POLICE and mountain rescue services today accounted for most of the 2,500 marathon competitors who were stranded overnight by floods.
The majority of the entrants camped overnight in the Lake District when the Original Mountain Marathon two-day race was abandoned.
Earlier today, police said 1,700 people were unaccounted for but that number has since reduced to just 44.
A Cumb
ria Police spokesman said the latest unaccounted for figure was now 14, consisting of seven two-person teams.
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue said it had a list of nine race numbers where electronic tags had not yet been handed into the marathon organisers.
The entrant numbers are 8, 116, 337, 480, 539, 545, 645, 1705 and 1767.
Anyone who took part who raced in those numbers should contact the organisers to let them know they are safe, a mountain rescue spokesman said.
Many of the entrants who camped out overnight were experienced fell runners and seasoned mountaineers who carried suitable equipment to cope with adverse weather.
A total of 743 people sheltered overnight in the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre in Cockermouth, Cockermouth School, Honister Slate Mine and Glaramara Outdoor Activity Centre in Borrowdale.
Cumbria Police is now co-ordinating the operation to help athletes return to their vehicles and make their way home.
A spokesman said: "The priority for police today will be to respond to specific calls for service if they come in and check local roads to ascertain whether they are open and passable and whether competitors can return to their vehicles.
"Local roads remain treacherous. Police would advise motorists only to travel if absolutely necessary. Competitors should not attempt to reunite themselves with their vehicles until the roads have been confirmed open and passable."
Cumbria County Council is supporting the police by providing buses for the racers to reach their vehicles.
The event was abandoned at midday yesterday for the first time in its 41-year history as heavy rains flooded the various routes the runners were taking from Seathwaite to Gatesgarth, near Borrowdale.
Nearly a month's rain fell in one day in parts of Cumbria as torrential downpours blocked several roads in the area.
Parts of Keswick near to the race venue received 65mm of rain in 24 hours up to 6am today, while the town of Shap near Penrith had 79mm of rainfall.
The average monthly rainfall for the North West of England in October is about 80mm.
MeteoGroup UK, the Press Association weather forecasters, said there was a marked improvement in conditions today with scattered showers predicted in Cumbria in the next 48 hours.
Thirteen people were taken to Mary Hewetson Cottage Hospital in Keswick yesterday suffering from the effects of hypothermia and various minor injuries. They were later transferred to Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital and most have been discharged.
A spokeswoman for North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust said there had been no further admissions today.
Four flood warnings are in place in the region at Keswick Campsite, the River Cocker at Cockermouth and Southwaite Bridge and the River Eden at Carlisle.
A total of 3,050 people registered for the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) which is renowned as one of the toughest endurance events of its kind in Britain.
Several hundred entrants may have pulled out because of the poor weather ahead of the event.
The organisers were known to have closely monitored the conditions beforehand but made a decision to go ahead.
They were forced to abandon the race at midday yesterday as competitors were overcome with heavy winds and torrential downpours.
The competitors were said to be in good spirits after being fed and sheltered overnight and many backed the decision to start the event – some even regretted it was called off.
Fell runner Neil Talbott, a trainee fighter pilot, said he was a "little surprised" the race went ahead but added he was glad it did and would do the event again next year.
Mr Talbott, 27, based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, said: "I have never experienced conditions like that before.
"The rain was incessant but the wind proved just as difficult and I was on all fours at one point just to get through it.
"I think it was a 50-50 call whether to start the race given the forecast. I believe the organisers made the right decision, although I was a little surprised when I heard.
"The event is billed as a tough event and competitors know what they are letting themselves in for. It's held at this time of year annually for a reason because the weather is part of the test.
"I do not regret competing in the event because it is what I have trained hard for.
"Despite the weather it was a great experience and I can't wait for next year!"
Mr Talbott successfully reached the event's midway point at Gatesgarth yesterday afternoon when he learned it had been abandoned.
He spent the night with around 80 people at Glaramara Outdoor Activity Centre.
Most left early today in a bid to retrieve their vehicles and leave the area, he said.
Mr Talbott said: "I believe the road out of Keswick is now passable so hopefully everyone can get home."
None of the competitors, who took part in pairs, carried mobile phones as signal coverage is poor in the area but all wore electronic tags.
The OMM has been held in different locations each year since 1968 when the inaugural event took place in Muker in the North Pennines.
The race is billed as the "original mountain marathon and forerunner of all adventure racing".
Free overnight camping had been arranged for the arduous race which spans over days with event distances ranging from 40km to 80km.
All entrants, ranging from elite and beginner mountain runners to orienteers, fell walkers and mountaineers, had to bring suitable kit.
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