OMM in Borrowdale!

[Sherpa]

Just back home after my first mountain marahton, this weekens OMM! I thought it was an awesome experience. Camarderie was great and felt great to come off the fells knowing we made it round safe through our own steam/decisions. I think the race organisers probably can't win as whatever they do somone won't like it, but at the end of the day on saturday morning me and my team mate knew it was going to be epic and we still went ahead. If I thought it was so bad it should have been cancelled I would have just turned my car round and gone home and not waited for the organisers to cancel. The only bad thing is the impact on mountain rescue, police etc who have done a brilliant job working with the organisers and having to fend of queries due to media mis-information.

Really glad everyone accounted for and hope those who did get injuries make a speedy recovery. Just a bit annoyed that my boyfriend was only worried about the car!

[Stagger]

Just back home after my first mountain marahton, this weekens OMM! I thought it was an awesome experience. Camarderie was great and felt great to come off the fells knowing we made it round safe through our own steam/decisions. I think the race organisers probably can't win as whatever they do somone won't like it, but at the end of the day on saturday morning me and my team mate knew it was going to be epic and we still went ahead. If I thought it was so bad it should have been cancelled I would have just turned my car round and gone home and not waited for the organisers to cancel. The only bad thing is the impact on mountain rescue, police etc who have done a brilliant job working with the organisers and having to fend of queries due to media mis-information.

Really glad everyone accounted for and hope those who did get injuries make a speedy recovery. Just a bit annoyed that my boyfriend was only worried about the car!

Very well done and well said Sherpa

[daz h]

Good to see Luvshack viewing the thread
Hope the van isnt too washed out mate

[IainR]

Just spoke with the Laura. Hardest question was about the costs involved in mounting the rescue, resources diverted because of this incident. I must admit it's a good point. But races do provide a lot of income to MRT's so it's not like it's a take take take situation.

I do think the RO's at the OMM were in for stick either way this weekend, had they cancelled before, cancelled during, or even let the whole event run, someone would have criticised the call.

[stevefoster]

Good to see everyone's accounted for, hope no one was seriously injured

[IanDarkpeak]

Toni, the reason the organisers probably never said anything is they were unaware of how many were still on the hills etc.

If you called the OMM off in bright sunshine in the middle of summer it would take hours to account for everyone on the hills, never mind in poor conditions. Whats worse no info or incorrect info? Just cus BBC and Sky TV have got news channels to fill doesn't mean race organisers should spend their time pandering to them when they have more important things to do!!

One thing I do agree with is maybe the event is getting too big for its own good.

Good to hear every one is home, I rang a few friends who "Survived" and for the most part they were all dissapointed it was called off, they expected the weather and were kitted out for it.

I would say well done to the competitors and organisors. But not releasing any info was a mistake. If you don't feed the monster(press) they will scavenge for whatever they can find how ever inaccurate it is. If nothing else all organisors of any event should bear this in mind.

Every competitor who was interviewed gave a reasoned opinion that reflected the facts.

Saw an interview this morning with a Police/rescue coordinator(didn't hear his exact role) and when asked about whether he was worried for the missing runners (1000 at this point) he said not at all, they're all properly equiped, inerviewer seemed a little deflated. They must have worked hard as by the time I'd finished my race there were only 7 pairs missing.

[theNoor]

Just back from an awesome 24 hours at the OMM! Loved it!

Maybe I've missed the official reasoning for it being called off, but I would hope it was the fact the overnight camp was waterlogged.

Yes, the streams/rivers were full, but we crossed all of them by climbing higher. Yes, the weather was bad, but the 2007 OMM Durisdeer had worse weather in my opinion.

Walking back over from Buttermere to Borrowdale provided a lot of entertainment, excitement and adrenaline. Some fantastic waterfalls and rivers. I have never seen so much water coming down the hillsides...

I want to reserve judgment until I hear more from the organisers, but I can't help but feel that for whatever reason they cancelled, (weather, flooding, swollen rivers etc.) they could have done so on Friday morning for the same reason.

....and where be the results of Day 1, please?! They seem to have been forgotten in the hullabaloo that has ensued.

[Epocian]

Noor said
I want to reserve judgment until I hear more from the organisers, but I can't help but feel that for whatever reason they cancelled, (weather, flooding, swollen rivers etc.) they could have done so on Friday morning for the same reason.

A cynic would say if it was cancelled on Fridaypeople might be asking for a full or partial refund - once it's started, no refunds!

[Mark G]

I wonder what would have happened if the event had not been called off? Presumably a lot of pairs would have reached the overnight camp and continued to complete day two. Other pairs would have made sensible decisions about their own ability/experience and retired of their own volition early (as I understand many did) and others would have camped independently when they had had enough and made their own way back this morning. While many pairs were 'unaccounted for' for most of today its always been my understanding that nobody is 'missing' on an event like this until you fail to return to the start some time on day two.

[Paul T]

Not sure we'll see any results Noor. They packed up the finish just after we finished mid afternoon and told us not to bother dibbing although we did just in case. I hope they do get some out though as I would like to see the splits.

Really enjoyed the day out and was gutted not to be able to do the second day. Climb up to Honister was hardest bit of running of the day against that wind!