Rain strands UK marathoners

By JENNIFER QUINN

London

Oct. 26: Mountain rescue teams have been searching for stranded competitors after an elite marathon was called off because of heavy rain, flooding and high winds.

The athletes were competing in the Original Mountain Marathon, a two-day race across rough country in Britain’s Lake district, about 483 kilometres north of London. High winds and heavy rain affected much of northwest England on Saturday. According to the marathon’s website, the race was called off just after noon on Saturday. It’s unknown how many people are stranded in the mountains."It is impossible to say how many people are up there because there is no mobile (phone) reception," said Bob Liddell, a member of a local mountain rescue team. "I don’t believe the organisers will have been able to account for everyone at this stage." Mr Liddell said rescue teams would not be using Royal Air Force search-and-rescue helicopters because of the wind. In a statement, the Cumbria police said about 840 people had taken shelter in four different locations in the area, including a school, farm, and outdoor centre.

"The competitors are mainly seasoned mountaineers, and are expected to be carrying suitable equipment to cope with adverse weather," the release said.

The Original Mountain Marathon website says the race was founded in 1968. Teams are "totally self-supporting," and competitors do not carry global positioning systems or mobile telephones, the website says.

Competitors race in pairs and carry their tents, clothing and enough food for 36 hours. "The ethos of the event is to be totally self-reliant, in the wilds, carrying all equipment, no outside support," the website says. —AP