I’m running the City2Surf for the first time at 80
Over60 chat with David Baker, the energetic 80-year-old who is approaching the pointy end of his preparation for the 2017 City2Surf.
“I’ve been training six days a week and walking an average of 10km a day…”
You’d be hard pressed to find a 30-year-old willing to stick to this kind of training regimen for too long, but 80-year-old David Baker is a man on a mission. At an age where he’d be more than excused to put his feet up, David is at the pointy end of an intense training program designed to ensure he’s in tip top shape for the 2017 City2Surf this Sunday.
“Today I’m just coming back from Heartbreak Hill,” he tells me. “I got the bus to Rose Bay and walked up to the top of Vaucluse just to see what it was like. And I think it’s manageable. If I stop to have a breather on the way that will be fine.”
The City2Surf has become a bit of an institution in the Harbour City, with recent events attracting a diverse field of more than 80,000 entrants including competitive runners, amateur racers, community participants and walkers.
But it’s by no means a walk in the park.
The 14km course, which spans from Sydney’s Hyde Park to Bondi Beach has claimed its fair share of victims over the years, with the steep, two-kilometre including known as Heartbreak Hill providing stern test of any runner’s resolve.
Not that David seems all that concerned.
“I’m very much looking forward to it, all I can do is my best,” he says. “It’s 14.3kms, and I’ve set myself 150 minutes as a goal. Whether I achieve that remains to be seen, but I’ll be trying very hard. I think it’s a fair target. And hopefully it will be a good day, but not too hot!”
David has a little added motivation going into this year’s race. He’s raising money for Southern Cross Care, an aged care provided based in NSW and ACT, that’s been providing care for people suffering from dementia for over 47 years.
Dementia has touched David’s life significantly. His wife, Philomena, developed vascular dementia when she was 75, and has spent the last four years in Turramurra Residential Aged Care where she requires constant supervision and assistance.
David says, “She is now totally incapacitated; unable to care for herself and sadly can no longer speak. I felt helpless watching Philomena deteriorate from an active, bright woman.
“It’s been really painful for our children and grandchildren. So I decided to do something useful”.
David will donate all funds to Southern Cross Care, and while any money raised will make a big difference that’s not the only reason why he’s doing it.
“The important thing is awareness,” David says, adding, “hopefully I can make people aware of dementia and the care that’s necessary. Because that’s what I found, these poor people that have got to look after dementia patients don’t have a lot of funding. There’s a lot of money being spend on dementia prevention, and of course it should be, but these people [Southern Cross Care] have to manage on a pretty frugal budget.
“But I couldn’t fault them, they’ve been terrific.”
So as you’re relaxing with your paper and a cuppa on Sunday August 13, spare a thought (and maybe even some change) for the 80-year-old eagerly awaiting the starter’s gun.
To sponsor David’s City2Surf run through his Go Fund Me account click here.