KEEPING physical active is vital to maintaining a healthy heart.

However, last week we revealed new statistics which showed that 2.6million adults in the north west are failing to meet the recommended level of physical activity, significantly increasing their risk of heart disease and early death. The north west has the highest level of physical inactivity in the UK.

In the UK alone physical inactivity causes one in ten premature deaths from coronary heart disease, and one in six deaths overall. So it’s never been more important to get your heart pumping.

But getting active doesn’t have to be difficult. With the British Heart Foundation’s MyMarathon challenge you can complete the 26.2 miles in your own time, whether it’s over four hours, four days or four weeks.

Run to work every morning, jog during your lunch breaks or run laps around the park in the evenings; you decide the place and you decide the pace.

You can sign up to at bhf.org.uk/ mymarathon.

Dr Mike Knapton, British Heart Foundation