Chapter 79: Can You Still Keep Running Now?
Kitasan Black's ears visibly drooped even lower, but she quickly perked up again.
"Alright! Since I haven't met Trainer's expectations, I'll go run a few more laps right away!"
She was halfway through speaking when she made a dash toward the track.
Makoto stopped her.
"Don't rush it, Kita-chan, and don't be so down on yourself either."
"I just told you—this is how it is for beginners."
"The real problem is that your sprint just now used the method you're accustomed to, not the one I explained to you before we started."
Kitasan Black froze.
"R-really…?"
Makoto then imitated the sprinting posture she had just used.
"See? Your form was this kind of upright, long-stride type."
"This posture is fine for sustained long-distance sprints, and with your stamina and habits, you can pull it off."
"When you maintain this stance, you'll gradually lower your body under the force of momentum, and your steps will shorten."
"Your arm swings will gradually go from wide to tight, and your breathing will shorten as well."
He then demonstrated another posture.
"This one, on the other hand, is better for high-speed explosive bursts."
"And what you need to do now is use the parachute's drag to shift more quickly into this second sprinting form."
"But don't worry—this takes an adjustment period."
"And during that process, I'll be right here with you."
"Once you've adapted, we'll move on to the next step."
Kitasan Black thought back on the sensation of running just now and connected it with his explanation. She nodded thoughtfully, then clenched her fists with determination.
"So that's it… yeah, it did feel more comfortable running the way I usually do near the end."
"Then… let me try again the way Trainer just showed me!"
"Okay, then get ready again."
Smiling, Makoto walked over to pick up the parachute that had fallen to the ground.
Her adjustment training lasted the entire morning session. By the time afternoon practice came around, Kitasan Black had already gotten a basic handle on what the training demanded.
When she felt she had more or less figured it out, she wanted to keep going, but Makoto stopped her.
"W-we're stopping already…?"
Loosening the strap around her chest a little reluctantly, Kitasan Black bit her lip.
"Trainer, I still feel like I've got enough stamina to keep going…"
Makoto chuckled.
"You do still have the stamina to continue. That's why we're moving on to something else."
He knew his Umamusume's stamina level well.
However, having stamina didn't mean she should grind one type of training endlessly.
Parachute sprints mainly trained leg strength and core muscles, with some effect on the upper body, but not nearly enough intensity there.
That would hurt balanced development.
So, after guiding her through regular cruising, cornering, and high-knee drills, Makoto brought Kitasan Black to the academy's gym.
This was the best place for upper-body training—or rather, for balanced workouts.
Upper-body practice was already part of Kitasan Black's usual training schedule. After over three months of growth and conditioning, it was time to raise the intensity.
When they walked into the gym, Makoto noticed quite a few Umamusumes already practicing there, some with Trainers alongside them.
Since he hadn't been at the Central Academy for long, he didn't know many people, and he hadn't planned on paying attention to others' training.
But when his eyes fell on two particular figures, he couldn't help but take notice.
One was an Umamusume with long gradient-brown hair. The other had short black hair and was lying on a bench in the weight section, doing dumbbell presses under the guidance of the first.
Air Groove…? And… Duramente?
Strange. Where's Duramente's Trainer? Why is Air Groove the one coaching her…?
Makoto frowned in puzzlement. Beside him, Kitasan Black also noticed the two Umamusumes.
"Eh? Air Groove-senpai? And Duramente too…?"
"Hmm… If I remember right, you're in the same class as Duramente, aren't you?" Makoto asked without thinking, pulling his gaze back.
"Yeah, but we don't really talk much. It always feels like…"
Kitasan Black scratched her head. "Duramente's really cold, you know? I've never seen her close to anyone…"
"Oh, right! Come to think of it, when I went to karaoke with Crow-chan and Dia-chan, we ran into Air Groove-senpai and Duramente there once."
She turned to look at her Trainer.
"That was the time you told me to try singing Uchiage Hanabi."
"I see…" Makoto nodded thoughtfully.
Now that he thought back on it, he had seen Duramente training here or at the track before, but at those times her Trainer had always been the one supervising.
Only about a month ago had Air Groove started appearing alongside her more often, while her Trainer had shown up less and less.
And now, her Trainer hadn't come at all—Air Groove was the one accompanying her.
He hadn't paid much attention to it before, but thinking it over, he recalled that Air Groove and Duramente came from the same family.
Most likely, her Trainer had some circumstances, and Air Groove was temporarily substituting as her coach.
Compared to a regular Trainer, Air Groove's guidance was by no means inferior.
In the industry, she was known as the "Empress." Back in her active racing days, she had a brilliant record and was even once the vice president of Tracen Academy's student council.
During her time as vice president, her main responsibility was training, and she personally guided quite a few Umamusumes. Among them, Umas like Admire Groove and Rulership had achieved excellent results.
Perhaps it was for reasons like this that Duramente's family entrusted Air Groove to handle her training.
Of course, it could also have been Duramente's own idea.
Makoto kept these thoughts to himself.
Trainer matters weren't something for him to meddle in. He quickly pulled his focus back, patted Kitasan Black on the head, and walked toward the weight section.
"Alright, don't worry about others. Let's focus on our own training."
Instead of starting right away, he glanced at his Umamusume's legs, then curled his lips into a teasing grin.
"So, how about it? Do you think you can still run right now?"
"Right now…?"
Kitasan Black, who had been curiously eyeing the various equipment in the gym, looked back at him with confusion, then instinctively lifted her legs a little.
"Feels like… I'm kinda tired. My legs don't really want to move much anymore…"
"Exactly."
Makoto nodded.
"Actually, your training has always been split into sets."
"To put it simply, they can be divided into static and dynamic training, non-fatigue and fatigue, strength and speed, endurance, anaerobic and aerobic."
"The order of practice always follows that kind of structure."
"Up until now, the training intensity you've been doing is about twenty percent above average—which, in my opinion, is the most reasonable level."
"From here on, the intensity will rise by another twenty percent, and there will also be more variation in the details."
"For example, earlier you were mainly doing leg-focused training. Now, we're moving on to upper-body training."
"The muscles and ligaments we'll be targeting this time will be completely different."
"This way, by tomorrow, you can train the parts you didn't use today, while the ones you worked on today get a rest."
"Try to remember this order and logic if you can."
"But even if you don't, it's fine—I'll take care of the planning for you."
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Note:
Umamusume in this chapter:
Kitasan Black: https://umamusume.fandom.com/wiki/Kitasan_Black
Air Groove: https://umamusume.fandom.com/wiki/Air_Groove
Duramente: https://umamusume.fandom.com/wiki/Duramente
Admire Groove: https://umamusume.fandom.com/wiki/Admire_Groove
Rulership: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rulership_(horse)
(There's no Uma equivalent for Rulership)
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