Cellulitis: a bacterial infection of the inner layers of skin, usually in the legs or arms, and most common in older people (older than my 59 years). But I had it once at the age of 34, the next time 10 years after that, but for the last 15 years I have had it on average more than once every two years.

This time was a bit different. Usually I notice pain, redness and swelling in the affected area (nearly always the foot in my case), and then maybe start feeling feverish if I haven't got my antibiotic prescription fast enough. But yesterday I was convinced I had flu (headache, shivering, dry throat, weakness), and only this morning did I start noticing the symptoms in my foot. The GP noticed broken skin on my big toe, and reckoned that was where the bacteria had gone in.

We fell-runners tend to be rather blasé about superficial damage to our feet. Whereas we are very concerned about damage to muscle, tendons and ligaments because that will stop us running, we treat broken toenails and damage to the skin as just an inevitable part of the game, and nothing to worry about. But for anyone who is susceptible to cellulitis, it can be more of a problem.