OMM in Borrowdale!

Agree pretty much entirely with Zlod's sentiments a few posts further up. The decision to go ahead on Saturday gave many of the competitors one of the most memorable days in the mountains they will ever have. I saw things on Saturday that I will probably never see again and it was a great experience.

The last hour or so before reaching the midway camp was particularly memorable, and Zlod and I were getting ourselves prepared for the prospect of 18 fairly miserable hours at camp. For the record we got round the (shortened) Elite course in a bit over 4 hours 30 minutes.

The severity of the weather meant that abandoning it was probably the only viable option to take. The walk back over Honister was the toughest part of the day.

We were smug getting back to the FRCC hut in Rosthwaite and looking forward to an evening in the pub. The smugness quickly evaporated when we saw a stream flowing through the Scafell hotel bar. The most amazing aspect of a quite extraordinary weekend was the fact that my flooded car started on Sunday morning - testament to German engineering.

As has been mentioned repeatedly the reporting in the mainstream media has been wildly inaccurate. I think they were looking for a story which made a change from the usual credit crunch, political shenanigans etc. Anyway collectively we knocked Peter Mandelson off top spot in the news which can't be bad...

The organisers, marshals competitors and everyone involved showed the sort of initiative and perseverance that the OMM is all about. Long live the OMM!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

Mr Wier says this Mr Weir says that...*&@&$£!!!!!!

What a self important ......

OK what are the FRA doing to answer all these idiotic TV and Press stories. They are our governing body and represent us so come on FRA time to put out the facts and the true reflection of our sport officially.

---

I don't think it would be in the FRA's best interests to get involved.
The OMM isn't in the FRA calendar, so I can only assume they get their insurance elsewhere.

If the FRA were concerned about the future of other events in the light of this, then of course the matter should raise some discussion and probably will at the AGM, along with the cancellation of the Mountain Trial and the Ian Hodgson Relay.

But the same hills and runners will still be there next year, we've just had an unlucky run with bad weather.

I don't think that an 'official comment' from the FRA will change anything I'm afraid. Neither do I give a rats ass what the rest of country thinks of our sport. But then I don't know much about medieval re-enactments, tiddly winks or synchronised swimming and would probably have just as bad an impression of these pasttimes as joe public currently does about fell running.

And with that entry fee the OMM is not what I would class as a fell race anyway! Somebody, somewhere was making money out of it. I wouldn't lose any sleep if it goes by the wayside.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Purpleplodder

I don't think it would be in the FRA's best interests to get involved.
The OMM isn't in the FRA calendar, so I can only assume they get their insurance elsewhere.

If the FRA were concerned about the future of other events in the light of this, then of course the matter should raise some discussion and probably will at the AGM, along with the cancellation of the Mountain Trial and the Ian Hodgson Relay.

But the same hills and runners will still be there next year, we've just had an unlucky run with bad weather.

I don't think that an 'official comment' from the FRA will change anything I'm afraid. Neither do I give a rats ass what the rest of country thinks of our sport. But then I don't know much about medieval re-enactments, tiddly winks or synchronised swimming and would probably have just as bad an impression of these pasttimes as joe public currently does about fell running.

And with that entry fee the OMM is not what I would class as a fell race anyway! Somebody, somewhere was making money out of it. I wouldn't lose any sleep if it goes by the wayside.

---

Thats twice joe public has been mentioned:).
I feel a bit the same about the OMM, I dont think the FRA should be involved either.

Sorry if I've missed anything already on this thread but does anyone know how many people were actually 'rescued'? (off the fells I mean, not in terms of having their cars towed)
So far, the only reliable report I've heard was a competitor helping a guy with a broken ankle, I've not heard anything really about MRT's active role.
(Genuine question, no agenda)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blanche

Sorry if I've missed anything already on this thread but does anyone know how many people were actually 'rescued'? (off the fells I mean, not in terms of having their cars towed)
So far, the only reliable report I've heard was a competitor helping a guy with a broken ankle, I've not heard anything really about MRT's active role.
(Genuine question, no agenda)

---

Blanche,

According to one acrticle I have read, 11 people were helped by MR and 12 were taken to hospital.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/7691020.stm

At last some sense, from the Daily Mash

RUNNING STUPID http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/templa...rintButton.pnghttp://www.thedailymash.co.uk/templa...mailButton.png

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/images...s/runners2.jpg

Piss off

RUNNING for any distance greater than five metres is stupid, it was confirmed last night.

As more than 2500 people in shorts and a vest had to be rescued from a mountain in the middle of a storm, experts warned that running had never been more pointless.

Dr Tom Logan, of the Institute for Studies, said: "Thousands of years ago our ancestors had no choice but to run after cows or away from dinosaurs.

"But now we have mopeds and hatchbacks. Neither of which involve stupid, overpriced shoes and thinking you're better than me.

"But you just have to put on your Lycra and your wraparound sunglasses and do all your stretching because if you don't you could pull a muscle and then you'd have to limp around the office and tell everyone how not being able to go for a run is driving you crazy.

"Well I hope you do pull a muscle, and I hope it does drive you crazy and you end up in a huge mental hospital rubbing custard into your scalp and drinking your own piss."

Dr Logan added: "And then there's those people who meet up in a pub and go for a jog and then come back to the pub and drink orange squash and stand around stewing in their own stench.

"I really must conduct some research to find out if there is actually a more detestable collection of bastards."



http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/...-200810271353/

Ta FB. I'd missed that. So not '1000s' then. Whilst it's arguable that any rescue is one too many, I'd say that 11 and 12 (I wonder how many are the same person) isn't bad given the numbers, conditions and the usual MRT weekend call-outs.

Its going to be discussed on Jeremy Vine. Will someone sensible who was there PLEASE call up to ensure that a true picture is given?

Mindyou, 'most' people think that fellruners are mad, so maybe we should just take it on the chin.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Flightless Bird

Blanche,

According to one acrticle I have read, 11 people were helped by MR and 12 were taken to hospital.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/7691020.stm

---

Given 2000 entrants over rough terrain very small numbers. How does this compare to other big events in dryer weather.

How many footballers or rugby players end up in hospital with injuries on any given Saturday/Sunday for a similar number of competitors bearing in mind they only play for 90 minutes, just curious?:confused:

My last post on the subject........ maybe;)

Being a well known fair weather runner,climber etc my anxiety levels reached a new highduring Saturday but we dibbed into the Day One finish in good order, with the largest amount of kit I have ever carried incl. Goretex bivvi bag)and without too many incidents except for a couple of falls and my aprtner's sleeping mat going for a sail down a stream (recovered). We too suffered the fate of all the King's Men up and down the Honister a few times but that was understandable in the rapidly changing situation. The organisation of the OMM was tested and came out with flying colours. The decision to go ahead must have a nerve testing matter of very fine judgement and I now think that they were right in going ahead within the tradition of the event. After all, you can drop out at the start or soon into the event as many did.
The relative silence of the media on Monday after the event says it all - "What was all the fuss about?" (or was just that it was a slow news weekend?). There were problems and they were all sorted.

On Jeremy Vine now.......

Some stuck women who havent got a clue have been on already telling us what we should & shouldn't do :mad::mad::mad:

Mike Parsons trying to explain, but..................Jezzer is just not listening as usual

thank you andrew hunt for putting a calm and honest view.

After taking part in my first OMM, I was dismayed at the way the media miss-represented the events at the week end. :mad:
I had a great weekend and was disappointed that we did not carry on into day two.

Jeremy Vine show like the rest of the media , just dont get it.:mad:

Never mind they will soon get back on to the doomed economy..

Im off to the soup kitchen.:rolleyes:

Bet you wish you'd been there after all eh Nee Bother

As a former journalist (turned media lecturer) and OMM competitor, this was a notable weekend for me! As many people have already remarked, since journalism tends to work by simplifying, context is lost in a quite infuriating (and quite deliberate) way. So '1500 unaccounted for' may have some literal truth but is otherwise ludicrous hyperbole without the wider context that we are all aware of. Worse still, the practice of prioritising the juiciest quote: which is where the moron from Honister mine comes in. So the event is deliberately misunderstood, context deliberately ignored, facts not conducive to the story ignored. We finished day one along with many others and were camped before being told the event was cancelled. No problems, no complaints, just calm efficiency as we all dealt with the conditions with the benefit of decades of experience in the british hills. All power to the organisers - just hope it doesn't attract the yuppies next year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Moorlander

After taking part in my first OMM, I was dismayed at the way the media miss-represented the events at the week end. :mad:
I had a great weekend and was disappointed that we did not carry on into day two.

Jeremy Vine show like the rest of the media , just dont get it.:mad:

Never mind they will soon get back on to the doomed economy..

Im off to the soup kitchen.:rolleyes:

Bet you wish you'd been there after all eh Nee Bother

---

Yeah......sounded like a good weekend :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by simongwyn

As a former journalist (turned media lecturer) and OMM competitor, this was a notable weekend for me! As many people have already remarked, since journalism tends to work by simplifying, context is lost in a quite infuriating (and quite deliberate) way. So '1500 unaccounted for' may have some literal truth but is otherwise ludicrous hyperbole without the wider context that we are all aware of. Worse still, the practice of prioritising the juiciest quote: which is where the moron from Honister mine comes in. So the event is deliberately misunderstood, context deliberately ignored, facts not conducive to the story ignored. We finished day one along with many others and were camped before being told the event was cancelled. No problems, no complaints, just calm efficiency as we all dealt with the conditions with the benefit of decades of experience in the british hills. All power to the organisers - just hope it doesn't attract the yuppies next year.

---

I can back this up as I’ve just heard Mike Parsons on Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ program. You and Yours has been going for a long time and is a program I respected in championing consumer issues with some very good investigative journalism. Not today though, they are pedalling the same BBC mis-information that they have been putting out all weekend. Shame on you BBC. :mad:

Having never organised a race before, I’m only speculating here, but….

Might the problem be that next year, land owners will refuse to allow the OMM to pass over their land for fear of negative publicity?

Or are land permission issues different in MM type races, rather than fell races that follow a set course?

Simongywn said

All power to the organisers - just hope it doesn't attract the yuppies next year.

It shouldn't if as the entry details on the website state
'All competitors will be vetted for their competence'

I'm off to the soup kitchen.


...and another thing. The weather was so bad I couldn't get up my garden to cut a cabbage. So, I did the obvious thing and opened a tin of peas. You should have seen the rain on my conservatory roof. It was difficult but we survived.

Later, when it quietened down a little, we checked the freezer (a bit short on oven ready chips) and battened down the hatches to watch "Saw". Put the leccy blanket on but took the top blanket off when we went to bed so that I could feel conditions a little closer to those 'lost' souls

I know it is going to be difficult for the organisers but they should just ignore any negativity and understand that we still love them. Big hug.

Wish I had been there.

Good fair article in the times today I thought despite yesterdays fears that iot would be just another press slating. You can see why Simon Barnes was sports columnist of the year.
As tends to be the case with most threads on here whenever i join the debate it seems to put an end to it so lets see with this one

Just been handed the Sun by one of the shop floor lads


headline
POLICE FURY OVER FELL RACE CHAOS

who the hell is that Tony Johnson geezer whos from Lincoln:(

I thought the Times article was quite balanced too, but not sure about the comparisons with skydiving and other dangerous sports, or the pillock who banged on about how dangerous horse riding was - dangerous for the horse maybe. Well done Jen, and all the organisers. Wish I had been there too.

My main worry now is getting the wife to allow a ticket out in the future!! already had "you are not putting me through that again!" i just replied "We'll see" thinking there is a good amout of time to let dust settle til the next one!

Bastards at the BBC:mad:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by daz h

Just been handed the Sun by one of the shop floor lads


headline
POLICE FURY OVER FELL RACE CHAOS

:(

---

Hi Daz, a headline to keep that one. At least they called it a fell race which is a fairly accurate description for the mass media. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by IanDarkpeak

Given 2000 entrants over rough terrain very small numbers. How does this compare to other big events in dryer weather.

How many footballers or rugby players end up in hospital with injuries on any given Saturday/Sunday for a similar number of competitors bearing in mind they only play for 90 minutes, just curious?:confused:

My last post on the subject........ maybe;)

---

Well, in my old rugby club it was two or three every game, multiply that by several hundred clubs every Saturday and we are into the thousands on a weekly basis:eek:

I was once told there are three stages in any media frenzy - Mayhem, Mastermind and Manhunt. Mayhem is the initial phase where everything is confused and often conflicting reports are broadcast, Mastermind is where some talking head (who often is selected on the basis of being available rather than any real knowledge of the subject in question) gives his or her 'expert' opinion, and manhunt is when the media start looking for someone to 'blame'. The whole process can overlap and happen very quickly or drag on for weeks - If its any comfort to the OMM team I would like to propose that there is a fourth stage called 'chip paper' and hopefully most of the rubbish that has been spouted by various individuals will be forgotten in time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by team pie

My main worry now is getting the wife to allow a ticket out in the future!! already had "you are not putting me through that again!" i just replied "We'll see" thinking there is a good amout of time to let dust settle til the next one!

Bastards at the BBC:mad:

---

I hear you Team Pie 'her indoors' was none to pleased but luckily she's taken it out on the BBC. Plus a few pies I picked up from the farm shop at Tebay services helped to settle things down, as well as all the snack food left over that we did not eat on Day 2. (I'm not painting a very flattering description of my wife here am I?) I was amazed at how much she remembered about the event including my start and finish times and she guessed right about us sticking to lower ground, and playing it safe and me being in the barn on Saturday night - I think I might employ her as my event co-ordinator in the future! :D

OMG! More crap in the media....

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/la...ntview=1#forum

I have just had a MAJOR rant! Some of the comments are priceless. Please add to this to address the balance.

I'm getting well annoyed. According to the News And Star, Mark Weir triggered the over the top response (are they to be believed though;-)).

One bloke reckons that we are all yuppies who wouldn't stand a chance against the true mountain runners who do the Lakeland Sports Days - priceless! Oh, and none of us can be called runners because in the clips none of use were running - god I'd like to meet him...

Jeremy Vine show, it starts about 7 minutes in...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...Vine_27102008/
Listen to our mate Mark talking about crevasses in the Lake District!
Voice of reason from the competitor Andrew Hunt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by COUGAR

... If its any comfort to the OMM team I would like to propose that there is a fourth stage called 'chip paper' and hopefully most of the rubbish that has been spouted by various individuals will be forgotten in time.

---

I wouldn't want my chips wrapped in the muck served up in today's papers, but I would wipe my backside on it. I vote we cut them up into small sheets, thread 'em on a string and hang in the portaloos next year. Now that will bring the smile back to my face...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by A.G

Having never organised a race before, I’m only speculating here, but….

Might the problem be that next year, land owners will refuse to allow the OMM to pass over their land for fear of negative publicity?

Or are land permission issues different in MM type races, rather than fell races that follow a set course?

---

Pete the farmer seemed quite happy with the event, and reckons his fields wil have recovered by spring.( Many thanks to Pete and his mates BTW, for his sterling work with the tractors, getting the cars out)

Just got back from serving soup, and parking cars. We knew the weather was a bit rough, but not knowing anything of the media frenzy, we were a bit surprised when all these TV vans started turning up. But by then of course there was nothing to see, except damp but fairly happy runners feeding their faces. All a none event really, just a shame the concern it caused to people back home.

In defiance of the nanny state, I think someone should organise a mountain event which does not entail competitors finding little electronic boxes, but collecting as much firewood as they can WITH CHAINSAWS. :D

Does anybody know how it managed to be the BBC’s number 1 headline so quickly? It's not as if there were good phone or transport access to the area. Maybe the guy who owns the slate mine rang up the radio stations (since he seems to be the one everybody first quoted) in order to drum up some free publicity....

An opinion piece in today's North-West Evening Mail. Worth a read.

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/1.260930

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by morning glory

An opinion piece in today's North-West Evening Mail. Worth a read.

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/sport/1.260930

---

"Thirdly, if these are idiots and a strain on our emergency services, what do you call the countless people who head up into the hills every week totally unprepared"?


i have to agree with this statement, so many knobbers who think a compass is something to draw circles with!!!

Ah well let the press have their fun for this short time, they enjoy influencing public opinion for a while and having a flock of sheep following them.

"Thank god no-one died" headline in the Cumbrian News and Star.

Who do I thank as I'm an atheist....Mark Weir?

Only significant incident reported by Wasdale MRT

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wasdale MR

Telephone call from Keswick MRT after they had been contacted by Ambulance control (Keswick were already dealing with 3 incidents related to the same event ( Original Mountain Marathon). Female competitor in a team of two had been swept away down the swollen Spouthead Gill where it met with Lingmell Beck (Wasdale side of Styhead Pass). The informant was at the Wasdale Head Hotel.

The team were immediately called out and approximately 20 team members attended. Unprecedented rainfall and high winds had flooded the valleys and swollen the rivers. The missing walker was located on an island in the middle of the raging gill. She had been pulled out of the water by two other competitors who themselves were stranded on the very small island. She had a number of injuries. A further two walkers went to her aid and were also stranded. Three Wasdale swift water technicians managed to get to the location and two got across to the island using ropes. A Sea King helicopter that had been called in to assist in the search for the lost walker was quickly re-deployed to winch all 7 off the island which was quickly becoming engulfed. The injured and hypothermic female was stretcher winched. All were flown to Whitehaven Hospital. Incident closed at around 6.30 p.m.

---

Another more reasoned report here.

Telegraph says:

'Endurance race that nearly turned the Lake District into a morgue'

Tut :mad:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by a.g

does Anybody Know How It Managed To Be The Bbc’s Number 1 Headline So Quickly? It's Not As If There Were Good Phone Or Transport Access To The Area. Maybe The Guy Who Owns The Slate Mine Rang Up The Radio Stations (since He Seems To Be The One Everybody First Quoted) In Order To Drum Up Some Free Publicity....

---

maybe!!!!!!!!!?