As a little girl I was already light on my feet, much quicker than the other neighbourhood kids. The important thing, however, was not being faster than the others. Running itself was its own reward. Exercise was a big thing in my family, and that set the standard for me. My childhood memories include chocolate treats after a run, enjoying a campfire during treks in the forest, the satisfaction of fatigue. That is probably why I half-forced my own children to come skiing or hiking with me. After such an exertion they had red cheeks and were relaxed, and, best of all, they were visibly pleased with themselves and how they felt.

My athletic career began at a school event, where I was recruited by the multi-sport club Tampereen Pyrintö. At the beginning my training was sporadic, but soon I was running every day. Unfortunately around the same time I got carried away with healthy nutrition and watching my weight. I was afflicted with anorexia, that disease of ambitious and conscientious young women. At my worst I weighed less than five stone. I could hardly stand, let alone run. It was paradoxical: I had embraced the health regime to be a better athlete.

Luckily I recovered, and after taking a few years off I returned to running, going from school events to county championships and from Finnish championships to the World Championships. 800 metres solidified as my main event. I took a year off from studying after upper secondary school to start training more systematically. Soon I had a new coach, the Pole Maria Paczos. We did not even have a common language, but there was a unique trust between us. Studying Polish at the University also helped.

My training was varied and I ran thousands of miles every year. In 1991, I ran 800 metres in 2:00.59, which is still the Finland national record. Then I succumbed to overtraining, and my enthusiasm for the sport evaporated. In 1994 I had the good sense to retire. I had a new challenge ahead of me, motherhood. After the birth of my first child, I considered making a comeback, but instead ended up getting a playmate for my firstborn. My two children were born within a year and a half of each other, and I gave up my athletic career. But not running.

I started practicing for the marathon. To the horror of my friends, the television initially served as the nanny: an hour and a half of children’s programming. Later on the children would keep me company while running. For a long time now my training philosophy has been “what feels good.” I do not have any workout routine, but I run every day: from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on my schedule. Going for a quick run at work with a colleague is a great feeling. The running continues!

Family life has offered security and safety. It has been a delight to watch the kids grow up. My daughter Sohvi Silius has already moved out and is studying social sciences at the University of Tampere, and her brother Severi Silius is currently being trained as a non-commissioned officer for his compulsory military service and is thinking of a career as a police officer or in social services. As a mother I am particularly glad that both are still actively involved in their childhood hobbies: with Sohvi it is circus and with Severi football. My husband, the non-fiction writer and entrepreneur Erkki Alaja, is known as a pioneer in sports marketing and managing.