08 January,2009 12:21 PM IST | | Hemal Ashar
WATCH HIM GO! Milind Soman running the half-marathon in January 2008
Soman will graduate to 42 km-marathon on January 18
Milind Soman, who has been running the Standard Chartered Mumbai half-marathon (21 km) since its inception in 2004 has now graduated to the full (42 km) distance which he runs on January 18, 2009.
Here, the former model, actor and director answers a few questions about going all that lung-bursting way from CST to Bandra Reclamation and right back to the finish line at the railway station.
You have run the 21 km for years now, did the challenge peter out to make you switch to the 42 km?
Yes, in a way. I always wanted to do the full marathon. I love to run, really. So, I thought why not do something different this time? You need to change something to keep the interest alive.
You have a good 21 km timing...
I have finished the distance in 1 hr 39 minutes (99 minutes). In fact, my aim was to finish in 90 minutes but I could not achieve that. For a few years now, I was concentrating on cutting down my time every year.
Running the 42 km requires different training.
Yes, it is very different from running the 21 km. I only hope (laughs) I can finish it. Today, (Tuesday, January 6) I ran 30 km in training from Shivaji Park to Nariman Point and back; my legs did feel heavy at the 30 km mark. I have started 'tapering off' my training now. I will now run only 20-22 km in training till the event.u00a0
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The heat is going to play a big factor this time...
Yes, that is a big worry; I am only scared of the heat. In the 42 km, one is running for four hours so, I will be running in the heat. Your body tends to overheat, you become dizzy.
Would you have friends to cheer for you or are you very self-motivated?
You have to be mad to run a full marathon (laughs). You know, I am very self-motivated. In fact, I have not even told a lot of people I am going to be running this distance. You know I am running for the Multiple Sclerosis society, to create awareness about MS. (mssocietyindia.org)
Have you tweaked your diet in preparation?
I am trying to seat more sensibly and at regular timings. Now, I eat a few bananas for my practise runs. I used to eat a lot of junk food like hamburgers and chocolate, which I could afford to, because my calorie expenditure was so high. Now, though, I am eating cleaner and healthier so my body's efficiency increases. I also plan to carry some juice with me during the full marathon to pep me up.
