and flew with the Chief Pilot of the club after this. It's all been a good reminder that even after nearly 1;300 landings; there's NO time to be distracted or complacent in aviation.
C172 pilot reports a runway excursion during his second landing in 'calm winds'; ending up on the parallel taxiway.