Being the oldest competitor at this year's Masters Games may not have thrilled Jim Carson - he was at best ambivalent about that honour - but closing in on 91 years of age he says a lifetime of walking has him ready to go.
"It does help you a lot; it keeps you fit.''
The St Kilda resident has six medals for his participation in the event on his table, and takes part in the games every second year, when they are held in Dunedin.
To make his effort more impressive, he does it with one leg shorter than the other, the condition a result of a brush with polio as a 6-year-old.
Mr Carson was born in 1925 in Kaitangata, and left school to begin work in the grocery trade.
He moved to Dunedin in 1946, where he ended up working for Foodstuffs until his retirement.
Mr Carson said he had always loved walking, and despite owning a car he had walked every day from his home at the top of Mornington to his work near Andersons Bay Rd.
He would also walk to town, returning by way of High St.
"I just like to walk.''
He still steps out today - he walked the half-mile (0.8km) to the South Dunedin shops from his Prince Albert Rd home every day.
Of his ambitions for tomorrow's event, he said he cared little for the time it took, he just planned to complete the walk.
However, he did plan to get away from the starting line with the main pack of walkers, after taking his time on his first event and then having to struggle to catch up.
Walking was not his only activity: Mr Carson said he played bowls three times a week and regularly met three friends he still knew from his days in Kaitangata.
Mosgiel woman Miriam Jarvis is the oldest woman in the games - the 88-year-old will be playing euchre.
The games start today, with the official opening ceremony at the Games Village on the University of Otago campus tonight.
