12 Days of 5Ks: A Field Trip to Mankato

By: Greg Koch
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Today’s 5K took me on a quick field trip to Mankato. Making friends as an adult is really difficult. Between kids, work, and responsibilities, building friendships outside your immediate bubble often falls to the back burner. That’s why I’m especially proud to have Dr. Ben Kohls as a friend. We’ve worked hard to maintain our friendship as life has twisted and turned—and it’s been so worth it.

When 605 first started, we had a Saturday group run. On many of those mornings it was just two guys named Ryan, Ben, and me. The Ryans’ wives got along really well, so they naturally had a connection. That left Ben and me to chat as we tackled 4–10 miles every Saturday. It started out that simple—we’d run, chat, and go about our week. Over time, we learned more about each other, exchanged phone numbers, introduced families, and became close friends.

Ben and I have run all over the country together. Correction—Ben has run all over the country, and I’ve left a trail of blood trying to keep up. We ran the LA Marathon—Ben smiled and cruised; I’m still looking for parts of my soul. In Arizona, Ben climbed rocky desert landscapes like a mountain goat while I fell and busted my hands and knees open. I even paced Ben at the Black Hills 100—he ran 100 miles, and I fell into poison ivy. Running is our way of spending quality time together.

Ben is the Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bethany Lutheran College and an incredible man of faith. Whenever I face a challenge, need someone to bounce ideas off of, or just need a listener, Ben is there. I never had a brother, but if I did, I’d want him to be Ben. I’ve even joked that I’m the Kohls’ seventh child—especially when I dropped my stuff on their floor today, and his daughter said, “You do that just like Malachi!” (Malachi is their oldest.)

Including Ben in my 12 Days of 5Ks was important. He’s given me so much guidance, been a role model, and shared some of the highest highs and lowest lows our sport has to offer. Ben once ran 88 miles on basically one leg before being pulled from a race due to cutoff time. That’s the kind of determination and grit he has.

Good friends are worth driving a few hours to run 3 miles with. I’m so thankful for this journey.

Ben’s Responses to the 12 Days of 5Ks Questions
Holiday Reflections
We love Christmas in our home. It truly revolves around faith and family. It begins when we go to a local farm and cut our Christmas tree. This involves our immediate family and the nieces and nephews that visit during Thanksgiving. Everyone helps decorate inside and outside. Advent meals and services with our church community and singing in the choir are anchor points throughout the month of December as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior. The time we spend together this time of year, whether at home, visiting family, or making new memories, is always special and a treasured gift.

Connection to 605 Running Company
Running was an uncomfortable means to an end for me in athletics, but that truly shifted when I found 605. I started coming to group runs after visiting the store soon after it opened its doors 10 years ago. I didn’t know it at the time, but the group runs at 605 would completely change my running journey. Through the wonderful people I became friends with, I learned about trail running and ultra distance events. I began running at Good Earth when it was just a gravel parking lot and found peace and satisfaction on these trails. The friendships that have been formed through the 605 community are some of the most meaningful in my life. Sharing countless miles filled with joys, pains, defeats, and victories continues to be a tremendous privilege. 
Favorite Running Memories
So. Many. Memories. I couldn’t choose a favorite, because it is the accumulation of all the small and big moments that have formed what 605 means to me. From the early morning runs from the store, where I would lay on the couch until the very last moment, to the arctic runs in the snow and subzero temps with the OG frosty beard pics, to the many miles of racing, pacing, and crewing at the Black Hills 100 events; all of these are made meaningful because of the people I shared them with.
Personal Running Goals
I am excited for Black Hills this year. After completing the Man in Black back in 2022, I thought I was done running the event. However, I was back in 2023 to crew and pace my good friend, Jeremy, in his 100 mile debut. Then I was back in 2024 where I ran the 30k with my beautiful and amazing wife, Sarah. In 2025, I will be back again, running the 30k with my son, Titus! I also entered the lottery for a summer 100 mile race, so we will see what happens with that.

Winter Running Tips
Find a partner or group to run with. I have been the most consistent with running through the winter when I have others to run with. Plan out your post-cold run snacks and beverages. Having something warm and delicious waiting for you at the end of a winter run is a must - coffee and a bagel sandwich are my favorites after a cold morning long run. Wear the right clothing. Having good layers and flexibility to adjust during the run makes winter running safe and enjoyable. A buff is a must for all conditions and is the Swiss army knife of running gear. A beard helps too!

Community Message
I am simply grateful for Greg and the whole 605 community. Even though I live a couple hours from Sioux Falls these days, I still feel a tremendous sense of connection to this community and consider the 605 my running home.

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