Sex: Male

Occupation: Teacher

Country: British, but living in Dubai, UAE

Height: 5 feet 7 inches

Bodyweight: 155 pounds

Resting pulse: 52 per minute

Maximum training pulse: 130 per minute

Heart condition(s): On the 12 Septenber 2002 I had a heart attack at 7 o'clock in the morning. I was lucky to get to the right hospital at the right time with the right doctors already there doing their rounds. They got the heart beating again and placed a stent in my left main coronary artery. I spent 6 days in ICU then another 4 in a normal room before going home.

Fitness before treatment(s): Pretty grim really. I used to be very fit but had really let things slip over the last ten years or so. I drank too much ate the wrong kinds of foods and smoked cigars whenever I was drinking.

Treatment(s): Zestril, tenormin, lipitor, plavix and aspirin.

Cardiac rehabilitation: None really. They don't have that kind of thing here. I was told to start walking gently etc and given a little advice about my food. Actually, it was all pretty common sense stuff and with the help of the internet and some very good books I have begun training and being very careful about what I eat.

Present training regime: I am following the Beginning Runner's Handbook by Ian MacNeill (ISBN 1-55054-861-1 for anyone who is interested) It is an excellent book but I take the suggested programme and build up the increments more slowly. At present I am doing about 50 - 60 minutes 3 times a week walking 2 min 45 seconds then running/jogging 2 minutes 15 seconds. This way I cover around 7 km or so. Now I want to start doing some Yoga and light weight training. I am also starting to play tennis again but not too competively.

Achievements as a Cardiac Athlete: None as yet, unless you count just going out and training, which I do. I plan to run in the Dubai Marathon next year and complete the 10km part not the whole thing although I did the London Marathon when I was 19 and have a picture to prove it.

Training tip(s): Take it nice and slow and build up gradually but keep doing it and don't start missing training days.

Future goal(s): To keep on doing this and to reach the stage where a 10K run is like a walk in the park.

Motivator(s): My wife, daughter and the one on the way - conceived after the heart attack by the way.

Thanks to: My my very good friend Rao and his wife Shailajar who got me to the hospital and Dr. Rajeev Lochan and all the other doctors, nurses and support staff who saved my life and who looked after me so brilliantly at the Welcare Hospital here in Dubai.