Liverpool Echo editor Alastair Machray has completed a half marathon – less than four years after undergoing a five-way heart bypass.

The 45-year-old suffered two heart attacks back in 2003 when he was editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror’s North Wales titles, after which he had major surgery.

But he now says he is in “the rudest of health”, and was one of more than 5,000 runners to take part in the Liverpool half marathon – completing the 13.1m course in two hours and 23 minutes.

Alastair told HoldtheFrontPage: “I’m very proud to have done it.

“I wanted to do it to a) keep fit and b) see if I could.

“It’s a great testament to the skill of all the heart surgeons and doctors and nurses that I have come into contact with over the past four years.”

Although he completed the course, Alastair admits it wasn’t easy and says he hates running “with a passion”.

But after becoming ill he has worked his way back to fitness by taking up running, and trained for three months for Sunday’s race.

Despite being exhausted he ran the entire way, “striking a blow for fat, middle-aged editors everywhere”.

He said: “It was misery from start to finish.

“I was alright for the first six miles then I realised it had all been downhill and I had to go uphill.”

Alastair now plans to take a short break before deciding on his next challenge, and says he and former Liverpool Echo editor John Griffith – who previously worked together in Newcastle – are considering taking part in the Great North Run.