Marathon man Keith tells of his terror on mountains

A CHIP shop owner has revealed how he survived horrendous weather conditions that left more than 1,000 endurance race athletes stranded in the Lake District.

Keith Montgomery, who owns Monty's chip shop in Market Place, Leek, managed to walk to safety with his 73-year-old running partner.

The Original Mountain Marathon was abandoned four hours after it started on Saturday, after a month's rain fell in a single day during howling gales.

Thirteen people were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and injuries as they scrambled for shelter.

Two runners suffered broken legs and one had suspected spinal injuries after falling into a river.

More than 1,000 runners camped out in tents overnight or found shelter in a former mine, farms and a school.

Keith Montgomery was competing in the event for the 11th time with his running partner Philip Thomas, of Barnsley.

Keith, aged 52, said: "After two-and-a-half hours from the start we were 700 metres up in the hills.

"The weather became atrocious and it started to blow Philip, who is aged 73, and myself off our feet.

"I have never seen conditions like it before. Visibility was poor and small streams started to become like lakes.

"Everyone made for the half-way camp, but when we got there it was flooded. There was a barn near the camp so some people made for shelter in it. However there was not enough room for everyone so the rest of us walked down the road to shelter in a slate mine.

"After we had sheltered for a while we decided to try and walk back to the start. It took us more than two hours to get down the hills to the car park.

"When we eventually arrived at the car park it was flooded, so I flagged down a tractor driver and asked him to pull my car out. I eventually arrived back home late on Saturday night."

The Original Mountain Marathon is one of the toughest endurance events in Britain.

Those taking part were experienced fell runners and seasoned mountaineers who were carrying equipment to cope with adverse weather and wearing electronic tags.

But organisers have come under fire for not showing "common-sense" and calling the event off.

Keith said neither he or Philip – who has completed 25 of the events – had seen weather conditions like Saturday.

He said: "It was frightening at times, but I feel the organisers have been unfairly criticised. They are very experience people and you have to prove your own experience before they allow you to enter."