May

[Sam]

I saw Tim Short win Beachy Head last year - I'd arrived a bit early to support a friend, and as I was walking up to the finish line saw this incredible shape bounding across the cliff tops in the distance - I looked at my watch and saw that it was at least 15 minutes before anyone could be reasonably expected to come in so assumed it was just some lanky speed merchant out for a blast... and then as he got nearer I saw he was wearing a race number, and then I just watched with my mouth wide open as he dropped down the really steep hill at the end in about 6 strides and zoomed over the line. There were only about three people at the finish line at that point - they were still doing sound checks on the PA... he threw everyone into a complete panic which was hilarious to watch...

Anyway - I'm pretty sure he's actually already a respected international athlete on the mountain racing circuit - there was something to that effect on the beachy head marathon website - he trains in Europe etc etc. If he's unaffilliated at the club level its probably because he's running at an international level. I do remember overhearing him tell the flustered interviewer at the end of the beachy head marathon that it was his first ever marathon! Anyway - like you say he's an incredible sight, and clearly a phenomenal talent. You've got to wonder what he'd do on a flat marathon...