NOVOCHEBOKSARSK, Chuvash Republic, October 9. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 62 on October 7, has dropped a brief remark to quench the public’s curiosity over how he spent that day, which was his day off.

“I spent the day before yesterday walking about in the mountains. I made nearly nine kilometers and now every muscle of my body aches,” Putin confessed at a meeting of the Physical Culture and Sports committee.

Earlier, presidential press-secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin for the first time over the years at the helm of power decided to have a day off on his birthday to spend it in Siberian wilderness 300-400 kilometres away from the nearest community.

Putin remarked that Thursday’s meeting of the Physical Culture and Sports Committee coincided with International Race Walking Day.

“We have never marked this date before, at least to my recollection,” Putin said adding that mass jogging and skiing events were held regularly across the nation.

“I can merely confirm that this activity (Race Walking Day) is very important, and it is very important that we spent it here, in a region famous for its race walking achievements. One cannot but be proud that we have a school like that,” Putin said.