Auris Energiaratkaisut sponsors triathlete Aino Kuljukka, who is highly motivated to succeed and has ambitious goals. We want to support her journey as an athlete. In this interview, you can learn more about Aino and triathlon.
Could you start by telling us a little about yourself?
I am Aino Kuljukka, 22. I am in my second year studying the biology of physical activity in Jyväskylä. I started triathlon about a year and a half ago, after six years of actively competing in endurance running.
How do you combine competitive sport and studying? How has the pandemic affected this?
Combining sport and studying requires planning and setting your own goals. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices too. On the other hand, they balance each other well, with both physical and mental activity.
Coronavirus has actually made things a little easier for me. Distance learning means I do not spend time travelling between places. For example, I can cycle indoors while watching a lecture.
What is triathlon like as a sport?
Triathlon has three consecutive disciplines: swimming, cycling and running. The standard distance comprises a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre cycle and a 10-kilometre run. As a former endurance runner, running is my strongest discipline.
Consistent performance is very important in triathlon. You cannot be weak in any discipline, and being very good at just one of the three is not enough. Even so, competitors with a swimming background have a slight advantage, and swimming becomes more important at higher levels.
How did you develop a passion for the sport?
In a way, injuries led me to it. As an endurance runner, I had leg problems, so I had done quite a lot of alternative training through cycling and swimming. I really wanted to keep competing and test my potential in endurance sport. I began considering triathlon, which would be better for my legs because it involved less running training. My doctor agreed, and that is how it started.
What are your goals in triathlon?
My goals for this summer are to do well at the Finnish Championships and stay healthy and injury-free. I also want to improve on last summer’s results. I came third in the standard distance and second in the sprint, which was a bit of a surprise. Even though I have changed sports, nothing has been lost. Anything is possible. It would also be wonderful to represent Finland on the national team one day.
What does a normal day look like for you?
My typical day starts with a small breakfast and a morning training session, such as swimming. Then I have a proper breakfast and study for a few hours. After that, I eat and do my second, slightly harder training session. Then I eat and study some more. In the evening, I do recovery exercises and spend time outdoors. In practice, the most important thing is a regular meal pattern, around which I schedule training and study. I train for 18–25 hours a week.
You began working with Auris Energiaratkaisut in January 2021. What does that mean to you?
The partnership allows me to train properly and work towards my goals. Elite sport always requires commitment and investment. Sponsorship also lets me take care of recovery and access healthcare services to support my training and stay healthy.
Working with AER feels really good. We share the same values on green energy and environmental responsibility. At an internal morning coffee event, I met AER’s employees, and it was easy to be myself among such like-minded people.
Auris Energiaratkaisut provides low-emission and carbon-neutral energy services. What does environmental responsibility mean to you?
Through my choices, I want to give future generations the same opportunities I have had and take care of nature. I feel my choices have a major impact. Doing the right thing, such as recycling and using products fully, feels good.
Thank you for the interview, Aino, and good luck in your upcoming competitions!