Saiyami Kher on Ironman 70.3 triathlon: 'The race route changed after I registered'

Saiyami Kher after finishing the triathlon in Germany last year. Pics/AFP, Instagram

If the first time is all about enthusiasm and endurance, one walks into the Ironman 70.3 the second time around with an experienced outlook. That's exactly the case with Saiyami Kher, who ticked the triathlon off her bucket list last year. Now, the actor has begun training for the 2025 Ironman 70.3 Jonkoping European Championship, which is being held in Sweden on July 6. Her regime includes a 10.03 kilometre treadmill run clocked at 70 minutes, followed by a 40.43 kilometre cycling session around Mumbai that takes her a little over one-and-a-half hours, before capping it off with a 1.5 kilometre pool swim clocked at 37 minutes.

Training for over three hours daily across the three disciplines can be daunting, but Kher understands that she has to build her endurance and pace before joining the race. "I am feeling far from ready for the 70.3," she admits.

What makes her prep all the more difficult is the long shooting hours. The actor is currently filming a yet-untitled bilingual movie in Mumbai. She says, "Training for the Ironman 70.3 while shooting or travelling is challenging, but I've never liked doing things halfway. The race route changed after I registered, and it has become a hilly route with lots of climbs. This race is way tougher than what I did last year, which is why I need to put in more effort."