Joonas Hytönen – speedy power plant engineer

What is your background as a runner/athlete, Joonas Hytönen?

I have always been active in sports – ice hockey as a youngster (but did not have enough talent in that sport to go forward), floorball and weight lifting as an adult. And I have always enjoyed running alongside other forms of sport. Although on a very occasional basis.

I did not become a real running enthusiast until 2017. Since then, I have become more and more zealous about training year after year. Goal-oriented running offers the kind of successes and disappointments that you cannot get anywhere else. For me, however, the most important aspect of running are the daily basic practices when you can become completely immersed in your thoughts. With age, I have learned to enjoy the possibility of engaging in sports in a whole different way from when I was a junior. It feels a privilege to be able to train and compete on a level that keeps you motivated.

Your highest achievements this year?

Well, being elected the best male athlete of the year in Rauma is quite overwhelming, as I have never really considered myself to be an athlete. The justification given for my election was my placement as 17th in the Finnish Championships and my personal bests in 10 000m (33.36) and half marathon (1.14.12) which are the best times locally in a long time, as well as my somewhat peculiar background in sports. It shows that you are allowed to enjoy sports and have dreams, even if you are not young and promising.

What has been the meaning of your club/coach/running buddies?

My most important running buddies are my own girls, absolutely. They are eager to accompany me, both on my runs and by the side of the sports field – whether competing or training. Like I said, I usually do my basic training running alone, but sometimes Rauma-based orienteering athlete Aleksi Lohtander joins me for harder training. He is a spectacular young sportsman!

We are also about to set up a training group consisting of endurance athletes living in Rauma. It is nice to practice with others and most importantly to help young athletes in their goal-oriented training.

My enthusiasm for running originally started in TVO’s sports club, Sähkötossut, or Electric sneakers in English. The Club has also given me some great friends and travels!

I plan my practices myself, but the running coach of sports club Rauman Urheilijat has occasionally given me good consultation advice. There appears to be a clear boom in running in the Club, with many promising and enthusiastic kids joining in.

Hopefully we have not yet seen the best results from me – at least it will not be for want of training  And in any case my dream is to enjoy to the full the few more years that I have left to compete in the adult category on Finnish Championships level with some credibility, at least.