Nithyam Nachappa
How I met Rajath?
It was at Buddha Trails by The Hell Race , a 30 km trail race in the forests of Singalilla National Park.
I didn’t know him then. We were just two runners in the same category, chasing our own reasons for being there.
The last 4km stretch from Sepi to Rimbik is where things usually fall apart for many runners, with a rolling terrain and elevation gain on tarmac. I was empty. Legs gone. Low on hydration and fully gassed.
From the starting of the race, I hadn’t seen Rajat at all. Not once. In my head, he was either far behind or already gone. I wasn’t thinking about positions anymore. I was just negotiating with myself to keep moving.
As the descent towards Sepi began, I remember thinking, Okay, Descent, Great! Maybe this is where I recover a little. That’s when I heard footsteps behind me.
Before I could even turn around or do the usual runner math of "Will he overtake or not?", this guy casually went past me. Just smooth. Relaxed. Almost unfairly calm. Curly hair, strong calf muscles, looking like he’d just stepped out for an easy jog. Didn’t even look like he was racing.
I remember thinking, Damn these road runners. Who is this guy? And where was he hiding all this time?
SSU 30k, 2025
Post race, we were talking, laughing, sharing stories like we’d known each other longer than a few muddy kilometres. Somewhere between the finish line and the post-race chaos, a friendship quietly began.
Over time, we kept crossing paths, different races, different categories, different terrain. We trained together in Bangalore, did speed hikes (a friendly battle of KOM has also begun), and shared the kind of conversations that only happen when effort is involved.
An Unexpected meet in the mountains
Later, we met again in Ladakh. Rajath was deep into a 12-day bike packing expedition with 2 strangers (an American girl and a Slovakian guy) and I was leading another journey in the mountains.
That’s when it clicked.
Rajath wasn’t just chasing events. He was living a way of moving through the outdoors that was very intentional and personal to him.
Somewhere in Ladakh during the 12 day bike-packing expedition
The Malnad Odyssey
This conversation with him is about his Malnad Ultra odyssey, where he cycled all the way from Bangalore to Chikmagalur, ran a 50 km night race, finished on the podium (just 5 minutes behind the winner), and then cycled all the way back, covering about 650kms that week. Not as a stunt. But to stay true to something he deeply believes in: sustainability, self-sufficiency and love for the outdoors.
Rajath with Dust after the Malnad night run
A Run, A Chat, And Rajath Being Rajath
I spoke to him during one of our morning runs, the usual casual talk between two training buddies. And I secretly turned that conversation into an article. We spoke about life, fatigue, discomfort, our plans for 2026 and why he keeps doing these slightly unreasonable things.
Nithyam: How would you describe your relationship with discomfort, long hours on the road, fatigue, that moment when you want to give up?
Rajath: I’ve been cycling for about 5 years now. I didn’t start big. It began with a 10 km ride, then 50 km then a weekend bike-packing and then I slowly transitioned to longer distances.
Back home (in Kasaragod), I cycled a lot in hilly regions, so long hours on the road and fatigue is not new to me. My body and mind grew into it over time.
But a lot of it comes down to consistent training. When you show up regularly, your body adapts and your mind becomes calmer around discomfort.
The closest he came to giving up was during a Ladakh expedition.
So at Fotu La, there was a brutal snowstorm. We couldn’t ride anymore and had to push our bikes. Going back wasn’t an option either. That moment was tough. Honestly, I did feel like giving up.
But something else took over, maybe the adventure itself, and we kept moving.
To be honest, I’m still waiting to reach a point where I completely give up. I’d actually like to know how that feels (ends with his evil laugh)
Rajat and his bike "Dust" crossing the brutal Foti La
Nithyam: What was the intention behind cycling to Malnad Ultra, racing, and cycling back?
Rajath: The main intention was sustainability.
Malnad Ultra is one of the very few races in India that truly stands by sustainability. No t-shirts. No fancy goodies. No threaded medals. Just a buckle that lasts.
Cycling from Bangalore to Chikmagalur felt like the most honest way to support that cause.
For Rajat, cycling isn’t just about zero carbon footprint.
Cyclists support the local economy at a very ground level. We eat at local places, stay in small lodges, buy from local shops. You won’t see cyclists walking into five-star restaurants. That matters to me.
Cycling also gave me confidence, physical and mental. Those long night rides and tough conditions made me more resilient. That showed up during the race.
The podium wasn’t planned. It just happened because I stayed consistent and calm.
Is it any less than a 5 star?
Nithyam: Was there more to it than just the cause?
Rajath: I wanted to inspire kids, especially in villages. I wanted them to have an image in their head, that someone came cycling all the way to their place from a distant land, played with them, shared stories and remember that figure.
Many people see cycling only as fitness or a hobby. I wanted to show that it can be more than that.
Often, people asked if he was a foreigner.
That itself shows the mindset. People think only foreigners do these things. I wanted to change that.
If even one kid starts seeing cycling as a sport, a passion, or a profession, that’s enough for me
"The local legend" among the villagers
Nithyam: If someone wants to attempt something ambitious but feels unsure, what would you tell them?
Rajath: Build your base first! Bigger the base, higher you go..
My journey started small - 10 km, then 20 km, then longer distances. You need to understand your body and mind before attempting something big.
There’s a very thin line between being adventurous and being stupid. Preparation decides which side you’re on.
Always know what you’re signing up for. Keep safety as a priority. Check your gear. Wear helmet. Carry all the essentials and more importantly, know your limits. Build experience gradually instead of making impulsive decisions.
He told me the scariest part wasn’t the run. It was cycling back into Bangalore: traffic, bad air, chaos and Work-life. He almost had a couple of close calls. He lost his taillight in the middle of a forest at night and had a puncture as well.
What helped was his skill. He had taken time earlier to learn how to fix things, how to stay calm, how to handle long solo hours and any emergencies.
Nithyam: Would you do it again?
Rajath: Hell YES!
Sometimes I think about quitting my job, cycling across India with Dust, reaching trail races on my bike, and then racing. It might sound impractical right now, but I’d love to live that life one day!
Pushing mental limits excites me. Sustainability matters to me. Inspiring young people matters to me.
If I can keep riding, racing, and inspiring along the way - I’m happy.
About the Athlete
Rajath is a trail/road runner, bike-packer, and full-time Data Engineer - a Bengaluru tech guy living the fast city life quietly and intentionally. He cooks his own meals, trains in the city, lives simply (with his cat), and somehow squeezes in more mountain time than most people think is possible.
Often envied by his colleagues for “taking so many vacations,” he just laughs - because those vacations are actually earned, one long ride and one hard run at a time.
And honestly, that’s the kind of life many of us are secretly training for, isn't it?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajath_kodoth/
Check out Rajath Kodoth on Strava: https://strava.app.link/VPJkBQ21lZb
Have a story of your own?
If the outdoors has shaped you in some way, through a journey, a small decision, or a quiet adventure, we’d love to hear it. Write to us at nithyam@outonodyssey.com with your story, photos, or even rough notes.
We feature stories in our Outdoor Stories section that carry the true spirit of being outside - honest, grounded, and inspiring enough to nudge someone else to step out.
