DFW Running Club!!

RichOneday_2

1700 runners out of 2500 starters are still missing this morning in The Lake District. Classed as a major incident by the authorities.

Lets hope its not as bad as it sounds and they all return safely today, but this looks like a very poor bit of organisation:

Mountain rescue teams were scouring the Lake District last night searching for runners stranded by high winds and floods.
They were trying to account for hundreds of fell runners taking part in the Original Mountain Marathon, an annual race in which participants deliberately take on testing, hilly terrains. It was feared that some may have been stuck in the torrential rain, battling the elements on their own through the night.
The marathon was cancelled yesterday lunchtime due to the adverse conditions but only after several hundreds had already set off. Up to 2,000 may have been on the course.
Even though the race was abandoned, runners were thought to be still scattered across hillsides near Keswick. Many had taken refuge in remote farmhouses, with some reportedly suffering from hypothermia after spending a day in soaking clothes. Around 700 were holed up in Gatesgarth Farm in Borrowdale, while 100 more spent the night in Cockermouth School. The whereabouts of others were unknown.

sallyx

I saw this on the late news last night Rich. I can't understand why they went ahead with the race. They did say though that they haven't accounted for all those that abandoned the race and went home before it was cancelled. I suspect the majority will have gone home but I bet there are unfortunately some missing.

RichOneday_2

sallyx wrote: »

I saw this on the late news last night Rich. I can't understand why they went ahead with the race. They did say though that they haven't accounted for all those that abandoned the race and went home before it was cancelled. I suspect the majority will have gone home but I bet there are unfortunately some missing.

Yeah I saw it last night Sally, but with them reporting that there's still so many missing this morning it looks a good bit worse. Winds are too high for rescue helicopters and there is no mobile reception. These fells can be a bit unpleasant at the best of times but having to spend a night out in those sort of conditions in running gear doesn't sound pleasant.

If 12 people were taken to hospital with hypothermia last night just imagine a cold night on top of that for those still out there.

I wouldn't fancy a night in this:
http://www.sleepmonsters.co.uk/racereport.php?page_action=rep&race_id=6846&article_id=5435
This is from a guy who abandoned on his way home!



I think I'll stick to road running!

hypno06

makes my wimping out today because of the weather either:

a) a poor excuse
b) a good call

Lets hope there are no real casualties out there and that everyone gets home safely. Must be hell for those at home waiting to hear too....

sallyx

It does sound awful doesn't it. I really hope they manage to find those missing, I certainly wouldn't want to be stuck up there. Im with you Rich, road running a far safer option (until I get run over then I might change my mind!). Those fell runners are mad folk at the best of times!

redsquirrel80

Scary stuff. I guess you tend to trust the race organisers if they say it's ok to go ahead.

Been wimping out all week due to the weather, what felt like the start of a cold, and a general inability to stay awake.. added to the fact I've had to walk to and from work every day thanks to a lack of funds. Anyway, out this morning - weather has calmed down here, am quite glad I didn't run round here when it was really windy, going by the amount of bits of tree lying about. Bit hard going to start with, and at one point I turned into a one-woman snot producing factory but as usual got into it. Did 3 miles in 28 mins. Put on PC to put run into Realbuzz diary thing and realised that my aim to do 5k in 30 mins by the end of October is just a few days away :eek: Should be ok though, I think.. will be trying on Thursday so fingers crossed!

hypno06

That sounds like a pretty good run! I have got a 5k pencilled in at the end of November, and would really like to run under 30 mins for it. you sound as though you are well on schedule! Well done you!

redsquirrel80

hypno06 wrote: »

That sounds like a pretty good run! I have got a 5k pencilled in at the end of November, and would really like to run under 30 mins for it. you sound as though you are well on schedule! Well done you!

Sounds like you're not too far off it yourself!

Hate to admit it but it actually feels good to have been up and run first thing, with the clocks changing I know I'm going to be up early anyway so it could turn into a habit :eek:

Snaggles

Morning, me and Tigtag did a 5k run this morning - it was very wet and puddly but it was great to be running again after not being able to do much this week.

I was a bit breathless but that's because Tig FORCES me to gossip all the way round.... :rotfl:

hypno06

Glad you managed to get out today - 5k is good going.....3miles ish! And talking on the way round is good - means that you could go faster if you really tried.

:T