ROBERT IS READY TO PUT HIS HEART INTO OUR RACE

Despite four heart attacks and quadruple bypass surgery, ceramics expert Robert Tinnyunt is not a man who likes pottering around.

The intrepid 63-year-old from South Devon hopes to get his name in the record books by completing his 100th marathon by the end of this year.

And he hopes one of the events will be the Dartmoor Vale Marathon next May where the profits will be divided between the Herald Express Heart Appeal, in which the fund now stands at £38,000, and Rotary's campaign to wipe out the killer disease, polio.

The retired potter took up running after a series of terrifying scares that culminated in his life-saving operation in London 15 years ago.

At the time, sceptical doctors doubted whether any heart patient could run a single marathon, let alone dozens.

Now he is set to become the first, it is believed, to clock up an amazing century of gruelling 26 milers.

Robert moved from his native Burma to England in 1962 and ran a well-known stoneware pottery in Kingsteignton until retiring two years ago.

It was back in January 1987, while watching television at home, that he suffered agonising chest pains.

He assumed it was indigestion but fortunately his wife called their GP and Robert was whisked off to see a specialist in Torbay Hospital the same day.

"The consultant told me I'd had a heart attack and kept me in hospital. Then I had another heart attack, and eventually my heart stopped completely," he said.

"I was so frightened. I needed electric shocks to get it started and I was in intensive care for two days."

When he had a fourth heart attack on Nightingale ward, the doctors decided he needed an emergency operation and a slot was found for him at Bristol Royal Infirmary.

"But they weren't able to operate so they sent me to London, where I had four bypasses done. I convalesced at home and started walking four to six miles a day."

Later that year, Robert saw crowds of runners in the Torbay Marathon pass his front door of his studio home on Exeter Road.

"I was so impressed. I decided to enter the marathon the next year," he said.

Bravely ignoring his GP's advice not to indulge in sporting activity, he walked most of the way and finished last.

"The next morning I went to see my GP again and showed him my medal from the day before. He was so surprised - and told me off.

"But then he seemed quite pleased and told me to carry on running."

Robert joined the Teignbridge Trotters club and the next year, 1989, took part in his second Torbay Marathon. He even raised some money for the local health centre.

"I've been running ever since. One year I ran 18 marathons all round the UK. Ten miles is nothing for me."

His fastest time for the 26 miles is three hours and 50 minutes, a personal best he established two years ago.

"I'm getting slower now," he admits.

"Three months ago I went up to Scotland for a 32 mile 'ultra' marathon in Dunfermline, but got shingles and had to go to hospital in Edinburgh for emergency treatment instead.

"They didn't let me take part in the event when they discovered my history of heart problems."

Robert pulled on his running shoes again in September and is planning to take part in marathons in Abingdon tomorrow and Snowdonia next Sunday, if he can cadge a lift.

"Snowdonia is difficult to get to. It's not on a rail route and I don't want to drive up in my classic Beetle (an immaculate ivory white 1964 model).

"When I took the car to Yeovil it over-heated twice, so I'm not taking the risk this time."

Then come events in Cornwall, Leicester and - on December 1 - Luton. All going well, it will be his 100th marathon.

He is unaware of any other heart patient clocking up the magic century.

"Fifteen years ago the doctors that I spoke to had never heard of a heart patient running one marathon. Now the doctors encourage it.

Anyone wanting to donate to the fund can do so at any NatWest branch in South Devon or by sendmade payable to Heart Appeal to Mr P F V White, Lee Barber Goodrich, St John's Chambers, 22-24 The Terrace, Torquay, TQ1 1BP. Charity number 200905.