Marathon a way to say thanks for being alive

Dennis Davidson gets in some training for the Auckland half marathon tomorrow. Picture/ Greg Bowker

A near fatal heart attack and triple bypass surgery motivated a Cambridge man to use health and fitness to say "thankyou" to those who saved his life.

Dennis Davidson, 48, is preparing to run in the Auckland half marathon with 10,000 others tomorrow.

He suffered a heart attack while training at a gym in 1999 and a nurse, exercising at the time, resuscitated him and gave first aid until an ambulance arrived.

Mr Davidson said he was a little stubborn, having to have his heart restarted twice by ambulance officers at the scene.

He was not planning to run in this year's half marathon until he heard the Heart Foundation was the charity benefiting from the race. "I thought that was a nice mix."

He said he felt "very confident" and hoped to finish the run in about 1h 40m.

Mr Davidson said the heart attack motivated him to stay fit and continue running. "It may sound silly but it's a way to thank the lady who saved me, the surgeons and the doctors. I'm not abusing the care I had. Thankyou seems like a completely inadequate word."

Within a year of the operation Mr Davidson completed a half marathon that left him feeling "absolutely stoked" and has since finished five more.

He said running offered him an escape. "I've always enjoyed it. I like to get out and get into the zone. It's a bit of a meditative thing ... The legs just keep ticking over and I think, 'God it's a lovely day. Isn't it nice to be alive".

Mr Davidson stepped back from his bakery business after the heart attack and became semi-retired. He said he realised he had become caught up in things that were not important and the health crisis reinforced what was valuable in life.

Mr Davidson said the Auckland Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic helped him back to fitness for six months following the operation.

"Working out why it happened to you and why you are so lucky ... knocks you around a bit."

The big race

What: Adidas Auckland Marathon.
When: Sunday, October 30, starting at 6.30am.
Where: Devonport to Auckland.

* Entries have closed for the marathon and half-marathon. Entries for the 10km event and 5km walk will be accepted up until 6pm today at the Registration and Expo Centre at 135 Halsey St in Auckland.
* The marathon and half-marathon start at King Edward Parade in Devonport at 6.30am and finish in Fanshawe St in Auckland. The starter is Jonah Lomu.
* The 10km event starts in Gaunt St in the Viaduct Harbour at 7am.
* The 5km walk starts in Curran St in St Mary's Bay at 9.15am.
* The weather is predicted to be fine and cloudy with a high of 19C.

How to get there

* Fullers ferries start running at 4.30am from Auckland to Devonport, and will run every 10 to 15 minutes until 5.55am. This is the last sailing guaranteed to get you there on time. The ferries have a total capacity of 4400 people.
* Ferry tickets must be bought ahead of time. They will not be available tomorrow.
* A bus for the marathoners will leave the Bruce Mason Theatre in Takapuna at 5.45am. It is on a first come first served basis, $5, returning from the Fanshawe St side of Victoria Park as normal scheduled runs.
* Make your own way to Gaunt St in plenty of time for the start of the 10km event.
* Free buses will run from Victoria Park to Pt Erin Park for the start of the 5km walk. Buses will leave from Beaumont St from 8am, last one at 8.50am.

Other information

* If the event is cancelled or changed or the Harbour Bridge is closed, it will be broadcast on the following radio stations: The Rock 90.2FM, Radio Live 100.6FM, The Edge 94.2FM, Solid Gold 93.4FM, Kiwi 93.8FM and NewsTalkZB 89.4FM.
* There are contingency courses - read your information pack carefully.
* The course is not closed to traffic, and all participants must obey normal road rules.
* The Harbour Bridge will remain open. Only the two clip-on northbound lanes on the western side of the bridge will be closed. Participants in the marathon and half-marathon will use the most westerly of these lanes, with the other one reserved for emergency services.
* Single baby buggies are allowed in the 5km walk only.
* No wheelchairs, dogs or cyclists allowed in any of the events.
* For more information visit www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz (see link below).