Chapter 272: Almond Eye's Problem
After Makoto finished speaking, Kitasan Black was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She instinctively glanced at Almond Eye, expecting that the mention of running alongside her would make the latter nervous.
After all, Almond Eye had only just entered the stage of full-scale training. Her body had yet to mature to Kitasan Black's level, and she had no race experience whatsoever.
In Kitasan Black's view, Almond Eye would inevitably feel some hesitation when she faced such a challenge.
But when she saw Almond Eye's expression clearly, she was surprised once again.
What she saw was a look overflowing with competitive spirit.
Those eyes sparkled with a burning intensity, her whole body eager to move—radiating an impatience to show her abilities on the track and compete head-on.
Infected by that energy, Kitasan Black felt a surge of excitement rise from within.
She looked at her Trainer, nodded firmly, and responded energetically, "Got it, Trainer!"
"I'm ready too!"
Not to be outdone, Almond Eye added loudly, "We can start anytime!"
Seeing both Umamusume full of spirit, Makoto couldn't help but smile. He pointed toward the starting line on the track:
"Then let's do it as usual, when I finish counting down from three, go!"
Kitasan Black and Almond Eye, eager to begin, quickly ran to the starting point.
Standing side by side, they took their starting stances. Kitasan Black stared straight ahead, while Almond Eye stole a glance toward Makoto. Both were fully focused, waiting for the signal.
The training ground fell into silence, with only a gentle breeze stirring their hair and clothes.
Standing nearby, Makoto swept his gaze over them briefly, then began counting in a steady voice:
"Three… two… one!"
The moment his voice fell, Kitasan Black reacted instantly, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.
Her movement was smooth and explosive, her leg muscles contracting and extending powerfully, each step striking with solid rhythm as she broke the stillness.
However, at that exact moment, both Kitasan Black and Makoto frowned slightly.
Almond Eye had a slow start.
Compared to Kitasan Black's explosive launch, she was half a beat behind.
Her starting stance wasn't the issue—her right foot was placed behind, which was normal, as most runners used their right foot as the driving leg.
But it was as if she were being held back by some invisible force. Her reaction was delayed, and her push-off lacked explosiveness.
That split-second hesitation and insufficient force meant her center of gravity didn't shift forward in time. Her body leaned slightly backward, disrupting the fluidity of her start.
Moreover, her arms, which should have been powerfully and synchronously coordinating with her legs, briefly froze at her sides, failing to provide immediate support for her sprint.
In less than half a second, this mistake created a gap of over half a meter between her and the lightning-fast Kitasan Black.
But soon, that moment of confusion was replaced by an even stronger fighting spirit.
Almond Eye bit her lower lip, her eyes burning with unwillingness to lose as she immediately accelerated in pursuit.
Her legs moved like high-speed engines, alternating rapidly, each step filled with the determination to erase the gap instantly.
Running ahead, Kitasan Black picked up the movement behind her through her peripheral vision and hearing. Her brows furrowed deeper, and she unconsciously bit her lip.
Watching the scene unfold clearly on the track, Makoto's expression remained serious as he rapidly analyzed the situation.
Almond Eye's poor start stemmed, first, from her excessive awareness of him as an observer.
From the way she had glanced at him before the start, it was clear that subconsciously, she wanted to present her best performance in front of him.
But this excessive concern had instead become a psychological burden, interfering with her movements at the start.
In a real race, the environment would be far more complex.
There would be thousands of eyes in the stands, constant waves of noise, and especially the uninterrupted voice of the commentator echoing through the venue.
However, an outstanding runner must never allow external factors to disturb her focus or distract her mind.
Even the slightest lapse in concentration could, just like Almond Eye moments ago, create an irrecoverable disadvantage right at the start.
On the other hand, lack of familiarity with starting out of the gate was also a key factor.
For Umamusume, launching from the gate is not an innate instinct.
Much like how human sprinters rely on starting blocks, it requires extensive practice before it can become a natural, reflexive action.
Clearly, Almond Eye was still lacking in this area. She hadn't yet trained her start to the point where it could be executed flawlessly without conscious thought.
As a result, at that crucial moment, her power output was delayed.
However, Makoto didn't continue analyzing further.
Every Umamusume possesses her own unique temperament, habits, and subtle mental tendencies.
To accurately identify the details behind various issues, one cannot rely solely on a trainer's observations and judgments from their own perspective. It is equally important to actively engage in in-depth communication with the Umamusume herself.
A trainer's viewpoint inevitably has its limitations. If decisions are made hastily based only on subjective assumptions, it is very easy to misjudge key information.
That, in turn, could lead to a series of problems—or even unexpected consequences.
Take Almond Eye's momentary distraction, for example. The underlying reason might be far more complex than it appeared.
Perhaps she had simply developed a long-standing habit of glancing at a familiar person before a race to gain reassurance and strength.
Or perhaps, compared to a normal standing start, her physical coordination and mental adaptability were actually better suited to a gate-start environment.
There were many such possibilities hidden beneath the surface—far too many to be judged at a glance.
So, Makoto rationally chose not to act prematurely.
He decided to wait until after this joint run, then talk with Almond Eye, and also hear Kitasan Black's perspective before drawing conclusions. Only then would he determine the precise direction and tasks for the next phase of training.
Due to her poor start, the gap between Almond Eye and Kitasan Black continued to widen.
In terms of physical condition, Almond Eye was already at a disadvantage. Her stamina reserves couldn't match those of the battle-hardened Kitasan Black.
In terms of race experience, Kitasan Black had gone through numerous competitions and had a firm grasp on pacing and cornering techniques, while Almond Eye was still like a blank slate.
As for technique, Kitasan Black's accumulated experience from both training and real races made her running far more efficient—each step maximizing her power—whereas Almond Eye still appeared somewhat unrefined.
As a result, the distance between them visibly increased.
Yet Makoto keenly noticed that, under the intense stimulation of her competitive spirit, a surprising change was taking place in Almond Eye.
It was as if her entire being had been ignited with fighting spirit. Her strides grew more resolute, each step carrying a sense of all-or-nothing determination.
This change was clearly reflected on the speed monitor connected to Makoto's phone.
At first, Almond Eye's speed showed signs of struggle as she lagged behind. But as the run progressed, the fluctuating numbers steadily climbed—her overall speed continuously increasing.