Dear Dr Gupta,

You were kind enough to do a PVI op on me in July 2010. In Jan 2011 you signed me off and told me to think positively and start training and racing again (run, bike, row).

I took you at your word and have made a comeback to racing winning my age group in a 5K cross country running series and a 5K road racing series. I enjoyed it enormously and since this win have qualified to represent Britain in the European Duathlon Championship in Holland in April. You did tell me to go for it!

I race sensibly using my heart monitor and only have an occasional ectopic beat. I don’t want to undo all your good work by being too gung ho. We discussed immortality and you said you would deal with yourself first and maybe me later! Thanks to you and your staff again for giving me my obsession back!

Brian