The trend of casual running or jogging is currently sweeping through Indonesian society. This physical activity is becoming increasingly popular because, in addition to being cheap and practical, jogging can be done at a light intensity that allows participants to interact comfortably without excessive fatigue.
Zainal Muttaqin, a Sports Physiology Expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), explained that although classified as a simple exercise, jogging still requires proper preparation to provide optimal health benefits while avoiding the risk of injury.
One crucial aspect that is often overlooked is body fluid adequacy. Zainal emphasized the importance of staying hydrated by consuming water regularly, namely two to three hours before starting, followed by 30 minutes before running, as well as water intake every 15 minutes during the activity to prevent the body from overheating.
In addition to hydration, choosing the right footwear is also a must. The use of specific running shoes serves to absorb impact to protect the knee and hip joints. Lastly, maintaining sufficient quality sleep is key to ensuring the body is in prime condition before undergoing physical training loads.
