Again, following the success of the podcast interview, I was invited for an interview by the biggest newspaper in the region. Below is a link to a 1 page discussion of how I am about to complete each and every street in Malmö
Link: (Joseph, 38, har snart sprungit varenda gata i hela Malmö – Sydsvenskan).
Below is to-english google translation
Joseph, 38, is Close to Running Every Street in Malmö
On the gravel path in Pildammsparken, Joseph Mukama comes jogging. He isn’t even out of breath as he stops to greet Sydsvenskan—despite having just run seven kilometers.
Joseph, 38, is close to running every street in Malmö. The systems engineer has a goal: to run every street in Malmö municipality. In six months, he has managed to cover 95 percent. Sometimes, he gets up at four in the morning to achieve his 320 kilometers per month.
• “I only have a few streets left in Limhamn,” he says.
He is on his second run of the day, with another one planned for the afternoon.
• “I covered Bunkeflostrand this morning and have a few streets left in Limhamn to run today. I have less than 5 percent left in residential areas,” says Joseph Mukama.
The goal is to run every street in Malmö municipality, and six months after starting the project, he is on his way to succeeding.
• “Sometimes, I get up at four in the morning and go running on a busy road. On weekends, I run on country roads between villages, starting as early as half past seven. To make it more fun, I sometimes look at people in cars and imagine their stories,” he says.
Joseph Mukama, 38, works as a systems engineer at the Civil Aviation Authority. Despite dedicating a lot of time to his running goals, his work life doesn’t seem to be significantly affected by the unusual hobby.
Do you not get tired of all the running when you get to work?
• “Not really, it works very well. I feel fit and it’s incredibly refreshing afterward.”
He explains that he needs to change running shoes every three months as they get worn out from all the running. Joseph Mukama laughs and points to his light blue shoes.
• “These are my fast shoes, then I have special shoes for asphalt, trail, and running. We’ll see how long they last,” he says.
He started running in 2017. Before that, he lived in Uganda and hardly ran at all, except for a race once a year where he ran ten kilometers.
Joseph Mukama sits down on a bench by the pond in Pildammsparken and says it’s his favorite park in Malmö to run in.
What is the best street to run on in Malmö?
• “That’s a very difficult question. Oxie is quite beautiful to run through. There is also a part of Kirseberg that is really nice. Then there are areas that are less fun to run, like down by the harbor. There’s nothing to see there.”
Joseph Mukama says his friends and family were initially puzzled by what he was doing, but now he gets a lot of positive feedback and people are impressed.
• “It was quite tough to get started at first, but now it’s really just fun. I also run with different running groups in Malmö, it’s more enjoyable when you run together.”
Do you listen to anything while you run?
• “Yes, I love ‘Every mile matters’ by Ann-Elise Lady, a channel on Spotify that promotes running. But often it’s just regular radio too, it helps me constantly practice the language.”
The group he primarily runs with is called Malmö Guerrilla Runners. A Facebook group that anyone can join and get the opportunity to run together a few days a week. He also runs with the Mikkeller Running Club, Malmö chapter, and Malmö Ribersborg parkrun.
• “I enjoy Malmö because there are many running groups, completely free.”
Joseph Mukama lives with his wife in Malmö and has, through running, gotten to know the city better than most, despite having only lived there since 2019.
• “On Fridays, we have a tradition, we run a five-kilometer run at half past seven in the morning with the group, then we usually always meet at a café together. Sometimes we swim afterward along the route. The session is called ‘keep on keeping on’, it’s very nice.”
Joseph Mukama is almost done with all Malmö’s streets and will reach his goal after his vacation, which he is now going to take. But for him, vacation is not just sun, swimming, and relaxation. He will start his first vacation day by running Malmö Fives’ 45 kilometers challenge.
How will you celebrate when you reach your goal?
• “I will celebrate by running the last few percent with the running group. Then maybe have a beer.”
Joseph Mukama has three tips for those interested in making the same running journey through the city:
1. Start far outside the city and then move inward.
2. It’s easier to run in residential areas, but it can get crowded with many cars.
3. The most important thing is endurance.
Joseph Mukama doesn’t know anyone who has run through the entire Malmö before. But Sydsvenskan has heard of another person this spring who is said to have completed the feat of running all of Malmö’s streets. Could the unusually long Malmö run be a trend?
• “I hope I’m the first to do this, but I don’t know,” says Joseph Mukama.
When he has reached his goal, he is considering covering all the streets in Lomma or Burlöv.
• “Everyone should run, you too!”
Whether Sydsvenskan’s reporter follows that advice, time will tell.
Joseph Mukama says he is considering setting a new goal in Lomma or Burlöv