Issue 1 Runner of the Fortnight – Dinesh Kumar
Dinesh Kumar is an awe-inspiring man. At 71, he is one of the senior most runners in Runners For Life and an inspiration to all of us. A runner with a strong will and good sense of humour is how most of us know him.
Dinesh is the “Runner of the Fortnight” for RFL in our inaugural newsletter.
Here are a few facts about Dinesh you might notknow:
1. How and when did you start running?
I vividly remember the date when I started running and it was the day I landed up in Bangalore on posting on 4th of December 1978. I took to running when a friend of mine told me. “Dinesh, you are lucky that you are posted to Bangalore. Lovely place its is but it does not suit those like you who have a wheezing issue”. I asked him whether he had any suggestion to give me and he said there is only one way to overcome the problem and that was to make my lungs strong by cardio exercises like running and skipping.
Being an obsessive-compulsive personality, I followed the advice to the dot and have run ever since then, in any city I happen to be at any time.
2. I have been running for:
Past 34 years
3. How many marathons/half marathons:
Including practice runs I have done about thirty half marathons from 2005 when I graduated to endurance running
4. Personal bests:
If I were to highlight one, just one run, I would clearly say it was 10 KM Sunfeast run in 71 minutes. 71 at 71 felt satisfying.
5. Running for me means:
Running for me means many things but at a personal level, it is a sure shot cure for the times I am feeling low. I often wonder and worry that when I am unable to run, what my psyche would be. Right now I want to ignore that possibility
6. My running attire/shoes:
Talking of kit, until I discovered Asics (IGS), it was Nike shoes more because of brand name rather than any other reasons and I would hate to be seen in long pants while running. Shorts for me mean short shorts.
7. My toughest marathon:
My toughest run most clearly was the 37.5 Km in last year’s Ultra. If any one could see through my thighs and calf muscles, he would have seen only red colour.
8. My favourite running route:
My favourite running route is Sankey Tank, so conveniently located near my home and the second choice would be GKVK.
9. When I’m running uphill on my last lap, my brain is saying:
When I am running uphill, I invite God to be my companion and keep saying, “Come God, run with me” and believe me, He obliges more often than not.
10. Advice to runners out there:
My advice to other runners would be EACH ONE TEACH ONE. My wife disagrees when I say that she has been able to do half marathon once because of my role modelling but then that is how most wives are.
11. What do I like listening to while I run:
FM Radio is my constant companion while running. It doesn’t matter whether I am listening to the lyrics or not but I miss the music if I don’t have it on.
12. My favourite running benefit is:
The greatest benefit that I have derived out of running is low resting pulse rate and fast recovery after the run.
13. What I don’t tell other runners about me:
The one thing that I have in common with most runners and golfers that they cheat on their scores when asked and I do that unabashedly by rounding off my timings downwards to show better average.
14. My favourite running quote:
“A good run makes you feel sort of holy” - Nancy Gerstein
Tags: DK, Dinesh, For, India, Kumar, Life, RFL, Runners, Running, members
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Brig(Retd) K Venkataraman on -
Dear Mr Dinesh Kumar,
You are an inspiration to people like us and give us hope that we can continue to do what we like the best inspite of our age. Your running efforts motivate us to achieve even better performances in our future runnings. My wife, Sharada and I took to running half marathons since 2006 and we are able to complete six of them successfully . We look forward to meeting you during one of the practice runs and would like to share you experiences.
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Permalink Reply by sujatha on
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Hi Dinesh,
You are inspiring the people who jog @ sankey one among them is me. I have seen you running in sankey most of the time many time at 5.00AM Morning. I wish i get a chance to run a Marathon along with you one day!!!!!!!!!. What message would you like to give the youngster who want to prepare themself for marathons.
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Permalink Reply by DINESH KUMAR on -
Brig(Retd) K Venkataraman said:Dear Mr Dinesh Kumar,
You are an inspiration to people like us and give us hope that we can continue to do what we like the best inspite of our age. Your running efforts motivate us to achieve even better performances in our future runnings. My wife, Sharada and I took to running half marathons since 2006 and we are able to complete six of them successfully . We look forward to meeting you during one of the practice runs and would like to share you experiences.
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Permalink Reply by DINESH KUMAR on
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Thanks for your mail.
It feels to get in touch with someone whao has worn the uniform as I have in the air force. I came out on premature retirement as a wing commander.
I look forward to meeting you and Sharda during the next run. In the mean time all the very best for the new year.
Dinesh
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Permalink Reply by Asif Ayaz on
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Dear Mr Dinesh,
I always tell my friends that there is a Young man at 70+ in RFL. I remember in one of the midnight /Moonlit Run In Kanakpura Road. You fell down on the Tank Bundh, I offered to assist you and check for any bruises, I remember you saying that, Leave me young man If I keep myself running and warm everything will be alright. I was really floored with your spirit that day Sir..
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Permalink Reply by Thirumalai on
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Sir , you are truly an inspiration fit young runners. Just awesome.
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