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Expert guide to keeping running safe and fun
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Proud achievement: Amateur runners show their finisher medals at a running event in Tangerang, Banten, last December. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
R
unning has become a favorite leisure activity for Indonesian urbanites, and for those who want to be more serious, it is important to take some precautions to ensure that they get the most out of running.
In major cities, running competitions are organized almost every month by school alumni associations, sportswear companies and even banks.
National Independence Day celebrations also include running contests, from national to sub-district level. This has got a lot of people seriously engaged in running as part of their lifestyle. They either follow their friends or realize the health benefits it brings. They join running clubs, train on a regular basis and regulate their diet. Some groups even hire coaches and nutritionists.
One runner, Mira, said several of her friends had been thinking about taking part in the marathons in Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo, and therefore, they needed to prepare as much as possible to meet the competitions’ strict requirements.
Although most of these runners are hobbyists and do it just for fun, if they want to run at world-class events or long-distance races, serious preparations are a must.
Physiotherapist Annisa Citra said runners needed a thorough checkup before they began their training. This is mainly to check any leg joint conditions, because running relies on the strength of legs. This way, any previous muscular or joint injuries that will affect running performance can be handled immediately.
