As I laid down to rest on a grassy field, all worn out from completing my first 21km race in the Gold Coast Marathon, two heads peered over me. “Are you all right?” one of them asked, her voice filled with concern. “Do you need some ice?”

The two, who appeared to be medical volunteers, explained that somebody had seen me looking a little worse for wear and alerted them. I assured them I was fine – I simply needed to get off my feet for a while after the run.