V 12 N. 60 Dr. David George Bailey, Canada's First Sub-Four-Minute Miler, R.I.P.

 

Dr. David George Bailey

First Canadian

Sub Four Minute Miler

March 17, 1945-August 27, 2022

Yesterday I received the sad news that David Bailey passed away on August 27, 2022 at the age of 77.   With Canadian life expectancy at 82.9 years (2019 stats) this is particularly disheartening.  

I recall reading somewhere in the past that David's father had passed away well before he made that first sub 4 minute run.  It must have been bittersweet to him that his Dad didn't get to see that race or congratulate him when he got home.

Commonwealth vs. USA Mile

Dr. Bailey was a regular reader and sometimes contributor to this blog and it was always a privilege to hear from him.  We first connected some years ago when Mike Solomon offered me some programs from track meets.  I noticed that one was from the San Diego meeting where David had run that first Canadian sub 4.   We got in contact with David to see if he had a copy which he did not, and Mike generously gave me the okay to send it to him.  

Our most recent contact from David was his recommendation of a book        

which Paul O'Shea reviewed.   

Hi George,

Harvey Mitro is a sub-4-minute miler who competed for Canada back in the early 90’s.  

Harvey and I have been good friends for more that 20 years.

Harvey is also a very good storyteller.  He recently published his first book Taking Life in Stride.

He got reviews by Alex Hutchinson, a New York Times best-selling author and Joseph Kertes, an author of the New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice (book cover).  

A number of well-known runners including myself have also provided responses (pages 4-5 of the book).

Harvey says that Taking Life in Stride is a collection of short memoirs spanning forty years of unique experiences from the vantage point of a runner.  

Thirty themes examine one’s strongest attachments, greatest fears, and deepest regrets, while sharing moments of warmth, thrill, humour, and horror.

Although it is ideal for an audience interested in running and sport, this collection has been published by several literary periodicals across multiple genres, showing that it will appeal to all who cherish the emotional context provided by both daily and exceptional circumstance.

I think those who enjoy Once Upon a Time the Vest would want to know about this book.

Perhaps, you would consider having someone review Taking Life in Stride for your blog. 

I have mentioned this to Harvey and he is delighted with this prospect.

All the best,

David

The following are notes sent to us by Orville Atkins, now deceased, and former teammate of David Bailey at East York Track Club in Toronto recounting those two sub 4's.

Several East York Track Club team mates of David Bailey were to run in a meet in San Diego on June 11, 1966 but the meet officials would not provide David with a plane ticket so Coach Fred Foot gave him his own ticket and did not go.  David went on to run Canada's first mile under 4 minutes by running 3.59.1.
On July 22, 1967, David Bailey and Bill Crothers ran in a mile race at Varsity Stadium at the University of Toronto.  Bill stepped off the track at the three quarter point and David Bailey went on to run 3.57.7 becoming the first Canadian to run under four minutes on Canadian soil.


 Several years ago, David Bailey, PhD was in London England.  He called Dr. Bannister and asked to meet with him.  Sir Roger drove up at ten on the dot and they walked around Iffley Field.  David then said:
"Thank you for leading the way."'  "Thank you for changing my Life."

This about David's life off the track

Dr. David Bailey is today a renowned pharmacology researcher who has elaborated  the adverse effects of grapefruit on uptake of many common drugs we take daily.  If you use any statin drugs for controlling cholesterol levels in your blood,  and your doctor has warned you not to consume grapefruit, you can thank David Bailey for making that discovery.  Grapefruit can have the effect of augmenting the uptake to cause an overdose.   Over 85 different drugs are affected in this way by grapefruit. ed

I have not heard anything about David's passing on Canadian news programs this week.  But he will not be forgotten in my world.  Best wishes on your next journey, David.

Article on His Training by David Bailey for Endurance Odessey

Our 2016 Article by and About David Bailey from our blog.

George Brose

Dear George:

We keep forgetting..........it is not length of life, but quality of life that is important.

David Bailey's life was, obviously, one of quality.

Take care,

Tom Coyne