50 park runs after heart attack
RUNNER WHO ONCE BEAT STEVE CRAM IS BACK AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT
A grandad who once got the better of Steve Cram in a race has reached a major running milestone–lessthantwoyears after suffering a heart attack.
Colin Reay, 56, decided to take up Park Run as part of his recoveryfromaheartattackin June 2015.
MrReay,wholivesinWashington but is originally from BoldonColliery,initiallywanted to complete just one of the Saturdaymorning5kmevents.
However, after being “bitten by the bug”, he has already completed 50 Park Runs.
The father-of-two and grandad-of-three had been a runner in his younger years, and once beat future world star Cram in an 800m race at Gateshead Stadium.
As part of his rehab programme, running came back to the fore – and he has not looked back.
Mr Reay said: “One of my targets was to try and complete just one park run, to prove to myself that I could still run at the age of 55.
“Iaimedtodooneparkrun andwalkawayfromitandsay, ‘at least I know I can do it’.
“ThefirstoneIdidwasalittle bit of a disaster.
“I was laid up for nearly twoweekswithmyleg.Icould hardly walk.
“I decided to do it again because it didn’t go so well, and the second one went a bit better. Once I got involved, I was bitten by the bug.
“Since that second one, I haven’t missed a week.”
Before his heart attack, My Reay had maintained his fitness well, but decided to have a renewed drive on the road to recovery.
As well as taking up runningagain,hechangedhisdiet and lost weight.
Mr Reay mainly runs the Chester-le-Street Park Run.
He has hailed the way the event has given him back his confidence – and helped him make legions of new friends.