Chapter Forty-Eight: Changing Tracks

The news about the available spots on the East Asian Youth Games sprint team had indeed reached Lu Jinrong’s ears. He was currently at the Sports Committee of Peng City, discussing the matter with Shen Peng.

“Although the East Asian Youth Games are limited to athletes aged 14 to 18, it’s still an international event,” Shen Peng said, placing a cup of tea brimming with leaves in front of Lu Jinrong. “If they can participate, it’s a very valuable opportunity for growth. But, old Lu…”

“Have you considered those kids’ confidence?” Shen Peng sat on the sofa beside Lu Jinrong.

“You’re worried they’ll lose? That they won’t be able to handle the blow?” Lu Jinrong asked.

“At present, our country’s men’s track and field is still not very strong. Even in East Asia, we have to face traditional powerhouses like Kazakhstan and Japan. In the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m events, sometimes we can’t even make it to the finals.”

As he spoke, Shen Peng’s tone and expression grew bleak. Indeed, domestic sprinting was too weak.

“Even if we manage to secure spots this time, neither Tian Shiwei nor Lu Suo are top athletes in the country. On the international stage, they might only be substitutes, perhaps not even making the main lineup,” Shen Peng said. “I’m worried about their confidence, especially Lu Suo. He’s only been training for a short time.”

“Old Shen, you said something I agree with: ‘Only by knowing the gap can you surpass it,’” Lu Jinrong replied. “I just want them to see the gap. If the blow is too much and they can’t run, they don’t deserve to stand on the track. They might as well retire early and switch careers.”

“Old Lu, you—” Shen Peng tapped a finger at Lu Jinrong, “still such a fiery temper. But there’s another issue you need to consider. Do you know why there are vacant spots on the sprint team for the East Asian Youth Games?”

“I heard a few members quit,” Lu Jinrong said. “Injuries, right?”

“All three at once?” Shen Peng shook his head. “If it’s injuries, perhaps they were wounded in spirit.”

“What do you mean?” Lu Jinrong was curious.

“The new head coach of the national team, Li Yan, is tough to deal with. Those three kids reportedly underwent some very harsh training, and didn’t make it through, so they quit and returned to their provincial teams. A friend of mine at the Henan Provincial Sports Committee told me one of the boys was sent back, straight to psychiatric care for psychological treatment,” Shen Peng said. “So we must be cautious.”

Lu Jinrong frowned in thought, then said, “We still have to try. It’s an opportunity. We’ll do what we must, then ask those two kids if they dare go.”

Hearing Lu Jinrong’s words, Shen Peng nodded. “Alright, I’ll try to secure the spots. Based on their performance at the Provincial Games, they should have a good chance. Go back and prepare well.”

“Alright.” Lu Jinrong didn’t fuss, just nodded and stood up, but reminded, “Old Shen, use your connections at the central bureau and make sure we get two spots. If we can go to the East Asian Youth Games and then straight to the National Games, they’ll stay in peak form with no gap, and perform even better at the National Games.”

“If it works out, I’ll buy you a drink!” Lu Jinrong stood, grabbing his bag as he prepared to leave.

“I’m waiting for that drink,” Shen Peng replied with a smile, also standing.

...

The sprint selection for the East Asian Youth Games had begun nationwide in mid-2004. The standards were 10.60 seconds for the 100m and 21.35 seconds for the 200m. At the time, Tian Shiwei, the star of the Peng City provincial team, hadn’t met those marks, so the matter had passed.

Now, with forty days left until the Games, the sprint team was short-handed—giving Tian Shiwei and Lu Suo their chance.

Lu Jinrong didn’t expect his disciples to achieve anything at such an international event—even if it was a youth competition. He just hoped they would experience the atmosphere, gain motivation, and build momentum for January’s National Games.

Frequent competitions keep athletes in form.

Moreover, Lu Jinrong felt Tian Shiwei and Lu Suo had become a bit arrogant lately; they needed to see what real competition and real rivals looked like.

But they still had to wait for Shen Peng to secure the spots.

...

While Lu Jinrong waited for the substitute spots for the East Asian Youth Games sprint team, Lu Suo was making the most of his time to train.

His 100m time was steadily improving, now around 10.70 seconds, consistent and stable.

But Lu Suo estimated that getting back under 10.50 seconds might take another month or two; he needed to improve his ‘strength’ by three or four points.

Currently, his ‘strength’ attribute was 35, and agility was 39. The ‘acceleration’ skill was a sustained equilibrium, so the two attributes needed to be closer for the skill to be fully effective.

Gaining attribute points through training was no longer as easy as when he first joined the team. Back then, he could earn one every week; now it took ten days or half a month, and in the future, it would be even harder.

Even if he got back under 10.50, hoping for results at the East Asian Youth Games was wishful thinking. That was just the national team’s entry standard…

Lu Suo checked the winning times for the men’s sprint events at previous East Asian Youth Games. The 100m was usually between 10.20 and 10.30 seconds; the 200m ranged from 21.70 to 21.90 seconds.

Lu Suo expected that using his ‘acceleration’ skill, running 100m in under 10.30 wouldn’t be a problem, but it would take time. Achieving that before the National Games would be outstanding.

So, would he just compete for one round at the East Asian Youth Games?

Or would he fail to qualify and simply return?

Though Lu Jinrong hadn’t announced whether Lu Suo could attend the Games, Lu Suo had already set it as his goal.

One must have a target, after all.

...

Three and a half months remained before the National Games—a bit distant. The East Asian Youth Games, with just a month left, were perfect.

That night, as Lu Suo lay in bed, he began to simulate the East Asian Youth Games in his mind, whispering to himself, “I am the champion, I run the fastest, I am the champion, I run the fastest.” Yet, no matter how he imagined it, he couldn’t run the 100m in under 10.30 seconds.

But the 200m, yes.

A spark flashed in Lu Suo’s mind.

He clenched his fist and thrust it upward, deciding then and there!

Bang!

Lu Suo struck the bunk above, startling Tian Shiwei, who was playing NDS on the opposite bed, almost dropping his game console.

“Lu, are you crazy?” Tian Shiwei complained. He had nearly adopted Lu Suo’s entire routine, with only the evenings left for his beloved games. Could he not be disturbed?

“Sorry, Tian.” Lu Suo’s eyes seemed to shine in the darkness. “The throne of the strongest 200m runner in the team now belongs to me.”

“What?” Tian Shiwei didn’t understand. “You’re going to train for the 200m? Coach told you to?”

Lu Suo fell silent, and after a while, Tian Shiwei realized he had fallen asleep again. Damn, he can fall asleep in seconds every night—is he passing out, or just sleeping?

...

Early the next morning.

Lu Suo and Tian Shiwei arrived at the track before dawn. Most of the sprint team had already gathered before Coach Lu Jinrong arrived.

This was probably the ‘catfish effect.’ Since Lu Suo joined the provincial sprint team, members had been sleeping later, training earlier, and spending more time in the training room, with results visibly improving.

Lu Jinrong was very pleased to see this scene upon arriving at the track.

However, when he heard about Lu Suo’s intention to start training in 200m curve technique, he hesitated.

If the target was the National Games, training 200m was fine—after all, Lu Suo’s 100m performance was stable, and he had the energy and time to learn 200m technique. But if it was the imminent East Asian Youth Games, then in Lu Jinrong’s mind, it was certainly too late.