Wife and I ran the " C " class course.
Had a thoroughly enjoyable day in the hills despite the challenging conditions. Recorded our best ever Day 1 time, and rather disappointed to arrive at mid-way camp and be informed that Day 2 cancelled.
Headed back to Event HQ as instructed by marshals, only to be turned round at Honister by the mine owner. Spent night in our own tent (not in one of the rather smelly cow sheds used as emercency shelters), and returned to Borrowdale am Sunday - so, whilst not beaten by the weather, we were among the "1700 unacccounted for". Fortunately our car not affected by flooding.
Turns out that the origin of much of inaccurate reporting (especially the phrase about "inches from turning the area into a morgue") can be found at the slate mine.... and especially the owner, Mr Weir, who spent much of his time on the phone to the nearest BBC reporter in Cockermouth, while his staff got on with cheerfully serving cups of tea to those runners who decided not to continue.
Fortunately the print media (e.g.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...treme-world-of-mountain-marathons-975372.html ) has a slightly saner view than what was reported over the weekend by the BBC - all that succeeded in doing was worrying friends and relatives back at home.
Please boycott the Honister Slate Mine attractions - should you happen to be going that way, sad to say that Mr Weir, although he has done much for local economy, is an arrogant, obnoxious ass - with a very keen eye for opportunities for free publicity.
