Bengaluru, 11 July (H.S.):

Ms Mala Honnatti hails from the state of Karnataka. An incredibly fit Ms Mala Honnatti’s rise to fame and celebrity status in adventure sports was marked by her successful completion of the Everest Base Camp Marathon in May 2011 and the Antarctica Marathon in December 2011.

Marathons in Japan, the USA, Macao, Kilimanjaro, the Great Wall of China, Ladakh: She is the first Indian woman to have accomplished this rare feat at the age of 58 years. She has been an internationally acclaimed mountaineer and marathon runner, having run marathons in Japan, the USA, Macao, Killimanjaro, the Great Wall of China, Ladakh and a few more.

Marathons, adventure sports, mountaineering, trekking camps, and Yoga: One of the most respected, revered mentors in marathons, adventure sports, mountaineering, trekking camps, and Yoga, she has inspired generations of adventure sports enthusiasts from across the globe.

In a career of over four decades in the field of adventure sports and fitness, she has been a witness to the consistent growth of Physical fitness and adventure sports.

Ms Mala Honnatti has seen it all and been there: From a period where even basic needs like running shoes to adventure sport equipment were a rarity to the cyber day gadgets, equipment, and branded athleisure wear, Ms Mala Honnatti has seen it all and been there.

Absolute sell-outs within days of announcement: While the corporate world professionals resort to the regime of fitness in the indoor air-conditioned Gyms, Ms Mala Honnatti has created and curated a new path, passion for healthy bodies and minds. Each of her camps is in the lap of lush green forests, snow-clad mountains, flowing streams of crystal-clear water, chirping birds amidst pristine nature no wonder that attracts global participation. The camps for trekking, mountaineering, and marathon training are absolute sell-outs within days of announcement.

Back home from a camp in Nepal, Mala Honnatti spoke to Hindusthan Samachar News Agency at Bengaluru.

Physical fitness activities like badminton, jogging, Karate and running marathons: ....I was a banker by profession. But later found the calling in my passion for fitness. Right from my teenage years, I was passionate about physical fitness. I was aware that a healthy body creates a healthy mind and vice versa. To create a balance between mind and body, it is important to train the body first. And hence decided to make a shift towards physical fitness activities like badminton, jogging, Karate and running marathons.

One should enjoy discomforts of life has been my punchline over the years.

Attempt to get CSR funds from corporates was a waste of time: .....One of the examples I can cite is about my attempt to scale Mount Everest in the year 2015.

The challenge began right from the stage of raising funds. Usually Mount Everest expedition costs around INR 35 lakhs.

In my case I made every attempt to get CSR funds from corporates, but it was a waste of time. I managed to raise half of the budget and the balance amount I had to invest from my savings. Just on the day we were scheduled to begin our expedition from Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet, there was a massive earthquake in Nepal and 22 mountaineers died. There were heavy tremors on the Tibetan side also and the moment was shattering.

Dead end may be a new beginning:...But one must be prepared to face challenges and come to terms with natural calamities. Challenges like these have a huge impact on financial, physical and emotional status. And you feel you have reached a dead end. But that dead end may be a new beginning.

MahoAdventures:...But this setback didn't deter me from my natural activities of running marathons, trekking and mountaineering. I started organizing Himalayan treks and expeditions for novices under my banner, MahoAdventures. I also started training people for marathon running. I have conducted several trekking programs in Indian and the Nepal Himalaya, including to Annapurna Base Camp, Everest Base Camp and also continued to participate in challenging national and international marathons.

Embrace your discomfort:...Life thus teaches you a lesson. And that's the reason I often say, Embrace your discomfort.

Well, at 72 years of age, the zeal, the guts, the stamina, the resolve of the legend remain to be an inspiration.

May her tribe grow and glow.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manjunath Chavan