Gym bunnies Julie and Pete Donald are celebrities at their local Methven gym.
At age 83 and 92 respectively, they are hitting the exercise machines at least five times a week impressing people half their age.
Julie said it gets their day off to a great start.
“Love coming here, everyone is so friendly. I make the most of my free time and I leave feeling happy,” she said.
“I do this for myself. If you don’t look after yourself, how can you look after everybody else?”
Pete said he had noticed a significant improvement in his balance.
“My balance was terrible and I was falling all the time. I have been coming here for around 12 weeks now and it’s much better.”
‘‘When you are younger you feel bulletproof but when you get older, you know you’re bloody well not.”
He said Julie also had better health now, than she did 20 years ago.
“There were five kids in my family, I am the oldest and the only one left, so Julie and I must be doing something right,” he said.
A Methven-local all his life Pete finds irony in exercising in the Garage Gym building.
“It makes me laugh being here. I remember when it was a garage 65 years ago and I used to get my car greased here.
‘‘Now I’m in the same spot doing exercise. I never thought that would happen.”
Pete also enjoys the social connections at the gym. He has an exercise bike at home, but it’s not the same, he said.
“I enjoy seeing what everyone else is doing and I always run into someone I know.”
Personal trainer and instructor Sharon Kermode said the pair brought a special energy to the space.
“Julie is such an inspiration. She connects people in the most beautiful way and is a real treasure. It is a joy, an honour and a privilege to have them both at our gym.”
Julie’s mother Hine Hurihia, better known as Daisy, had the same passion for exercise.
“Mum and I would go to the then Mountain Gym in Methven together and she was well into her eighties,” Julie said.
Julie’s routine lasts for two hours and is a full body effort that would make younger people puff.
A few years ago, a health issue sent Julie to a physiotherapist.
To aid with her balance and coordination boxing was suggested.
So at age 81 she donned boxing gloves for the first time.
Gym manager Joe Keepa is Julie’s personal trainer.
Keepa said he keeps an eye on how she’s doing and gives advice when needed but doesn’t overstep the mark.
“She has her daily routine and knows what she likes and I know not to mess with it.”
“I love boxing and Joe is a marvellous teacher,” Julie said.
Keppa said baseline fitness, strength and co-ordination was a key factor in recovering from minor and major health issues both mentally and physically.
“The key to remaining motivated continue with the gym is to find your own purpose.
“It’s different for everyone, it could be rehab, fitness, strength training or weigh control.
‘‘Once you find your purpose and own it, it’s it is easier to walk through the doors, start your journey and stick to it.”
Pete is relatively new to the gym. He initially went along to see what Julie was doing, and Julie encouraged him keep up the habit.
“Otherwise I would always be leaving him at home by himself and that’s not right,” she said.
