Loukko by 
Miika Nousiainen’s hilariously witty new novel about a man’s entry into sprint running via midlife crisis.
When a man turns 50, he must either get a motorcycle or start training for the 400-meter run.
For Miika Nousiainen, who doesn’t have a driver’s license and isn’t interested in being a rebel, the choice is a lap on the track, with the goal set for the World Championships in Gothenburg.
The novel’s title, Push, Pace, Position, Pray references sprinter Michael Johnson’s approach to the 400-meter race, divided into four key phases:
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Push: A strong start off the blocks, reaching near top speed in the initial 100 meters.
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Pace: A steady speed maintained along the backstretch.
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Position: Strategically positioning around the third curve.
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Pray: A hopeful, tenacious push through the final homestretch to the finish line.
Can the author transform himself into a real lightweight, high-frequency runner? Perhaps even the record-holder for his age group in Finland?
The author delves ever deeper into a world built on concepts like dorsiflexion, wall drives, MCT oil, and recovery. And his biggest external threat? The Swedish athlete Mattias Sunneborn.