Liina Hilkamo is an unsung hero in the world of ultra-running. While her husband, professional runner Juuso Simpanen, races towards podium finishes, Liina's support is the backbone of his success.
An unsung hero named Liina Hilkamo supported professional runner Juuso Simpanen to his first UTMB podium finish at the Istria 100 race in April. A communications professional and mother from Helsinki, she is probably best known in the running community as Juuso’s husband.
Ever since they first met four years ago, Liina has tirelessly crewed almost every race Juuso has participated in, working through countless nights at aid stations, always equipped with Coke, pizza, and candy. “In fact, we had known each other only for a few days when he ran a 100-miler in Lapland’s Oulanka National Park, and my sister and I helped him out.”
The Unseen Supporter
Before meeting Juuso, Liina had already been supporting her sister and friends during races, giving her insight into the kind of assistance he might require. However, she was surprised by just how easy it is to crew for Juuso, saying, “We plan everything to the smallest detail, and he follows the plan 100%.”
Juuso describes her as incredibly intelligent, adept at multitasking, and highly observant, adding, “She's always letting me know information like, ‘Hey, the leader's just ten minutes ahead,’ or ‘Watch out, someone's catching up, they'll be here in fifteen!’ She's my secret weapon when it comes to racing.”
Behind the professionalism lies the nerve-wracking emotion of never knowing what will unfold between aid stations. She adds, “The hardest thing is seeing him disappointed after an unsuccessful race. That is also one part where doing things that have nothing to do with running play a big part: reminding him and myself that there are so many other, even more important things in life.”
Her emotional support is critical to Juuso, who emphasizes the importance of having someone close to confide in: “Liina is a good listener, and she always has the right words to say when I'm feeling sad after a bad race. She also keeps me grounded and advises me when I need to ease up on training.”
A Partnership Formed on the Run
Liina’s sister, who was part of the same Salomon running team as Juuso, introduced them in 2020 during the pandemic while traveling in the north of Finland in Ruka. They fell in love. Liina moved into Juuso’s camper van for the remainder of the summer, and they traveled around Finland before settling in Helsinki together.
“When I met Juuso, he had already been running for about six years and had built his life around the sport. Therefore, running has been a natural part of our everyday life from the very beginning,” explains Liina, who occasionally participates in 10k and 20k races for enjoyment. She had also been developing her career, having graduated from university the summer they met.
For the couple, their lifestyle is entirely normal, and Liina couldn’t envision Juuso having a conventional nine-to-five job. “Thanks to his choice of profession, he’s home more, is less stressed, and enjoys life more than most people I know.”
Though they travel extensively due to international races, Liina’s employer has been accommodating, allowing her to manage her responsibilities. Additionally, she has been on maternity leave since their baby was born in June 2023, but it ends in the fall after Juuso competes in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) again.
“Working remotely won’t really be a possibility now that we have a baby to take care of as well, so we will have to come up with new ways to combine work, family life, running and all the rest. The baby comes first; there’s no question about that. However, we get a lot of support from my family, and they’re always ready to help us.”
Their families' role in maintaining their daily lives has become increasingly significant over the past year. “My dad even joined us in Croatia to take care of our baby so that we could focus on the Istria 100 race. We’re immensely grateful for all the help and support that we get from our families.”
Looking Ahead: Goals and Aspirations
Despite the demands of managing running, securing sponsors, and other responsibilities that accompany professional athletics, Liina acknowledges that they have yet to face challenges more significant than those they encountered before. However, she adds with a laugh, “Juuso could talk about running and running-related topics endlessly, but I can’t. Even though I do enjoy running recreationally, I have other, broader interests in life, and I want Juuso to be a part of those too.”
Whether it’s exploring Croatia, visiting a theme park in Helsinki, or indulging in a lavish breakfast at a hotel, they both recognize the importance of engaging in entirely different activities on full rest days.
“I have rigorous training sessions and coaching responsibilities, so currently Liina is shouldering more of the baby care responsibilities, and I’m truly grateful for that. She is incredibly supportive of my running career. I believe she’s pleased that I have the opportunity to pursue it semi-professionally. It’s our family goal to become more professional so we can travel together more often.”
Liina concurs, concluding, “My only hope and aspiration is that as long as Juuso has a passion for running, he can continue, either as a profession or as a hobby.”
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Professional runner Juuso Simpanen achieved his first UTMB podium finish at the Istria 100 race in April. Read the article to learn how he prepared for and executed his race strategy.