Mika Huovinen

Mika Ensio Huovinen
Born 1969, Sipoo

MA 1996 (Finnish and Scandinavian History), University of Helsinki

CEO of Graaf, 2006-
Freelance graphic designer, 2003–2006
Photo editor, layout artist, graphic designer at Edita Publishing Ltd., 1996–2002
Design and editing of the Sodankylä Film Festival programme book, 1995–1996
Archive work for the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, 1990–1993
Member of the Board of Directors on the Helsinki Society, 2003–2009
Secretary of the Swedish Historical Society in Finland, 1996–1997
Chair of the University of Helsinki subject organisation Historicus, 1992

Publications
‘Runebergs två hem’ (‘Runeberg’s two homes’) article for Matti Klinge’s 60th Festschrift, 1996
‘Hundra år i Träskolan’ (‘One hundred years of Träskolan’) history book, 1996
‘Kerhosta edunvalvojaksi – Vantaan Invalidit ry 1970–1995’ (‘From a club to a caretaker – Vantaa Disabled Association 1970–1995’) history book, 1995
‘Vilken funktion har Runebergskulten?’ (‘What is the function of the Runeberg cult?’) article, Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper, February 5, 1994
‘Den tredje faran: Kvinnor’ (‘The third danger: Women’) article, Studentbladet issue 12 (1993)
Editor-in-chief of the subject organisation paper Papyruksen, 1990–1991

Awards
State Award for Public Information for the reference book Kalevalan kulttuurihistoria (‘The cultural history of the Kalevala’), for which I did the layout, 2009
Finnish Association of Non-fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Award for the textbook Odysseia – matka filosofiaan (‘The Odyssey – Journey into philosophy’), for which I did photo editing, 2001
Student Union of the University of Helsinki’s Award for the Best Subject Organisation, 1991

Photo: Jouko Keski-Säntti
Written by Mika Huovinen (Kaija Hartikainen, ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh

Running shoes in the briefcase, suitcase and office lobby

An active student life lifted my weight to three digits. I decided that I would either lose 20 kilos, 20 cm from my waist or run a marathon. The marathon turned out to be the easiest of these to do. I realised that having a regular training and running programme suited me. I have run ten marathons and plenty of shorter races. At best, running can put you into a state of flow where you forget about the physical motion itself and go on as if in a tunnel, where your breathing, the rhythm of your steps and the landscape become one.

Running became a regular and essential hobby that wasn’t even disturbed by the growing number of family members – I’ve pushed jogging strollers for over two thousand kilometres. In 2014 I participated in 13 running events, and my company, Graaf, works closely with Finland’s biggest running magazine, Juoksija. I compete only against my own achievements and myself. Jogging keeps the stress of work away, and sometimes I even think of solutions to work-related problems when I clear my head outside the office.

When I go on trips, I always take my running shoes with me. I’ve run in central parks, suburbs and beaches all over the world. A city waking up reveals itself to a runner in a way that tourists sticking to the prescribed routes can never experience. One running dream of mine is to run the Boston marathon and experience one of the world’s most famous running events.

By Written by Mika Huovinen (Kaija Hartikainen ed.). Translated by Kaisla Kajava, revised by Matthew Billington.

Mika Huovinen

Mika Ensio Huovinen
Born 1969, Sipoo

MA 1996 (Finnish and Scandinavian History), University of Helsinki

Photo: Jouko Keski-Säntti
Written by Mika Huovinen (Kaija Hartikainen, ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh