Indonesian Marathoner Odekta Naibaho Uses Merdeka Run as Asian Games Warm-up

Indonesian marathon runner Odekta Elvina Naibaho is strategically using the Merdeka Run 2026 as a crucial warm-up event in her preparation for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan. The 8-kilometer race serves a dual purpose for Naibaho: it functions as an integral part of her training regimen and as a tryout to assess her current fitness level.

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My target is not here, but the Asian Games. So, this event I am using as training for future preparation. For the time, we will see tomorrow.

Naibaho emphasized that her primary focus is not on achieving a specific time at the Merdeka Run, but rather on using the event as a stepping stone towards the Asian Games. "My target is not here, but the Asian Games. So, I am using this event as training for future preparation," she stated. The race provides an opportunity to test her abilities in shorter distances, offering valuable insights into her progress.

"This is part of the tryout to check my abilities. For example, for shorter distances, we can see how far the short-term capability is," Naibaho explained. She believes that monitoring her performance over 8 or 10 kilometers will serve as a benchmark for her overall conditioning before the demanding Asian Games competition.

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This is part of the tryout to check my abilities. For example, for shorter distances, we can see how far the short-term capability is.

Understanding the importance of pacing, Naibaho highlighted the need for athletes to manage their intensity. "An athlete must also understand when to push and when to maintain energy," she noted. She further revealed that the intensity of the Merdeka Run will be less than her daily training sessions, which often involve 20 to 25 kilometers at 80-90% intensity. This controlled effort allows her to train effectively without overexertion.

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An athlete must also understand when to push and when to maintain energy. Events like this are actually part of our training.

At the Asian Games 2026, Naibaho will concentrate exclusively on the marathon event, her specialty. Unlike her participation in the SEA Games, where she might compete in multiple events, she intends to dedicate her full focus to the marathon in Nagoya to maximize her chances of success in what she anticipates will be a highly competitive field.

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Even tomorrow will be lighter than my training. My training can reach 20 to 25 kilometers per day with an intensity of around 80 to 90 percent. Meanwhile, tomorrow will not reach 70 percent. So, overall, this event is indeed part of my training.