Beachy Half Gallery 2020 now live

The 2020 Beachy Head Half Marathon Gallery is now live and online here: https://sspimg.com/Beachy-Half-2020

The view over Beachy Head across the early morning Channel

Near perfect conditions - no wind, no rain, an just a bit cool - perfect for running the hills and downs across Sussex.

This was the first proper bit of work for me personally since March as I wasn't at Clarendon Marathon a few weeks ago, and I'm not sure being sat atop the cliffs of Beachy Head is the ideal place for someone who's not been in gainful employment for 7 months, but it all seemed to go off safely (in my head at least!) I seemed to remember how to press a button, and being earlier to finish because it's only a half marathon - the sun was more to the side or behind me - which meant things like compensating for the bright sea in the pictures wasn't as critical - but come next saturday for the full marathon - I'm going to have to remember all that jazz. All in all - a wonderful day out and seeing lots of people enjoying themselves !

The race organisers - Eastbourne Council have done a fantastic job with COVID distancing at the start and finish of the race - which had the upshot that whilst the start was more waved as it went off - we had more of a chance to get start-hill pictures of everyone as they came up - rather than the stampede we usually have to cope with - so that was a bit of a silver lining. Frankly to have any race going ahead has been a silver lining to the end of this rather bleak year - the council have done very very well, especially with the new local tier system coming into place - fortunately East Sussex is still Tier 1. Fingers crossed for next week and remaining the same. (Just remember not to come if you're in a Tier 2 or 3 area now).

There's a load of photos below to enjoy and of course the gallery - annoyingly whichever way I selected them and put them into the blog it seems to want to put them in reverse order of being taken... lets see if my captioning has improved over lockdown.

Yes - The floor is lava

A half marathon was enough - back to social distancing for him

All done and surrendering to the finish line

Caped crusader

Flying into that finish

Take the moment

It's a great feeling to finish

Youth: don't know how good that should feel

That finish. Those burning thighs.

The final gentle slopes up the Head

"Brilliant !" (to quote the Fast Show)

Victory !

Had energy to spare

Always good to have the double double thumbs up

Enjoyed that last steepest hill

Yes, a bit of a shock to see me there, but there we go, up on a hill. with a view.

*dances a little victory jig*

Then Try Sussex

Hulk happy !

RUN AWAY !!

On Sunday a Man flashing his number was reported on Beachy Head

It's niiiice !!

Yeah, and Sophie was worried about this race last week. Whatever.

It's great to Race for Grace 

Seaford Head glows as it reflects the sunlight back up over the Seven Sisters and Birling Gap

Yes this race is this much long

Eastbourne's great ! Just look !

Thumbs up after 2 miles

And a wave to all that know me

Catching up with that work Zoom meeting on the way round

Paul (Photographer), just what did you say to this guy to frighten him ?

Memories of london

The full "the hills are alive" running mode

Released from his home office in london at last

Got to be sensible at the start

I mean it's not *quite* vertical ?

Bet it's great for sledging in winter. But it never snows in Eastbourne. Fact.

So, that's about it until next weekend when we will return for the Marathon on Saturday and the 10k on Sunday. And then you won't hear from me again for a very very long time, unless I post up some more stuff about www.Nailvember.co.uk - and it would be lovely for you to join in - even if it's just one nail you varnish - it's a challenge !

So a bit of honest begging, please buy your race photos !! Because we really do need some cash for food, heating, etc which is really really handy stuff to have. Very well done on Sunday - it was a fantastic day to be out and running !

Until next time, probably Tuesday week given how many photos we're likely to take and have to process...

Anthony