“Where’s the fire?” I catch someone saying as I hurry past them. As a perpetually fast walker, I often hear this. I can’t help it; I’ve always been someone who would rather stride purposely than amble. I never thought my walking speed could have a tangible impact on my physical health – until my GP told me my speedy strolls had given me the resting heart rate of an athlete, and may be the key to living longer.

I had delayed the over-40s health MOT offered by the NHS for three years, because I was sure that the cardiovascular check would reveal damage from years of mistreating my body. I don’t drink and gave up coffee this year, but I used both heavily in the past. Until my 30s, my diet mainly consisted of ultra-processed foods, and my BMI was teetering on the brink of ‘obese.’ Now, at 4

See Full Page