L. reuteri, or LR, typically resides in the digestive tract, where it generates lactic acid.

As the lactic bit late on, England, outscored by 23 points in the final 20 minutes of matches so far this year, could not maintain their line speed.

“Cupping helps the body to detox that lactic acid and get it moved out of the area so that soreness can be relieved.”

She had gritted her teeth through the final metres of the race, the lactic building with every stride, years of hurt channelled into every stride.

Because the thin air at altitude did not allow enough oxygen to be absorbed by the body, lactic acid was produced earlier, and at slower speeds, leading to poor muscular recovery.