Talking with a former client of mine - yes, we’re still in touch, it’s that kinda relationship - about gastronomic fun and games led us both to have a lightbulb moment or two. You see, it don’t matter how swift and speedy you are, how hard as nails…if you can’t keep stuff down then your career as an ultra runner will be short and messy. Endurance sport has many examples of athletes who excelled over the shorter distances, moved up and then found they couldn’t get the fuel bit nailed. Game over.

I’m not regressing. Honestly. I really have been there, done that, got wardrobes full of T shirts, and got it out of my system. But yesterday I saw something I’ve not seen for 10 years: A Transition Area. Even more than that it was one that had my bike in it – because I and 120 other folks were about to toe the line at the Grizedale MTB Duathlon in the sunny Lake District. Run 6.5 very lumpy off road km, ride 24 very gnarly up and down km, then run it all again.

This is nigh on 10 years of ultra distance racing crammed into 180 pages - personal accounts of the races which have meant the most to me together with a peek at the comings and goings on Planet Mouncey as the world continued to turn.

The best I can do is let you have a sneak preview of part of the foreword as written by the one and only Jez Bragg:

‘Well, your symptoms are consistent with the start of shin splints.’

Pause while I do slight disbelief: Shin splints – I had that when I was about 18 - isn’t that something you get when you’re just starting out and let your enthusiasm run away?

Phil the physio www.wardandwalker.co.uk looks up and I get the unsaid question:

What have I changed?