Hugh’s gym habit lasts a long time
Katifit will celebrate its quarter-century milestone with a family-friendly event
You can set your watch to Hugh Moore. Religiously, at 5.24am every week morning he walks through the doors of Katifit Gym. And like a ghost, he’s gone again at 6.18am to Kauri Point to get breakfast on for wife Dorothy and himself.
Hugh is the original member of the local gym on Sheffield St. “Future Fitness” first opened 25 years ago on January 13, 1999 and Katifit will celebrate its quarter-century milestone with a family-friendly day later in the year.
Hugh, 75, says he’s a man of exact time and a creature of habit.
“The alarm goes off at 5am and by the time I get up, get washed, dressed, feed the cat and get down here it’s 5.24am.
“And then you get into a habit and I’m a man of habit.”
Hugh was first assigned his 50 minute exercise programme by original owner and personal trainer Graham Edy in 1999 (Graham still trains people at the gym).
“I told Graham I’m not here to be a hero of the world, I’m just here for fitness.”
Hugh has kept his programme the same after all these years except he’s added another five minutes after introducing weights.
His workout contrives of stretching and warm up exercises, light cardio and weights. Hugh says it sets him up for the day as he’s still working on his orchard like he has done for 52 years.
There’s the odd day he doesn’t feel like going.
“Some days you question it but the answer is pretty simple... you need to do it. Otherwise you become a slab.”
Back in the day, Katifit was one of three rooms. Hugh says it was “a pretty tight”.
Hugh recalls Graham was mad on rugby league and had a board with league happenings and league T-shirts adorned the gym.
There was no television and the only sounds were from a CD/tape player. Gymgoers brought in their own music.
There are still at least 10 of the original exercise machines and some original weights at the gym.
The gym has had four owners and three name changes... Future Fitness, Flex Fitness and now Katifit. It is now owned by Jenna McCready.