Nick, Graham and myself all jumped in a taxi to head to the start. Nick has joined me on many a challenge, but this was the first time I’d met Graham, a mate of Nick’s - what better way to get to know someone than over the course of 100km of meandering towpath.

The Nove Colli Run, 200km across northern Italy, is a course more famous in the cycling world, but one that Mario Castagnoli decided should be run.  And, 25yrs ago, he did just that.