Aussie Dust

Since Monday night David has been bedridden with a stomach ailment which has seen him unable to eat anything until today.  Even then the meal was only soup.

On advice from a Pharmacist he has drinking a special electrolyte mix and today is the first time he has been up for the whole day.  He did a light 10.5km run.  He said it nearly killed him.

Hope he gets better in time for the marathon as he has lost a lot of strength from not being able to eat.

Dixie Marshall (Channel 9) and City to Surf Organizer interviewed David last Thursday to be part of a summary of the City to Surf Sunday 29th August.

It is planned that Channel 9 will also interview David at the start of the marathon and then for his thoughts at the finish.

This together with interviews from other runners will  be aired  5.30pm Sunday 29th August on Channel 9, so take a look.

If you can, please make a donation on this website by clicking on the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia logo.

Every bit helps

This article appeared in The West Australian Newspaper Friday 6th August 2010.

“After last year’s highly celebrated performance in the City to Surf, IC (Inside Cover of The West Australian)  has reluctantly decided not to enter this year and let others shine instead.

The good news is that the famous wheelbarrow man has decided to run the City to Surf marathon later this month.  And yes, he will be pushing his barrow.  He is 67-year-old West Perth resident David Baird, who’s running to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

In 2008, Baird completed a remarkable 4115km run across Australia with his wheelbarrow.  We reckon he’ll have little difficulty finishing our little race.”

David’s run in the WA Marathon Club 1/2 marathon today came within 15 seconds of his half marathon time last weekend.

The weather for today’s half marathon was perfect.

In the  ultra distance Bunbury 50km run back in May, David came in first for his age.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t mentioned that he ran with his trusty wheelbarrow.

Above  are some pictures of today’s together with a  picture of Master’s runners John & Elaine Dance.  Elaine spent months putting together an amazing book full of  photographs and words of encouragement  on David’s run across Australia .

She  presented the completed book  to David several weeks ago after  the WA Marathon Club Marathon.  David was very touched and thankful for such a lovely record of his across Australia run.

After  running  4115kms from Perth to Sydney and only four months later,  940kms from Alice Springs to Uluru and back to Alice Springs you would be excused thinking the Chevron Marathon Sunday 29th August would be a piece of cake for David.

In fact nothing could be further from the truth.  Firstly, the run is a race.  Secondly  David is very competitive and has set a  time to finish the run in.

Thirdly the course is very hilly especially the Kings Park section.  So David has been in serious hill training and pushing  his wheelbarrow around Lake Monger.

David  welcomes all your support on Sunday 29th August  and  asks if you could donate  to his chosen charities Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA on the www.aussiedust.com website  or on his Everyday Hero page…http://www.everydayhero.com.au/david_baird_4

Your support in any way is appreciated