An example to us all

24/9/2009

Garth Gilmour (1939-41) was hoping to come to November's 1930s Reunion and catch up with some of his old class mates.

But the 84-year-old recently signed up to produce yet another book – on the history of Arthur Lydiard andthe world-wide cult of jogging that he inspired, as seen from the viewpoint of the Auckland jogging club, the world's first, which will be 50 years old in 2012.

Garth Gilmour

Garth is the co-author of Lydiard's book Run to the Top and wrote Peter Snell’s Use It or Lose It. He has written more than 20 books.

He is also caught up in the politics of the great super city debate in Auckland through my secretarial duties of the organisation representing the 31 community boards involved in the six local bodies which are to be dissolved next year.

Garth is also a trustee of the Lydiard Legend Charitable Trust, which is now launching its major activity, the Lydiard Legend marathon, on to the world stage with the aim of making it New Zealand's first truly international race.

Fair to say then that he employs the philosophy expounded in Use It or Lose It and like the great champion Snell himself, who Garth describes as a ‘kid of 71’’ he pedals a bike up to 30 kilometres as often as time permits, walks, gardens, mow lawns, trims trees, maintains his home and uses a rowing machine at home.