Wanted to do something memorable for my 50th birthday: Milind Soman on Ironman

Since last Sunday, the word Ironman, for Indians, has acquired whole new meaning and muscle. This, after the nearly 50-year-old model-actor Milind Soman finished the Ironman triathlon, widely regarded as one of the toughest in the world. After all, a gruelling race that requires one to swim 3.8km, cycle 180km, and run 42.2km — all within 16 hours — is not the average way people want to mark the 50-milestone.

While Milind Soman might have just gotten more men to pull up their socks, we speak to him about his feat.

Why Ironman?

I wanted to do something challenging and memorable for my 50th birthday, which is this year. So when someone suggested the Ironman triathlon last year, I thought it'd be a good test.

Was age a factor?

I think endurance sport becomes easier with age, as your mental and emotional fitness rises

How hard was the training?

My drill was 2 hrs long, 5 days a week. On Sundays, I'd stretch it to four hours. I think anybody can do it with a regular workout like this one

The most difficult part of the challenge...

The 180km cycling part. Swimming was tough since I hadn't done it competitively for the last 25 years, but it came back to me. On the other hand, I've never cycled in competitions. In fact, I don't even own a bike

What's next?

I'm trying to incorporate this fitness regimen in my lifestyle in a way that will allow me to sign up for an Ironman triathlon any day

On running barefoot...

The sensation of the ground beneath my soles helps my posture, co-ordination and technique. In fact, I made a special request in Zurich so that I could skip shoes, and run and cycle with sandals on. It just feels more natural to me. Humans weren't born with shoes after all