Aturi Lotta Harala wiped out the warmth of Pyynik’s home sofa on Sunday to watch the World Championship competitions and especially the women’s 60-meter hurdles at Tampere’s Pirkkahalli.
– I knew how to wait so that I wouldn’t run in these games, so there was no disappointment. But I always wanted to run. I was excited for my friends, says Harala.
Harala, 31, will not compete in the hall season because he suffered from a stress fracture in his tibia. Last summer, he stopped the impressive training immediately after the World Championships.
– Right after Budapest, the game was suspended and I was out of action for a few weeks. After that, I avoided getting hit for 20 weeks.
Before the stress fracture, Harala had just recovered from back surgery.
– 2019 was a back surgery and it took a year and a half in rehabilitation. Then I was healthy for half a year, after which I suffered a stress fracture of the tibia.
– It has been rehabilitated for 3.5 years now. It was operated on in 2021. If the back and leg are taken together, it has been quite a long rehabilitation period, says Harala.
Now the period of torment is over. Harala just received good news from the doctor. The tibia has finally ossified properly.
– I am especially excited that I will finally be able to train in good health and realize the potential that has been smoldering there all along.
Less than 13 seconds with a stress fracture
Lotta Harala ran the 100-meter hurdles for the first time under 13 seconds at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku last June. The result was 12.99.
– That’s where a kind of liberation started. It’s surprising how big a difference it makes, whether you run 13.01 or 12.99.
Breaking the long-chased ghost line was a big deal for Harala mentally. He further improved his record in July to 12.85. But how on earth was he able to run his records with a stress fracture in his tibia?
– It was a joint decision with the doctors. Let’s film it regularly, and if the pain doesn’t become completely unbearable, then we’ll compete for it.
Of course, the pain got worse during the summer.
– Undoubtedly, there were quite a lot of pain states. However, I managed to do a good few weeks of running in the spring.
Harala did strength training all the time and was able to develop his qualities despite the limitations. The impact had to be negotiated, which is challenging in hurdles.
– I have controlled the amount of hitting. Last summer I hit once a week.
Running and jumping were on the forbidden list. However, Aituri used his imagination and applied exercises as required by the sport, for example with rubber bands.
– I did movement speed with a rubber band, which is really good for the nervous system. The power levels have been in really good shape, which is the basis for everything.
– Now it seems that I could train all spring without restrictions, says Harala happily.
Harala is now coaching himself
Harala has changed coaches quite often.
– I had such a searching time that in 10 years I changed coaches 10 times.
Harala wanted to find a coach with whom he feels like a partner and who commits to a common goal. Then came a realization.
– I started to decide that I would take responsibility for myself. It felt really natural and I like that I have responsibility.
– At the age of 22, there was no way this would have been the right solution.
Harala has trained as an exercise counselor. He is also an analytical athlete who has studied a lot of coaching and biomechanics himself.
– I have combined the lessons and knowledge gained from the coaches and, of course, the knowledge of my own body.
– I have taken courses online and read a lot. However, this is not rocket science.
Next summer, the main competition in Rome
In April, Harala will go to Tenerife for a month and after that he will start the competition season in Europe.
– I don’t get greedy when it comes to the games, but I go as far as quality goes, both in training and in competitions.
Next summer there are two prestigious athletics competitions.
– I am really excited about the coming summer. In the European Championships, it is definitely more likely to succeed in our sport, and it is the main competition.
– At the same time, it is a big goal to be at the Paris Olympics, and yes, it would be great to achieve the best performance of my career in the prestigious competition.
The direct result limit for the Olympic Games is a tough 12.77. Harala has already broken the result limit of the European Championship with 12.98.
But the battle for prestigious competition places among Finns is fierce, as only three athletes per country qualify for the competition.
– I have not focused on what the selection system is. I’m doing my best to be in shape.
Content award from fans
On Saturday, Harala received the Sisukas taistelija award of the Athletics fans association in connection with the WC Indoor Championships. The tribute touched Harala.
– It really brought the emotions to the surface. It feels great that the unyielding fight that has been going on here for years has been seen.
Harala also wants to inspire others.
– That’s why I’ve also been open on social media and shared this journey.
In the selection criteria for athletics fans, Harala was stated, among other things: “You don’t give up, you fight until the end to achieve your goals.â€
– I am really unyielding. Spouse it with a laugh. If I set something as my goal, I want to do everything I can to reach it.
The hearty fighter award was a boxer Mira Potkonen the glove with which he won bronze at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
– I felt that I symbolically got such strength and the energy of winning.
Who are you going to piss off?
– Not physically to anyone, but figuratively I’m putting hard results on the board, laughs Harala.