If it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone.

That's what so many of us said after world-class distance runner Alberto Salazar collapsed on the Nike campus after a heart attack.

In his first television interview Thursday, he spoke with Newschannel 8 about what we can all learn from his story.

It's amazing how that which is routine in life takes on new meaning after facing death.

“Every little thing that I do right now, every time I see my kids, or wake up in the morning, see my daughter sleeping -- little things I thought were just normal, they're always going to be there -- I really appreciate them a lot more now," said Salazar while taking a break from coaching some runners on the Nike campus.

A teacher himself, these are lessons he never intended to learn.

"I kind of forget to really keep things in proper priority and that's my family, God, faith and those friendships.  So for me this kind of a warning shot across my bows from God."

Looking at him now, it's hard to picture what happened here less than two weeks ago.  His heart attack dropped him.  Stopped his heart.  Turned him blue.

He spends quiet moments thanking his heroes; his runners who called 911, the bystanders who started CPR and the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue paramedics who fought so hard to save him.  They visited Nike Thursday and talked to Alberto for the first time since his heart attack.

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Alberto Salazar walking up to thank Captain Lance Bicket with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue for the work his team did to save his life.

Alberto's emergency cardiologist at Providence St. Vincent is still in awe.

"Incredibly lucky.  Incredibly lucky.  I have never seen a person down 12 to 15 minutes receiving CPR come back mentally intact," said Dr. Todd Caulfield.

"I think the biggest thing this did is put life in perspective," said running phenom Galen Rupp who was with Salazar when he collapsed and sprinted to a phone to call 911.

And while this story, with its happy ending, may seem on its way to a tidy conclusion -- we're not done.  There's something in all of this that should make us stop and pay attention.

"Even though you live a great lifestyle, there is only so much you can control about heart disease," warned Dr. Caulfield.

Just ask the man who is the epitome of fitness.  His genetic cards dealt him a family history of heart disease.

"I knew that it was a possibility that it could happen because of my family history, but I didn't think it would," said Salazar.

And Dr. Caulfield will also tell you to pay attention to subtle symptoms; neck pains, shortness of breath -- particularly when those symptoms are centered around exercise.

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From his computer, Providence St. Vincent cardiologist Todd Caulfield looks over scans of Alberto's heart.

Alberto hopes his story will reach even one person.. but we think it reaches all of us.

"I'm really glad that it happened because, once again, it's woken me up to what's most important."

Early CPR helped save Alberto's life.  Could you perform it if needed?  Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue offers classes.  Check out Steph's Health Blog. 

Or you can contact the American Heart Association.  There is a link to that as well on Steph’s blog.