Usha Soman: Walking 100 kilometres at 75

Usha Soman has been the oldest participant in the Indian edition of Oxfam Trailwalkers, a 100 km walk, not once but twice. Here?s the story of the 75 year young who plans to go Bungee Jumping someday. 

Usha Soman is a celebrity mom. Her son is the former supermodel Milind Soman. While Milind is well known for running regular marathons, his mother Usha goes a step ahead than her famous son. Usha Soman has to her credit the distinction of completing Oxfam Trailwalkers Mumbai, a 100 km walk, not once but twice and also many marathons in between. She has also been the oldest participant in the Indian edition of Oxfam Trailwalkers. What makes the achievement even more incredible is that she participated in Oxfam Trailwalkers for the first time at the age of 75!

Oxfam Trailwalkers is a bi-annual event organised by Oxfam India, in Mumbai and Bengaluru. It requires teams of four contestants each to complete 100 kms in 48 hours. So when Soman decided to participate in Oxfam Trailwalkers, Mumbai, in 2013, she found herself a team at home. Her team comprises of herself and her three daughters. ?This made the going easy and fun as we all share a wonderful rapport and that adds to the camaraderie,? says Soman.

The Team ? Soman and her daughters

What prompted her to get started at this young age? ?My son Milind is my inspiration. He would like me to be a superwoman. He is always showing me videos of women at 80 and 90 doing adventurous things!!? adds the proud mother.

Usha Soman flanked by her children

?None of us ? I and my daughters ? had done anything like this before. My daughters don?t even walk regularly. We just wanted to see if we can make it?. So what started with a sense of adventure to see if the mother-daughters team could accomplish the goal today seems to have become a common achievement of their lives. Soman?s team on both instances completed the walk in about 41 hours.

The achievement is commendable as the trail while picturesque, is fairly demanding and challenging as it crisscrosses through villages and adjoining forest areas. Reflecting on the experience Soman says, ?We were very excited to start with. We had to walk 10 km at a time. First 20 km were quite easy but later it became very hot so we had to walk slowly till about 3.30 pm. Post that it was easier .We were walking quite slowly, admiring the countryside and talking to the villagers. Our goal was to complete the walk, which we did?.

Super achiever at the end of the walk in 2013

So what kind of training did it take? ?No training!? Soman replies promptly. ?I go for a morning walk every day and walk about 5 km daily?. ?Other than that my typical day is like that of any other homemaker ? reading, cooking, watching television, spending time on the internet and so on?.

Usha Soman at the walk

What next? ?More adventures!? Soman tells us beaming, ?I would like to go bungee jumping someday. And I love travelling, but not to tourist spots.?

By completing the Oxfam Trailwalkers 100 km walk, Soman has proven all age related perceptions wrong. Age is immaterial when you set your mind to something and having a regular healthy lifestyle can be enough to aim for those rigorous goals.

Milind Soman?s dream of his mother being a superwoman is fulfilled as Usha Soman is not just an inspiration for others her age but for youngsters too. We salute her spirit!

 All photographs courtesy Flashbulbuzz Photography