INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate whether individualized low-intensity jogging (ILIJ) within the recovery zone 1 (RZ1) before lactate threshold 1 (LT 1) increases energetic recovery and general endurance capacity (zones 1, 2, and 3) in Korean professional soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-four professional soccer players in the Korea professional Football League (n = 24, age: 24.53 ± 4.85 years, height: 180 ± 6.30 cm, body mass: 75.86 ± 8.01 kg, body fat: 12.19 ± 2.69%) participated in the study. During a free season, the 1-h ILIJ intervention involved 27 sessions spanning nine weeks and jogging speed corresponding to 72% of LT 1 (7.15 ± 0.95 km*h*1). Pre- and post-LT testing parameters determined within 9 weeks included blood lactate concentrations (La*) and heart rate (HR) at certain exercise intensities during LT test. The jogging/running speeds (S), delta (*) S, HR, and *HR were analyzed at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mmol*L*1 La*, respectively. RESULTS: Levels of La* and HR at the same exercise intensities (5.4-16.2 km*h*1) in the post-LT test compared with pre-LT test were significantly reduced (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, S at all specific La* levels (1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0) were significantly increased, while HR at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 La* decreased significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Low to moderate positive associations were found between *S and *HR at 1.5 and 2.0 La* (r = 0.52; R2 = 0.27 and r = 0.40; R2 = 0.16, respectively). CONCLUSION: The nine-week ILIJ within RZ1 increased energetic recovery and general lactate exponential curve (rightward shift) in professional soccer players. This effect relates to repeated high-intensity intermittent sprints during the 90-min soccer game.
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