Chapter 58: The Practices of Various Countries in Short Track Speed ​​Skating...

Different countries employ different high-altitude training methods in short track speed skating. For example, the Netherlands generally trains from high to low altitudes, Norway prefers to train from low to high altitudes, while Canada favors training from high to high altitudes. The duration of high-altitude training also varies, generally around 4 to 6 weeks, but this mostly applies to middle- and long-distance skaters.

There are many methods for high-altitude training. In addition to conventional training, there are more options for improving endurance, such as cycling, middle- and long-distance running, and mountain climbing. These have all become training methods, making the training more diverse.

Cycling training at high altitudes is a continuous challenge to cardiovascular function, but it also unexpectedly becomes a moving scenic experience. The team has assembled and is ready to set off.

"Xiyao, the coach said the route has been adjusted today. It seems we have to go around to the newly built greenway on the other side of the lake!" Lin Shan shouted excitedly while adjusting the seat height.

Ren Xiyao tightened her helmet strap and nodded. Each athlete has a different choice of bicycle, but they all generally fall within the framework of adapting to endurance training. Unlike the explosive power on the ice rink, cycling training requires more sustained endurance and a sense of rhythm.

As Ren Xiyao tightened her shoelaces, a squirrel scurried down from a eucalyptus tree and squatted at the edge of the track, munching on a pine cone, its beady black eyes fixed on her. This place was pleasant year-round, a paradise for animals. So she wondered if it was the same squirrel that had caused her punishment before.

"What are you looking at?" she whispered to the squirrel. "Thirty kilometers today, more tiring than you storing grain."

The squirrel ran off with the pine cone in its mouth, its tail sweeping across the dew-covered tips of the grass.

The convoy moved forward slowly along the road outside the base. The initial section was a smooth asphalt road with neatly trimmed green belts on both sides. Occasionally, local residents who were out for their morning exercise would greet them with smiles.

Turning onto the lakeside greenway, the view suddenly opens up. The lake on the left is a deep blue-green in the morning light, while on the right are rolling hills and farmland, with unnamed wildflowers blooming on the ridges. A breeze blows from the lake, carrying moisture, brushing against my cheeks and bare arms, dispelling the heat from the climb.

They moved forward at a steady pace, leaning slightly forward, feeling the resistance and assistance of the wind. Sometimes it was a tailwind, and they felt as if they were being pushed by an invisible force; sometimes it was a headwind, requiring double the effort, making each pedal stroke heavier, and sweat soaking their cycling clothes even faster.

We reached the uphill section. Although the slope wasn't steep, it was continuous and extremely challenging to maintain physical fitness. My heart raced, my breathing became heavy, and my thigh muscles started to burn. The instructors patrolled the front and back of the group, loudly encouraging us.

Lin Shan caught up from behind, breathing more heavily than usual: "At this altitude... you're panting like a dog..."

Ren Xiyao adjusted her pace: "You...ate too much... rice cakes yesterday..."

"Bullshit!" Lin Shan's face flushed red. "It's altitude sickness..."

The coach's whistle pierced the thin mist: "Last three kilometers! After that, we'll go get some mushroom soup!"

Cheers erupted from the group. Ren Xiyao looked up and saw sunlight filtering through the eucalyptus branches, casting dappled golden hues on the road.

After a morning of cycling training, everyone headed back to the base. Occasionally, small stalls appeared along the roadside, laden with unripe peaches or plums. Other roadside stalls sold homegrown vegetables and fruits. Sometimes, people would buy some to take home.

When training here, they are no longer limited to the rubber track at the training base. Sometimes they also run along the lake in the early morning or evening. When the sun is no longer so scorching, you can often see them running. Their breathing is adjusted with the frequency. Running at high altitude places extremely high demands on the heart and lungs, requiring more precise control of pace and breathing frequency.

Ren Xiyao enjoys this feeling of focus. Once she starts running, the world seems to simplify, leaving only her own breathing, heartbeat, the rhythm of her steps, and the ever-expanding track before her. Sweat drips down, carrying away fatigue and bringing a sense of exhilarating release.

The coach sometimes arranges trail runs, usually along mountain trails or dirt roads near the base. The running experience here is completely different from a synthetic track. The surface underfoot is no longer flat, requiring constant attention to gravel, tree roots, and potholes. The body needs to constantly adjust its balance and engage more muscle groups.

Long-distance running, especially trail running, is more than just physical training. The gentle breeze, the lake, and the vibrant green of spring create a pure experience that blends seamlessly with nature, making the hardships of training less unbearable. It's a kind of finding joy amidst hardship.

Mountaineering training is also an indispensable part of high-altitude training, with the target usually being a relatively high-altitude mountain near the base, to be completed within a specified time.

The climb was slow and arduous. As the altitude increased, the air became thinner, and each step required greater effort. My steps grew heavy, my breathing became rapid, and my heart pounded. Sweat soaked my back, only to be quickly dried by the mountain wind, bringing a chill.

But the moment you reach the summit, standing atop the peak, facing the howling mountain winds, and gazing out, you truly see the world below. The rolling mountains unfold like green waves beneath your feet. The distant lake resembles a giant sapphire, inlaid on the earth. Clouds drift and shift through the valleys. The ever-changing landscape is breathtakingly magnificent.

"My God..." Lin Shan's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide with amazement: "It's...it's spectacular!"

The team members who arrived earlier were already scattered on the grass, resting, some sitting, some lying down, all silently appreciating this rare and beautiful scenery. No one spoke, as if afraid to disturb the tranquility and magnificence.

After all the team members reached the summit, they cheered and high-fived each other in celebration. During the group photo, Ren Xiyao was unusually beaming with a bright smile. The best part of a sports team is these moments of shared achievement; at that moment, you realize that although the journey was difficult, you weren't fighting alone.

Afterwards, everyone found a sheltered spot to sit down and took out food and water to replenish their energy. Ren Xiyao liked to find a quiet corner at times like this and silently watch the scenery before her. The mountain breeze ruffled her hair, carrying the scent of distant lands.

Human emotions need a place to settle—the unspoken repressions, the tension from training, the torment of every minute, and the constant pressure of "don't let us down," all temporarily departed from Ren Xiyao's side, carried by the gentle breeze of the plateau.

For Ren Xiyao and Lin Shan, the hardships of training could often be easily alleviated by delicious food. And Yunnan, in particular, is a place that never lacks good food. She and Lin Shan have been eating their way around a lot these days. Picking what they can eat doesn't mean they're missing out.

On their rare days off, they are sometimes taken to nearby ancient towns, or to study tours or revolutionary education bases. This is a welcome break from the busy training and the opportunity to experience local customs and culture.

Yunnan is a tea-loving region, famous for its Pu'er tea. The delicate aroma of tea still lingers in the air of the market. She and Lin Shan discovered a teahouse deep within the ancient town. The teahouse was a traditional wooden structure, small in appearance, with a few old square tables and benches inside. The owner, an elderly gentleman in a traditional Chinese jacket, leisurely brewed tea in a purple clay teapot. They went in and ordered a pot of Pu'er. The old man rinsed the teaware with boiling water, his movements practiced and elegant.

The air was filled with the distinctive aged aroma of Pu'er tea. The tea soup was a deep reddish-brown, mellow and smooth on the palate, with a pronounced aftertaste. Finding such a quiet corner amidst the hustle and bustle, slowly savoring a cup of authentic Pu'er, even if you can't discern its quality, listening to the sound of flowing water outside the window and the occasional words spoken in local dialect, time seemed to slow down. That kind of inner and outer relaxation... sometimes you feel that this is truly a peaceful and serene existence.

At the stalls of the elderly women dressed in ethnic minority costumes, fresh mangosteens were piled up into small, purplish-red mountains, while the Xuanwei hams at the next stall glistened with honey-colored oil.

"This!" Lin Shan suddenly grabbed Ren Xiyao, pointing to the amber-colored sugar cubes in the glass jar: "Rose petal candy! Isn't it?"

The Bai ethnic minority proprietress smiled and handed her a small piece. Ren Xiyao put it in her mouth, the delicate fragrance of the petals mixed with the sweetness of honey melting on her tongue.

"I'll buy three pounds," she said, taking out her phone to scan the code. "Okay, I'll send it home with the ones I bought before."

Lin Shan's eyes widened: "Give it to your parents?"

“Hmm,” Ren Xiyao picked out two more jars of wild honey: “Send another batch to Seoul.”

Besides seeking out delicious food, when they stepped onto the smooth bluestone path and looked at the ancient wooden buildings, carved doors and windows, and hanging red lanterns on both sides, it felt as if they had stepped into the old days.

Wandering aimlessly, Lin Shan browsed the local tie-dyed fabrics, their colors vibrant and patterns unique; admiring the Bai ethnic group's handcrafted silverware, its craftsmanship exquisite and its luster warm. Entering a jewelry shop, the store was filled with silverware and colorful beads, and Naxi embroidered shawls hung on the walls. Lin Shan picked up a pair of peacock blue earrings and held them up to her ears: "How about it?"

Ren Xiyao glanced at it: "Makes you look darker."

Lin Shan: "...Can't you have any aesthetic sense?"

Ren Xiyao pointed to the pair of silver-inlaid turquoise glasses next to her: "This one suits you."

After trying it on, Lin Shan looked at herself in the mirror from left to right and suddenly smiled: "It's really good."

The shop owner, a young Naxi girl, smiled and said, "You have good taste. These are handmade by a master craftsman. There's only one pair like this in the whole of Shuhe."

Lin Shan immediately pulled out her wallet: "I'll take it!"

Ren Xiyao wandered around the store and finally settled on a thin silver chain with a pendant carved into the shape of a snowflake. The translucent green had a hint of blue, much like the sky over the plateau.

"How much is this?" she asked.

The shop owner glanced at the label: "Two thousand eight."

Lin Shan gasped, "So expensive? Is it guaranteed authentic?"

Ren Xiyao didn't speak, but picked up the chain and examined it against the light. The jade shimmered softly in the sunlight, and the lines of the snowflakes were smooth and gentle.

“Wrap it up,” she said.

Ren Xiyao put on the chain, the snowflake pendant resting coolly on her collarbone: "Does it look good?"

Lin Shan stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed, "...Beautiful."

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Author's Note: The training references are excerpted from Baidu Wenku.

Scientific Guide to High Altitude Training

A Brief Discussion on High-Altitude Training in Speed ​​Skating

The Effects of High-Altitude Training on Blood Components, Blood Lactate, and Athletic Capacity