These last months have been a real mix of highs and lows for me. In February I took a step up to compete on the international stage at Transgrancanaria, where I managed 4th place in the highly competitive Advanced race. On the back of this and other performances I was selected for the Great Britain team to run the long course race at the world championships in the Austrian Alps. My ITRA performance index now tells me I’m “elite” (whatever that means) and I have signed my first contract as a runner. I have never run for external validation but I can’t deny all this felt meaningful. However, these “successes'' have recently been tempered by an injury that has forced me out of the world championships. All this has caused me to reflect on where I’m going in this sport, what I want and what actually matters. It’s also given me the chance to reflect on where my journey in ultra-trail running began. So for the first time I will share that story, as it relates very much to Greece and may be of some small interest to readers of this site.