Yesterday was one year since my heart attack, I am very glad that I am still here!

I was talking with my wife over supper last night, and because it’s one whole year since I gave my family a proper shock, we talked a bit about what might have happened if I had gone and died on 8th August 2023. Sorry to be a bit morbid when in fact we very rarely dwell on what could have happened, but from time to time I get a really strong feeling of how lucky I am to still be here and I need to articulate it. I am very little without my gorgeous family and wow did my heart attack bang that home to me. If you are remotely interested then I detailed exactly what went on with my severe heart attack in three blog posts from last August - here, here and here…………….

So what did I go and do yesterday morning to “celebrate” the fact that it’s been one year since my heart attack? I went for a rather enjoyable 5k run with the dog and I did the exact same route as I ran on 8th August last year. I could feel the previous day’s 10k run in my legs a bit yesterday morning, but damn it felt good to be out and about and alive. I have never felt stronger or fitter in my life, I have lost a lot of weight, I am eating more healthily, and I have gained a running addiction. I also had a good chat on my anniversary run with my dad who died a couple of years ago. I don’t do religion or anything like that, but in my own way I wanted to tell him again that he was the best dad in the world and that I miss him every single day.

I am absolutely determined to keep on with this running and extra fitness thing, indeed I now have a serious dose of the fears. Most anglers are somewhat obsessional people, and I have now become increasingly obsessed with running and how much good it does for me in so many ways. I have a healthy fear that I don’t want to lose this level of fitness, and it’s that fear of losing what I have gained which helps drive me on when sometimes you just don’t feel like going out for a run etc.

I said this on Facebook yesterday: I remain so grateful for so many kind messages of support - thank you so much! - but what really does it for me is how many people have messaged me to say that what I went through has kick-started them to look at themselves and their lifestyle and start their own journey to get stronger and fitter and healthier. Big respect because it's not easy, but wow is it worth it. The bass fishing might be very up and down so far this year, but getting up and down the cliffs and covering stacks of ground is a breeze these days. Onwards and upwards, don't have a heart attack if you can help it, I still shoot awful selfies!

From a slightly selfish point of view I want to be able to do this type of fishing for as long as I can, and I know that to do so how I want to be doing it requires a good level of fitness and strength. I’d also like to stick around and be with my gorgeous family for as long as possible. Every single thing went my way on 8th August last year. I know how lucky I was and I don’t intend to waste the chance I was given to carry on with this rather awesome living thing. You all have a good weekend and I will catch you next week……………