Runner Profile
Kogul Arumaithurai
Age: 38
Job: Physician
Hometown: Rochester, MN
Running mantra: “Never say never.” and “Smile or you are doing something wrong.”
How running has changed me:
I think personally it has brought me a broader set of friends in Rochester. When I first moved here about 6 years ago, never thought I would be a runner. The vibrant running community slowly sucked me into it and today I can proudly call myself a runner. I have made far deeper connections that couldn’t have been possible without running and it introduced me to different cultures and traditions.
Why I joined RRC:
It’s been led by a group of energetic runners who take time on the side to volunteer for things to happen. Personally, I feel grateful to have such a vibrant running community, and RRC being at the forefront of this, was a no-brainer for me. Efforts to sustain this vibrant community will always have my support.
Why I run:
It initially began as a way for me to stay in shape. I remember taking loops around Cascade Lake. It slowly turned into a fun thing to connect with people and make long runs effortless. Nowadays it has become a passion and I just love running and connecting with people. Winters are hard but am definitely getting better.
When I run:
I used to run after work and then pick up my daughter from school. After my second daughter that became hard since I had to pick up kids at different places. Now I get up early around 5-5:30 am and sneak a run before my wife has to leave for work at 6:30 am. That’s been working out pretty well.
Where I run:
I love Duggie aka Douglas Trail. Proximity, proximity, and proximity. Nothing can beat that and it has a very calming effect on me. I can get distracted and be in my own bubble and not worry about cars or traffic. For trail running I love Oxbow. Again proximity and the manageable loops help.
When I run, my must have:
I love my heated gloves that I got recently for the winter. They have been such a lifesaver. Over the summer I love wearing a hat to break the heat. I do not listen to music while running and prefer the company of friends over music. I guess I never run without my watch these days. If it’s not on Strava then it doesn’t count. 😂😂😂
My running goal:
I hate having goals and just run for the fun of it. Would be nice to run a Boston marathon but don’t want to burden my runs with goals and expectations. Takes the fun out of it for me. As I get older I prefer distance over speed and my goals are to run longer, maybe a 50-miler or 100k and if possible even a 100-miler.