One aspect about actor, model and fitness icon Milind Soman that strikes a chord with a common man across most of his initiatives is his identifiability. He doesn't mince words on what fitness means to him, has cleared myths surrounding them and has impacted people to be fit on a grass-root level.
At 53, he continues to be relevant for his ability to connect with youngsters and their concerns besides his versatility across several media platforms.
In Hyderabad to promote the fourth edition of Pinkathon, a run to raise awareness surrounding breast cancer, he gets candid on several aspects of life. Commenting on how his definition of fitness has changed with ageing, he says, “I think I'm now fitter than what I was at 22, despite being a national champion in swimming back then. Over the years I've become fitter mentally, this is much more important than physical fitness. I'm more disciplined and have better endurance levels now. Physically, I'm not as fast maybe. Being experienced increases your efficiency, you are physically, mentally and emotionally more productive.”
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How important are the phases leading to the marathon and the one post the run? It varies individually, he says. “To me, it's just a run, opening your mind to many possibilities rather than helping the body. It unveils a new door to understand your potential from time to time, as you age thinks changes, every few months this is my medical checkout.” His mother often accompanies him during his marathons, but he doesn't overestimate the need for a companion during a walk or a run. “Endurance sport is an inward journey, I like to be with myself, hear my heartbeat, my thoughts, it's something I've been enjoying since 15 years and it's only getting better.”
Acting, modelling, event management and several other caps, but Milind says he hasn't had identity issues. “I identify myself as a explorer, do new things, surprise myself.” On Pinkathon, that a man is promoting a cause that's sensitive to women is a factor that helped it click, he also adds it's about being at the right place at the right time.
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Woman empowerment being a significant issue, everyone wants to contribute to it but don't know where to start, he mentions. “We as a country are still at a nascent stage in that. This came when running was becoming popular and women participation was really small. It worked great and the movement spread through the country. It's about being able to spot opportunities and better yourself, they come to you however poor, rich, smart you are. That's what I've done all my life.”
Of late, he has been advocating better sleep hours with his ‘seven hour marathon’ tweet. Is fitness also about how it's promoted? “For me, it's about being inspired. If we see reasons of why running has become popular recently, it's because we see someone as identifiable as a neighbour whose life has changed. If you see my initiatives, I always say I've started doing this, I feel great about it and you tell me your story. I never say you should. I'm saying if I can do that, you can at least do 10% of it.”
It’s promising that running has transcended regions and cultures in the country. “It's a community activity and not a sport. There are no rules and that's one reason it touches everybody deeply across the world.”
Age no bar
A personality who was the cynosure of all eyes at the Pinkathon conference was the 101-year-old marathoner Mann Kaur who started running at 93. Accompanied by her 79-year-old son Gurdev, she has gone for 100m, 200m and 400 m sprints across the world.
Gurdev adds, “She'd participated in a national championship in Chandigarh, when the president of the sports association had advised her to compete on a global level. I have been accompanying her most marathons. At the company of many 95,100 year olds, she only felt more motivated. For the last one and a half years, we've maintained a very good diet. Her next run is in Spain. She has braved her back problems with her diet care. She drinks soya bean milk to maintain bone strength, eats chapathi, fruits, vegetables, a special extract from wheat grass that they grow at home.”