Chapter 156: Kitasan Black's Current Weight Is…
In Makoto's training camp plan, the first week was originally designated for testing and adaptation.
Following the usual approach for the Classic Series training schedule, most races in the first half of the year focus on middle distances. Therefore, the training emphasis is on speed and technique, aiming to balance the combined demands of such races on speed, power, and endurance.
In the second half of the year—setting aside other competitions and focusing purely on the Kikuka Sho—the top priority shifts to endurance training.
Looking at the records from past races, the average finishing time is roughly three minutes.
Converted into average speed, this means that over the full distance, the pace is almost no slower than a middle-distance race.
As Makoto had once reminded Kitasan Black—without sufficient endurance and the techniques that go with it, she might reach the final stretch too fatigued to make proper judgments, potentially losing a race she could've won.
Therefore, the existing training assignments would be reduced or adjusted to focus more on endurance, and secondarily, strength.
Such changes naturally take time to adapt to.
Fortunately for Makoto, Kitasan Black's physical capabilities were excellent to begin with, and she completed the first week's targets in only half the expected time.
That alone sped up the entire training schedule considerably.
In just two weeks, many of her test results had already reached the ideal target range.
The inn where they reside often hosted various groups coming for special training, and it featured a decently equipped medical room.
Combined with the specialized equipment Makoto had brought for testing, it allowed him to check all sorts of physical indicators.
That day, after walking out of the infirmary, Makoto had a pretty clear picture of Kitasan Black's adaptation to the early stage of training.
Following alongside him, freshly finished with her checkup, Kitasan Black asked curiously,
"Trainer, does this mean I can start the next phase of training now?"
Flipping through the physical report in his hands, Makoto didn't answer right away.
"How do you feel? I mean, after training in a new environment these past few days—do you feel any discomfort or notice anything unusual?"
"My body feels great!"
After thinking for a moment, Kitasan Black patted her chest with a grin, bent her arm, and struck a little bodybuilder pose.
"I feel like my chest muscles and arm muscles have gotten bigger!"
Makoto couldn't help taking a glance.
…They had gotten bigger—wait, no, that's about the same size as before, right? No, hold on, what am I even thinking…?
Quickly averting his gaze back to the report, he cleared his throat and said as casually as he could,
"Half a month of training should've produced some visible changes.
"Compared to when you first arrived, all your indicators have improved quite a bit."
Muscle measurements were one of the key standards for evaluating strength and endurance, and when converted into lifting equivalents, the improvement became much easier to visualize.
For example—in common strength exercises like squats and leg presses.
For reference, an average professional human athlete can squat around 150 kilograms and leg-press 500 kilograms.
The numbers vary depending on sport type, of course—but even elite weightlifters or marathon runners, who specialize in strength or endurance, can't come anywhere close to the level of an Umamusume.
And even among Umamusume, Kitasan Black's physical strength stood out as extraordinary.
They had done a test on the second day after arriving at Mount Mitō.
According to the results back then, Kitasan Black's squat strength was just over 400 kilograms, and her leg press exceeded 1.3 tons—roughly 20% higher than the average for Umamusume.
These numbers were far beyond anything humanly possible, and now they'd grown even further.
Her squat strength had increased to half a ton, and her leg press had reached 1.5 tons.
Without a doubt, this was well above the average yet again.
That much alone showed just how exceptional this Umamusume's natural talent really was.
"Right, Trainer."
While Makoto was lost in thought, Kitasan Black suddenly spoke up again.
"Do I still have to eat those special nutrition meals afterward? Can't I at least have a little fried chicken or something?"
As she said that, her face scrunched up—brows drooping, eyes downcast, but her nose and mouth pulling upward in an exaggerated pout, like someone thinking of something dreadful. She looked pitifully adorable.
"No," Makoto said flatly, without hesitation. "If you want to keep improving your endurance and strength, strict diet control is essential. You need to maintain a precise balance between muscle and fat."
"The ideal standard—let's use body fat percentage as an example—should stay below ten percent. Right now, yours is a little over twelve."
Body fat percentage was one of the key metrics in nearly every sport.
During most athletic activity, the body mainly burns glycogen for energy; fat only becomes a significant fuel source at the very end of fatigue.
Unless it's a sport that requires impact resistance—like boxing or wrestling—too much body fat will interfere with performance in many ways.
In terms of ratio, probably due to similar body structures, the ideal for Umamusume was about the same as for humans: under ten percent.
To achieve that level, diet played a crucial role—though it was rarely pleasant.
Even during regular training, their nutrition meals weren't exactly tasty, though the academy cafeteria occasionally added special dishes to make things more bearable.
But during endurance and strength specialization, all fatty foods were completely cut out.
Protein and carbohydrate-heavy meals weren't the most enjoyable to eat, so it was no surprise Kitasan Black complained.
"Actually," Makoto continued, "compared to two or three months ago, your body fat has already dropped quite a bit."
"But your overall weight has been steadily going up. If you don't manage your fat ratio, that basically means you're just getting heavier."
"For example, based on your current weight—right now, your weight is—"
He flipped through the report, about to read it out loud—when suddenly his mouth was covered.
"T-Trainer!"
Kitasan Black's face was flushed red, her expression both embarrassed and indignant as she pressed her palm over his mouth.
She bit her lower lip, darting her eyes around nervously to make sure no one else was nearby or paying attention.
Only after confirming that did she let out a sigh of relief—and then glare at him again.
"Honestly! What kind of person goes around announcing a girl's weight like that?"
She muttered in a half-pouting, half-scolding tone. Raising her hand slightly, she saw that Makoto had no intention of continuing, so she finally lowered it.
"Y-you're not allowed to say that again! Otherwise… otherwise I'll get mad!"
"...Okay, okay, got it, no problem, no problem…"
Makoto nodded repeatedly, hiding a small, helpless smile.
From his perspective, Kitasan Black was indeed heavier than most Umamusume, but her body composition and figure were excellent.
Especially considering her weight and large frame, keeping her body fat around twelve percent was actually very impressive.
With that kind of foundation, dropping it below ten percent would only be a matter of persistence.
Still, thinking it over, he realized belatedly that blurting out a girl's weight was, in fact, quite rude.
And come to think of it, the academy's official trainer guidelines did specifically prohibit revealing an Umamusume's body weight and similar personal data.
So, after nodding in quick agreement, Makoto smoothly changed the subject.
"Anyway, the important thing is to keep up with your training schedule."
"But for today, let's arrange a paired run."
"Come on—let's pick up the pace. We shouldn't keep your two senpai waiting."
<+>
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