Portishead Try-a-Tri

Had you said the name Portishead to me 20 years ago I’d have instantly thought of the band. Now I think of stopwatches and swim caps. I think of breakfasting on bread and tea in a squally coastal wind at dawn, and all the many things that happen before second breakfast–a hearty fry-up at the Lido. In short, I think of the annual Self-Transcendence Somerset Try-a-Tri.

No disrespect to the band – the fragile voice of Beth Gibbons got me through many a dark hour back then – but the fact is I’m i...