--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started running in 1951, running…" description: "\"When I started running in 1951, running shoes weren't even produced in India.\" — Milkha Singh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/milkha-singh-5327_even_when-i-started-running-in-1951-running-s_311433.jpg" --- # When I started running in 1951, running shoes weren't even… ![“When I started running in 1951, running shoes weren't even produced in India.” quote by Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/milkha-singh-5327_even_when-i-started-running-in-1951-running-s_311433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/milkha-singh-5327_even_when-i-started-running-in-1951-running-s_311433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/milkha-singh-5327_even_when-i-started-running-in-1951-running-s_311433.jpg) > “When I started running in 1951, running shoes weren't even produced in India.” [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early Indian runners lacked proper footwear, yet perseverance drove performance. **In simple terms:** Running without shoes in India, yet he succeeded. Key Takeaway Adapt and persist despite limited resources. Themes sports determination history Mood inspirational proud Type motivational historical When to use this quote - rural training - early competitions - equipment scarcity - personal motivation Key Concepts resilience innovation resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you when resources are scarce? - How does equipment affect performance? A Different Perspective Modern athletes have advanced gear, changing challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/india/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running shoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-shoes/) ## Related quotes > [In our house, the name for all athletic shoes - any that weren't dress or 'church' shoes - was 'tennis shoes,' or 'tennies.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/in-our-house-the-name-for-all-athletic-shoes-any-that-weren-t-dress/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [On the first day of middle school I wore high-heeled shoes that you weren't allowed to wear. I remember being so embarrassed because in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/on-the-first-day-of-middle-school-i-wore-high-heeled-shoes-that-you/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [Yes, I started by running barefoot. My feet used to slip in canvas shoes. So we put them aside and ran barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/yes-i-started-by-running-barefoot-my-feet-used-to-slip-in-canvas/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [... the running shoe ... could be called the Swiss Army knife of footwear ... What appeal is there to a shoe whose only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-pond/the-running-shoe-could-be-called-the-swiss-army-knife-of-footwear/) [Mimi Pond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-pond/) > [My schedule goes: wake up, running, exercise, downstairs, running shoes off, then to the shower. That's the Jackie Chan diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/my-schedule-goes-wake-up-running-exercise-downstairs-running-shoes/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [“Some guys are the type of people who bring brass knuckles to a fight. I've always thought it prudent to bring some running shoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/some-guys-are-the-type-of-people-who-bring-brass-knuckles-to-a-fight/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I'd always vaguely expected to outgrow my limitations. One day, I'd stop twisting my hair, and wearing running shoes all the time, and eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-d-always-vaguely-expected-to-outgrow-my-limitations-one-day-i-d/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Every day you've got running shoes on, it's a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/every-day-you-ve-got-running-shoes-on-it-s-a-good-day/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I just started running as part of a nutrition program, to just get a little cardio in, but I was not a runner per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/i-just-started-running-as-part-of-a-nutrition-program-to-just-get-a/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [“Then, I started running. And everything was as good as it could be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/then-i-started-running-and-everything-was-as-good-as-it-could-be/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I kind of dropped a lot of bad habits about three years ago and became kind of accidentally straight-edge. I don't have Xs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-kind-of-dropped-a-lot-of-bad-habits-about-three-years-ago-and/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I started running away when I was five years old. It wasnt until I was an adult that I realized what I really wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-aames/i-started-running-away-when-i-was-five-years-old-it-wasnt-until-i-was/) [Willie Aames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-aames/) > [I started running ultras to become a better person. I thought if you could run 100 miles you'd be in this Zen state. You'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-shelton/i-started-running-ultras-to-become-a-better-person-i-thought-if-you/) Jenn Shelton > [“And then Patrick started running after the sunset. And Sam immediately followed him. And I saw them in silhouette. Running after the sun. Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/and-then-patrick-started-running-after-the-sunset-and-sam-immediately/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I started running ultras to become a better person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-shelton/i-started-running-ultras-to-become-a-better-person/) Jenn Shelton ## More by Milkha Singh > [Politicians or well connected people will try to get hold of federations and they don't think about sportspersons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/politicians-or-well-connected-people-will-try-to-get-hold-of/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [I had joined the army as a sepoy in 1951.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-had-joined-the-army-as-a-sepoy-in-1951/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [A lot is expected from athletes but we need good coaches as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/a-lot-is-expected-from-athletes-but-we-need-good-coaches-as-well/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [The first time I ever wore a shoe was in 1955 during the trials for the Melbourne Olympics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/the-first-time-i-ever-wore-a-shoe-was-in-1955-during-the-trials-for/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [I lost in my first ever 400m race, the event I almost ruled later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-lost-in-my-first-ever-400m-race-the-event-i-almost-ruled-later/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [Whether it be a sage or a king, all have been borne by women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/whether-it-be-a-sage-or-a-king-all-have-been-borne-by-women/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [Athletes like me, PT Usha, Anju Bobby Gerorge have reached finals in Olympics, and it's not easy to reach the finals. If Indians were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/athletes-like-me-pt-usha-anju-bobby-gerorge-have-reached-finals-in/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [No one should suffer what I suffered. I still dread those scenes when man killed man. I lost my parents, most of my family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/no-one-should-suffer-what-i-suffered-i-still-dread-those-scenes-when/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [In the Army, I was running for India and I was a soldier who could have died for India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/in-the-army-i-was-running-for-india-and-i-was-a-soldier-who-could/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [I didn't know what off-season meant. I could sprint barefoot, anywhere, anytime and on any surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-didn-t-know-what-off-season-meant-i-could-sprint-barefoot-anywhere/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [I do not blame the government for not providing infrastructure to athletes. They have given everything for training of athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-do-not-blame-the-government-for-not-providing-infrastructure-to/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [Running had become such an obsession that even when asleep, I would run races in my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/running-had-become-such-an-obsession-that-even-when-asleep-i-would/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [I don't even know when my father admitted me to school. During those days in villages, people did not remember the exact date a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/i-don-t-even-know-when-my-father-admitted-me-to-school-during-those/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [It's what I tell everyone - exercise is as important as food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/it-s-what-i-tell-everyone-exercise-is-as-important-as-food/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) > [The new generation I feel does not know about Milka Singh, they don't know about the hard work I did, what struggles I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milkha-singh/the-new-generation-i-feel-does-not-know-about-milka-singh-they-don-t/) [Milkha Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) [Explore all 101 Milkha Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milkha-singh/) ## More Even quotes > [Most of the time, I get around perfectly well on my bike and public transportation, even in spite of the Bay Area's almost comically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/most-of-the-time-i-get-around-perfectly-well-on-my-bike-and-public/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [If you're a top 10 guy you should pay a top 10 guy or even a top 5 guy what he deserves, whether it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aljamain-sterling/if-you-re-a-top-10-guy-you-should-pay-a-top-10-guy-or-even-a-top-5/) [Aljamain Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aljamain-sterling/) > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. 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