Dartmoor

I've been going running more and more often of late in a bid to get fit for a half marathon at the end of May.

As part of my training I was going to go for a run around the Burrator reservoir on Sunday (The reservoir is located north of Plymouth within Dartmoor National Park). However when the national weather forecast (after the news on Saturday night) specifically warned of heavy rain on Dartmoor for Sunday, I took it as a hint to stay away. I ran in Plymouth instead after the rain had died down a bit.

Anyone that watches the local news in the area would be aware that although Dartmoor is a beautiful location for outdoor pursuits when the weather is nice around the summer, it can turn into a deathtrap when the weather is bad around the winter. The steep hills and abundance of granite can quickly turn marshes into fast flowing rivers after a short spell of heavy rain. It's why the marines use the area for training.

So bearing all of this in mind and also the fact that I didn't even witness the appalling conditions at first hand, I am truly astounded that the 'manager' responsible for Charlotte Shaw's group didn't call it off.

Unfortunately one person's stupidity will now make it even more unlikely for parents allow their children to participate in outdoor pursuits. To be honest, with poor judgement like that I don't blame them.

I'm convinced that people must think that because we don't have blizzards, hurricanes, mudslides or flash floods that the elements don't produce fatalities. Like those tossers that went out climbing in the Lake District when the country was getting battered by high winds in January.

Why do we have this obsession with pressing on when dispite foul weather? It's not like we're about to attack the Argentine front, it was supposed to be a fun trip.

I remember more than one school excursion where we went out in appalling conditions. One trip was walking around the coast of Pembrokeshire - shortly after an oil tanker had run aground in the area (Due to foul weather) Another was a camping night in sub-zero temperatures. On both occasions I was off sick the following week as a result and my Mother was furious that the school could be so reckless.

When the going gets tough, quit!