Age is little more than an abstract notion for Paul Gallant, board president of GO! St. Louis, the well-known local nonprofit that strives to keep St. Louisans healthy and fit. At 83, he’s more active than most, and says his positive outlook (combined with plenty of exercise) is the reason he defies the numbers. Gallant has been involved with GO! St. Louis since its inception nearly two decades ago and participates in various race events it organizes throughout the year, including its largest, the GO! St. Louis Marathon & Family Fitness Weekend in April.
my background …
Gallant, a St. Louis native, started running in his late 50s and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He believes deeply in the nonprofit’s mission to encourage better fitness practices in the community through outreach, race events and school programming, and stays young at heart by sharing his optimism with others. He lives in Creve Coeur with his wife, Diane.
how I’m involved …
There was a marathon group putting on races back in the ’90s, but the number of participants was decreasing, so I wanted to help get that idea back on track. In 2000, Nancy Lieberman and I worked together to start the nonprofit, the Spirit of St. Louis Marathon.
We had no money in the beginning but were able to put on some races one by one, including a marathon in October (which switched to April in 2003). We did get some funding from a combination of private and corporate donors, and Nancy, who was serving as president, didn’t take a salary at first. The GO! St. Louis organization evolved from that in 2008. Current president Mona Langenberg was hired early on, and as things grew, we developed corporate sponsors like PNC Bank. Today, our funding is based on sponsorships and race entry fees.
how I train …
I spend 10 to 12 hours a week running, walking and working out at the Jewish Community Center on Schuetz Road. My philosophy is pretty simple: healthy eating, exercise and plenty of good rest. I have a son and grandson who run, so it’s worked its way through our family. We’ve trained and run races together, all three generations. A few years ago, Richie, my grandson, was home from college and wanted to do a half marathon, so all three of us entered. We crossed the finish line in perfect order—grandson, son and then myself. I really feel like keeping all this up makes me able to continue doing it!
my main events …
The Family Fitness Weekend is always good; I have run both the marathon and half marathon. I’m also training now for a new GO! St. Louis half marathon event in April called The Bridges. The course involves two bridges across the Mississippi, having racers run in Missouri and Illinois.
what I do …
I’m a CPA and business consultant at my firm, PJG & Associates. I’ve also served as board president of the Jewish Community Center.
what I enjoy …
I have traveled with my wife and two grandsons to all seven continents in 11 trips. The last was in 2012 when we added Antarctica. We traveled by ship and did a lot of walking while there. Depending on the weather, you can go kayaking or hike and explore in the hills and mountains. The nights there were very long; it never got 100 percent dark. We were blessed with mostly calm waters while we were on the ship—there was one day when things got a little shaky with the china and glassware on board! My wife and I also have been to Israel a number of times and are going again this year.
what I eat …
I have a very light diet. When you see me, you can tell I don’t eat a whole lot! I have a light breakfast; if I eat lunch, it’s usually a salad. And dinner is something small and light as well. But that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes have a hamburger—not to mention Snickers, chocolate and animal crackers! My wife and I go out to eat the most at Brio at Plaza Frontenac. Or you can find us at Fleming’s or 5 Star Burgers.
what’s new …
I didn’t have a bar mitzvah ceremony when I was a boy, so I recently did it at the age of 82 at Congregation B’nai Amoona. It was the thrill of a lifetime. My wife is traditional, so our kids and grandkids have had their bar and bat mitzvahs, but I grew up in a world where there was no opportunity to do it. I didn’t like that I couldn’t read Hebrew. So I woke up one day, called the rabbi and said, “I want to do my bar mitzvah.”
It was an intense nine-month journey to get ready for it, starting with Hebrew flash cards just like a 4-year-old would. But it was one of the highlights of my life. I probably put in 600 hours of reading, studying and lessons. It’s a solo journey, but you have support from family, teachers and friends.
my philosophy …
I always look at the positive side of everything. You have to let go of negative thoughts and make life as positive as it can be. We all have problems, but if you dwell on them, you’ll end up in a straitjacket. You’re going to have bad moments whether you’re 4 years old or 40, so help your own mindset by having a good influence on others.
My personal mission is always to help others, influence them with positive thinking and get them to reach their potential. The more you help other people, the better you’ll feel. It’s a one-way street, always moving forward. Don’t worry about yesterday—it’s all about tomorrow.
Photo: Bill Barrett
