New Delhi: Model-turned-marathon runner Milind Soman, who just completed one of the world's toughest triathlon ‘Ironman’, credits his mother for inspiring him to take up sports seriously.
"I give credit to my mom for inspiring and encouraging me to take sports seriously. She was a professor of bio-chemistry and at the age of 60 when she retired she started trekking.
"Today, she is 76 and participates in a 100 kilometre trek. She does that every year and has inspired my sisters to join her. They all are above 50," Milind told PTI.
The ramp star hails from a family of doctors and professors. As a child he was asked to leave sports and concentrate more on studies, but his mother always supported his involvement with athletics.
"The kind of encouragement I had as a child to continue sports was brilliant. Like any other family, my people asked me to stress more on studies rather than swimming. But, my mother said 'He enjoys it and should balance both studies and sports'. Those 13 years of my life played such an important role in shaping my life and mind."
The supermodel, who was in the Capital to announce the third edition of SBI Pinkathon, said he has never gone to a gym to stay fit. He feels it is important to motivate the woman of the house to take part in events like marathon.
"It is unfortunate that as a country we don't have this culture of promoting health and sports. I feel if women understand the value of sports like my mother did, than children will be encouraged to create that balance between sports and academics," he said.
The '16 December' actor, who will be turning 50 this year, wanted to do something remarkable on his 50th birthday and that is when he decided to take up the Ironman triathlon challenge.
"I am turning 50 this year and wanted to do something special to make this year memorable. I was never interested in triathlon as I don't like cycling but when I read about it I found it interesting and felt it would be a different experience to train for this."
Milind said he decided to promote an all women Marathon as he wanted to create awareness about women's health and breast cancer.
"I want women to inspire their family. Women don't take care of themselves. They don't discuss about their health issues with anyone. We wanted to create a platform where women can come even in a saree or salwar kameez and run for their health without any inhibitions."
The third edition of Pinkathon is scheduled to take place in Delhi on September 6.
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