Running is in the Blood for Retirement Living Resident David

In April this year David Saies turned 90. On September 17, David ran in the City-Bay Fun Run and completed it in just under two hours. And it wasn’t David’s first City-Bay, but his 31st!

David’s first run was in 1973, when the City-Bay began.

This year two of David’s children joined him for the 12km run, as well as three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Towards the end, I didn’t think I was going to make it. It was very hot," he said.

But he pushed through with the support of his family to complete the race in quite a reasonable time.

Back in the 1950’s David ran three South Australian Marathons.

On one occasion his running mate was the then Premier, John Bannon!

David is a retired pharmacist who lives at The Waterford Retirement Living Apartments in Myrtle Bank with his wife Phillipa.

He is a very keen carpenter and makes good use of The Burnside Council’s men’s shed in Conyngham Street, Glenunga.

He specialises in toys, ranging from a miniature table and chairs, to dolls’ houses, wheelbarrows and rocking horses, which his great grandchildren just love!

The wooden swan shaped rockers are in particular demand, with David recently completing his 26th!

Over the years David has also been a keen yachtsman, mainly sailing in St. Vincent’s Gulf, and he has built two sailing boats.

For over 50 years he played golf at The Grange Golf Club to remain active and social.

As to the question of next year’s City-Bay, he said: “I particularly want to be in it. It’s the 50th and it will be great. I’ll start training in earnest a couple of months before.”

Article supplied by Waterford resident John Doherty.