...
Seeing that everyone had mostly finished eating, Lucian clapped his hands and said:
"Alright, little fillies, once you're full get up and walk around while you listen to me assign the next tasks."
"Suzuka's group, later you'll go with little Ai. Do starting-gate reaction training—twenty reps, one-minute rest between each. After that, short-distance sprint training: 5 × 800 m full-speed sprints, with two minutes of slow walking recovery between each."
"Finally, a 4000 m variable-pace run. 400 m fast + 400 m slow, alternating."
...
"Spe-chan's group, first do eight sets of 400 m sprints, two minutes rest between sets. Keep each under 25 seconds."
"Then a 5000 m tempo run, pace controlled at two minutes per kilometer. Adjust rhythm once every 1000 m. For the final 1000 m go all-out."
"Lastly, McQueen's group: first a 3000 m tempo run, then core muscle group training."
...
Meisho Doto listened with a completely blank expression. She clutched her head and looked up at Lucian pitifully, mumbling in a tiny voice, "Trainer… my head is already spinning ๑_๑."
Lucian: "It's fine, Doto. If you forget later, I'll just come over and give you a forehead flick."
Meisho Doto: "Nooo... it will definitely hurt a lot, desu."
"Seiun, didn't you say training camp would be easy?" Twin Turbo complained to Seiun Sky beside her. Just listening to the training contents was already making her feel tired.
"It's your first time, take it slow~ Once you've done it more times, it'll naturally feel easy~" Seiun Sky spread her hands.
But to Lucian and Silence Suzuka's ears, it didn't sound like she was talking about training at all.
"Turbo, if you feel tired you can apply to quit," Nice Nature fanned the flames from the side. "Anyway Teio hasn't quit. When the time comes the gap will just get even bigger."
Twin Turbo puffed up her cheeks and waved both hands. "Nature!!!! I am not thinking of quitting! Anything Teio can do, maybe I can do it too!"
Tokai Teio heard that and turned her head to glance at Twin Turbo. "Two-wheels, do your best, ne~"
"It's Twin Turbo, Twin Turbo aaahhh!!!" Twin Turbo stamped her feet in frustration, but no one could do anything about it.
"Trainer, what about that 'Jue Juice' you mentioned before? Do we really have to drink it if we don't finish?" Matikane Tannhauser asked the question she had been worrying about the whole time.
Ever since she had volunteered to taste the "Jue Juice 2.0" version last time, that weird flavor had lingered in her mind... it wasn't as disgusting anymore, but the memory was still vivid and refused to fade.
"Tang-tang is thirsty?"
Matikane Tannhauser's head shook like a rattle-drum. "No no, I was just asking about the rules... it doesn't taste good, I don't want to drink it."
"Training camp naturally needs punishments. But don't feel pressure because of it. As long as you seriously complete everything, you won't have to worry."
"Alright, everyone digest for another half hour. Training starts after half an hour."
...
Half an hour later the Uma Musume began training according to Lucian's instructions.
Looking at the large open ground beneath their feet, Lucian decided to have the school build a few loops of track here as well, like a big circular disk in the mountains.
Because of the area limitations it couldn't be a professional track, but it would definitely be enough to use. Of course, if the school was short on funds, he would just apply to expand it at his own expense.
His gaze returned to the Uma Musume who were training.
Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, Tokai Teio, and Nice Nature's group were mainly practicing late-race explosive power and stamina this time.
Conveniently, Tokai Teio's next race was the Kikuka Sho, and Nice Nature's next was a middle-to-long distance race. Both of them would surely improve a lot after this training camp.
Another thing worth mentioning was that among this group, everyone except Rice Shower had a chance of participating in this year's Arima Kinen.
"Teio, control your rhythm. Don't keep thinking about overtaking McQueen." Lucian's gaze landed on Tokai Teio. She was biting her lip tightly, eyes burning as she stared at McQueen ahead, looking ready to accelerate at any moment.
Lucian then turned to Mejiro McQueen. Her ponytail traced an elegant arc as she ran; her breathing was a little rapid, but her stride remained steady. "McQueen, don't let Teio's pressure mess up your own rhythm either."
"You two... this is training, not a race against each other. If you still can't control yourselves, stop practicing and come down to drink 'Jue Juice' first."
Even when giving a reminder, Lucian tried to keep his voice gentle so the Uma Musume would actually listen.
...
Once he saw that Mejiro McQueen's group had gotten their training on track, Lucian moved over to the other side.
A few days earlier he had asked people to bring over a six-stall starting gate specifically for the front-runners to practice gate breaks.
The core of a front-runner's tactics was to take the lead from the very start and keep the rhythm in their own hands. If the starting reaction was slow, the moment the gates opened they would get boxed in by the other Uma Musume and be forced into the mid-to-rear pack, completely losing their tactical advantage.
Thus the formula could be obtained:
Slow starting reaction = loss of position = tactical failure.
Fast starting reaction = seizing the initiative = controlling the rhythm.
But actually, every Uma Musume's gate timing was important. Front-runners needed to ensure a stable break, mid-pack runners needed to pay attention to position selection, and closers needed to respond flexibly...
Later he could let the other Uma Musume practice it as well.
"Turbo, your reaction was slow again just now. Focus more, don't get distracted."
"Suzuka and Seiun, imagine how you should run after breaking from different positions."
After repeating the training a few times, the perfect gate-break timing could still be trained. Lucian didn't have much more to say on that point. "Oh, and during races don't get into arguments with others. Especially after entering the gate—even if a quarrel happens, you mustn't stomp on the gate with one foot."
The three Uma Musume all froze for a moment, not understanding what Lucian was talking about.
But right then the gates suddenly opened. The crisp "clack" broke the brief silence.
The first to react was Twin Turbo, who took the lead over Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky this time.
She turned her head toward Lucian, stuck out her tongue, and lifted her chin, her voice carrying a hint of pride and playfulness. "Hmmph~ Focus more, don't get distracted~"
Lucian's laughter leaked out. "Turbo, in a few days I'll ramp up the intensity for you."
Twin Turbo only worried for an instant, then became cocky again the next second. "I'm not scared at all. Anyway if you train me until I'm broken, that'll be the Trainer's fault!"
"Fine, fine..." Lucian really had no way of dealing with her.
...