I am a newly-recruited Champion for SportPursuit. Here is the link to the announcement on the company’s website. This is what it is all about.

Who or what is SportPursuit?

SportPursuit is a members-only sports sale website selling well-known, high-quality brands at heavily-discounted prices. For instance, a pair of Inov8 Roclite 295s could be purchased for £49.80 on the site today, compared to a retail price of £100. SportPursuit is also an ambitious start-up company focused on ‘ordinary’ athletes and the British outdoors, as well as having a headquarters two miles away from where I write in Clapham. And, I believe, we share a similar ethos.

What are Champions and what will they do?

SportPursuit selected six champions from a range of applicants. We are runners, cyclists, swimmers, mountaineers and triathletes, which represents the target market of SportPursuit. I am in good company. Traviss Wilcox holds the world record for the most official marathons (114) in a year; Sophie Radcliffe is a cyclist, runner and mountaineer; Joe Rass is an aspiring triathlete; Grant Ormerod is a former cycling specialist now focusing on triathlons; and Simon Shanks is a mountain-goer and runner. Essentially, we will represent SportPursuit, blog for SportPursuit and encourage new members. SportPursuit will, in return, support our training and racing needs.

What will I do?

I plan to re-acquaint myself with the mountains of Scotland over the next three weeks and take part in hill races at various Highland Games. That will lead into a possible marathon at the end of August, ahead of a serious crack at the Beachy Head Marathon in late-October. Thereafter, I may contemplate the Tour de Helvellyn in December. Further ahead, I’ve ambitious plans for 2014 that involve back to back ultra-runs and open water swimming.

This is all rather ironic, however, as I am not running much at the moment due to a niggle behind my right knee. When I wrote these words on an appointment sheet at a physiotherapist yesterday, I had to spend two minutes explaining to the Chinese physio with limited English what I meant by ‘niggle’.

‘Not a proper injury,’ I explained, ‘but a little injury.’ She looked understandably perplexed. I had never previously ventured to explore the subjective definition of ‘niggle’.

She nodded and carried on. Together, with the use of sign language and pointing, we established that the ‘niggle’ behind my right knee may be caused by tightness in the gastrocnemicus, which is pulling on tendons at the top of the calf, close to the knee, hence the general niggling discomfort. She mentioned the word ‘ligaments’ on a number of occasions, but I waved off the suggestion. I do not want to entertain thoughts about ligaments.

She recommended rest and regular stretching.

Highly unlikely, I thought as I jogged home.

@MuirJonny