Some athletes get proper injuries. This is not a book about proper injuries. Go and see a professional if you have a proper injury. If it hurts a lot - you probably need to take time off training. If it hurts a bit - and you want to whinge a bit about it, do so. You are probably fine to carry on. This is a book about these injuries. These knocks, niggles and yes, chafed nipples. You may have had these, you may have had all of these. This is a survival guide to help get you to across the finish line and to the start line of the next one. Normal ultra marathon injuries come from the wear and tear ordinary mortals sustain running an ultramarathon. When you run big distances, it will hurt. Probably a lot. If it were easy, you probably wouldn't be as drawn to it. If you have many ultras and a few hundred milers under your belt, you don't need to read this book. If you are built of steel and don't mind a bit of discomfort, then don't bother with this book either. You will be fine and the pain will fade. This book is for the wimps, like me, who wonder why it has to hurt quite as much as it does. And just maybe, could it hurt a little less and can I go a bit faster please? This book was inspired by my first one hundred mile finish. I'm not a great runner. I aspire to be an ordinary ultra runner. But my day job is as a doctor. So I obsess probably a little too much over body stuff. This book is all about why it hurts and what you might be able to do about it. These are some tips and tricks you might find useful. Or at least mildly entertaining. There are those who say that being a bit chilly is hypothermia, that a bit of a sore shin is compartment syndrome and that perspiring on an uphill is heat-stroke. This is probably a natural tendency towards exaggeration in the story telling. A human sense towards the melodrama. I do also know that it is self aggrandizement and can irritate seasoned ultra runners. My tip is: don't tell them. Big-up your injuries to your (non-running) friends in the bar. To proper runners, ask them how their race is going and simply grumble quietly in your own head. This book will also tell you how normal it is to get all of these injuries. Maybe even every time you race. Avoid the DNF (Did Not Finish). Real medical advice from the doctor: Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance. SAS saying - If in doubt, pull out. DNF. - If you DNF, you get to fight another day. You will learn from your mistakes. You will return stronger and more determined than ever before, but most of all, you will be safe. "Was mich nicht umbringt macht mich st rker." (What does not kill me makes me stronger) Twilight of the Idols (1888) This is supposed to be fun. Hard, yes. But it shouldn't be actually dangerous. Let's make that dangerous thing, something for other sports. For the skiers, the motorcyclists, the cyclists and for the footballers. When a winning one hundred mile time is eight minute mile running, we should probably be able to achieve this without breaking stuff.