Marathons are more mental than physical

One of the fittest actors in B-Town, Sidharth Malhotra, would love to put on his sneakers and jog on the streets of Mumbai, but is currently making do with the treadmill. "Running," he says, "is the oldest and best form of exercise. Cavemen used to walk or run for water, food, etc. Running is healthy and regulates the body fluids in a natural way. It burns the fat and also makes our skin look fresh." No wonder then, the athletic actor is doing his part to promote fitness by supporting the DNA ICan Marathon for Women.

And though Sidharth has never participated in a marathon, he would like to. "If I get the chance, I want to see how long I will last. Marathons test your fitness and patience. I think they're more mental than physical," says the actor.

Sidharth, who has just finished shooting for Brothers, had to lose all the weight he had gained for his role as a boxer in the film. The actor relied on cardio to do the needful. "I have been running in the gym for at least 30 to 45 minutes four times a week. In fact, cardio is part of my routine, it helps lose calories if you have eaten a cheat dish, or done any faux pas in dieting," he explains.

Ask him what stops him from running outdoors and the Ek Villain actor says it has to do with time and place constraints. "Ideally, I would like to jog in the morning because that's the best time for cardiovascular activity, as the body is awake. But it's not always possible. So, I use the treadmill and set a nice rhythmic pace and jog for 45 minutes. That's my fitness mantra," he reveals.

Any favourite tracks he listens to while exercising? "It keeps changing depending on my mood," he smiles. He does like instrumental music, though.

Though he may jog indoors, Sidharth has a list of dos and don'ts for people running outdoors. He advises use of correct footwear, "which is important for the ankles and knees". Also, instead of concrete floors, which he says is bad for the knees, it is better to run on mud, sand or grass. "That makes you fitter," he adds.

Any special message for the women running the marathon? "Believe in yourself. Don't give up in your head because your body will listen to it. Think positive," he signs off.

3 people Sidharth tags for running a marathon
Varun Dhawan: Varun runs really fast. I would like to see if he can slow down his pace, be calm, composed and last a marathon.
Karan Johar: He will be a surprise. I have seen Karan training during Student Of The Year days and he has good stamina in cardio. He should be given a chance to prove his fitness through cardio.
Akshay Kumar: He is the fittest guy in the industry. It would be a joy to just get him there, see him win and share the award because he would by far beat all of us.