Ward 94 councillor David Foley has achieved a milestone that only a tiny portion of South Africans ever reach: Completing 400 parkruns with 375 logged at Lonehill alone.

On November 22, surrounded by fellow runners holding milestone flags, Foley crossed the finish line smiling, as if it were just another easy stroll in the park, but here’s the part that confuses many residents: When does this man even have the time?

Foley’s schedule is the kind that leaves ordinary people exhausted just hearing about it. Residents know him as the councillor who replies to WhatsApp community groups within minutes, not hours, whether it’s 06:00 or 22:00.

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Reporters know him as the one you can call on the spot for a media query, and he’ll respond before your phone even cools down. Service-delivery complaints? He’s there. Community meetings? He’s already in the room. Oversight visits? He’s leading the pack. At this point, residents joke that Foley must have 48 hours in his day, maybe even 72, because the math simply doesn’t make sense.

Yet, every Saturday morning, at 08:00 sharp, without fail, he shows up for parkrun, a commitment that began in 2014, shortly after Lonehill hosted its very first event.
As an already involved community member long before taking office, Foley joined the run, enjoyed it, and simply never stopped.

“When parkrun came to Lonehill, I was already active in everything happening in the area. So, joining the first parkrun felt natural.”

Over the years, juggling his duties never became an excuse to skip a Saturday. If a meeting takes him to another part of Johannesburg, he simply finds the closest parkrun and plans his morning around it.

“If I have to be in Boksburg for a nine o’clock meeting, I check where the nearest parkrun is. I run at eight, finish, and I’m still on time. I always make time for parkrun.”

Even rain doesn’t scare him off. Foley is known to complete the route with an umbrella in hand if needed, a sight regulars find both hilarious and heroic. “If volunteers can stand in the rain for us, then I’ll be there too.”

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The parkrun isn’t just a fitness routine for him; it’s an extension of public service. With Lonehill and Gracepoint both located in his ward, Foley often ends up engaging with residents mid-run.

Some slow joggers even joke that the 5km becomes a moving constituency office. “People ask me questions while I’m running, and I’ll gladly slow down and chat, or I ask them to meet me at the end. It’s very social.”

His 400-run milestone, equal to eight years’ worth of showing up nearly every Saturday, is something he hopes inspires others. “Your health is important. If I can set an example, I’m happy.” His next target is the prestigious 500-run mark, and he is already well on his way.

As for encouraging newcomers? Foley insists you don’t need a New Year’s resolution to begin.

“Why wait for January? Come next week. See you next Saturday at the Lonehill Parkrun.”

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