When the flash lights up on the medal stand, everyone sees a smile. When the medals are placed around their necks, everyone sees the glittering glory. But few know that to achieve that moment, each athlete (VĐV) has to exchange countless long days of sweat, discipline, grueling training sessions to exhaustion, and times when athletes have to face themselves to push past their limits.
SEA Games is not just a competition. For many athletes, it is a place to represent their nation, where all year's efforts are gathered and unleashed for a single race. It is a meeting point of willpower, national spirit, and the long journey that each athlete has silently endured for many months.
"Am I pushing too hard?"
Whether it's cycling, sport climbing, track and field, swimming, or any other discipline, the preparation journey of athletes all has one thing in common: nothing is "accidental."
At the 33rd SEA Games, the cycling events include team time trial, individual time trial, and men's road race - all of which have their finish lines at the top of a pass. These events require athletes to accumulate great endurance, high tolerance at the final stage, and excellent body weight control.
Mr. Hoang Sang - a cyclist with the team - began training on the Khanh Le mountain pass road in late October. High-load weeks typically last from 18 to 21 hours, with 800 - 1000 TSS. This is a period when the body is under extreme pressure.
Mr. Hoang Sang, the team's cyclist, started training on Khanh Le pass in late October.
Training on steep mountain passes amidst wind and mist to build physical strength and willpower.
Ms. Hai Yen - a sport climbing athlete - shared that in the sprint phase, the training intensity changes, becoming much higher and more strenuous. She increases weight when doing pull-ups and finger strength exercises. In addition to training strength, explosive power, and endurance, there's also perseverance and flexibility, as well as mental training, because this is a very complex sport that requires many factors to climb diverse routes. She usually has 3 climbing sessions lasting 3.5 hours (including 15 minutes warm-up, 30 minutes finger training, 2 hours climbing, and 30 minutes back and lat exercises) and 2 gym sessions/week for about 2 hours to assist with antagonist muscle groups, legs, and core. She practices yoga for 15 minutes every morning to stretch and train muscle flexibility.
In the sprint phase, Ms. Hai Yen's training intensity changes, becoming much higher and more strenuous.
Besides strength and endurance, this sport also requires perseverance, flexibility, and a steel mind.
Just a brief overview of two sports in this SEA Games list, we can already see how diligently and devotedly our athletes have trained. It's not just physical training, but also mental training that needs to be disciplined.
Perhaps SEA Games is a short way of referring to weeks of high-load training, strength, endurance, explosive power, and flexibility exercises? Of early morning training sessions while the city is still asleep, and late evenings when everyone else has finished their day? Of all the long, continuous efforts to proudly carry the Vietnamese flag and colors to shine on the international stage?
Nutrition and recovery - two silent keys
Few know that to maintain performance, athletes must eat 5-6 meals a day, balance carbs - protein - fiber, constantly rehydrate and replenish electrolytes. They also supplement with various vitamins, zinc, and collagen to accelerate muscle and joint recovery, preventing inflammation that could lead to injuries. They must sleep well and deeply, monitor recovery indicators, stretch regularly, and minimize all factors that scatter mental energy.
Mr. Hoang Sang - cyclist - shares: To meet that training volume, Mr. Sang has to be very meticulous with his diet:
- Lose weight to climb better but still maintain muscle glycogen
- Consume 6 - 8 g carbs/kg/day
- Consume 1.6 - 1.8 g protein/kg/day
- Supplement electrolytes, fruits, dietary supplements, gels, Lecka
And for the body to truly develop and recover:
- Get enough quality sleep
- Massage, stretch daily
- Monitor HRV
- Minimize stress and factors that scatter mental energy
Athletes often say, jokingly but truthfully:
"Hard training only accounts for 50%, proper recovery is the other 50% to enter the SEA Games in the best shape."
These are the things we, the audience, don't see, but they are crucial factors that create peak performance.
Supplementing with electrolytes, fruits, functional foods, and Lecka gel during training.
Lecka gel is proud to accompany athletes training for the SEA Games.
Timely energy - what makes the difference
In their training and competition journey, energy products like gels, bars, etc., also become close companions, compact but essential for maintaining stamina during intense training hours.
Fortunately, many athletes from Team Lecka choose Energy Bar because it is easy to eat, not too sweet, and provides quick and sufficient energy. Energy bars are also very convenient during training or while waiting to compete, especially suitable for high-intensity activities.
Especially in the final rounds, contestants have to be isolated and wait for their turn to compete for quite a long time, about 1-2 hours, so taking in just enough nutrition: not too much and not too little, is necessary before performing in the competition round.
These small things, sometimes, are exactly what helps them maintain focus and strength at the most critical moment. Lecka is proud to have been able to accompany athletes during these important moments.
Ultimately, what do athletes want the audience to remember them for?
Regardless of the sport they compete in, they all share a common spirit: spreading positive energy, inspiring training, maintaining an unyielding will, and delivering performances worthy of their national colors.
Lecka believes that deep down, every athlete hopes fans understand that behind every step, every climb, every pedal stroke... there is a journey of persistent effort that deserves to be appreciated.
Lecka's wishes to the entire Vietnamese team
The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand are fast approaching.
This is the time for all of us to look towards the Vietnamese team with faith, pride, and deep love for sports.
Lecka extends its most sincere wishes to the entire national team across all disciplines, the athletes who are diligently training every day, the silent coaching - biomedical - logistics teams behind them, and especially the Lecka team - who always strive their best to bring the most beautiful image to Vietnam.
We wish you confident, courageous, and breakthrough performances.
May every moment on the playing field, racetrack, or climbing wall be a memorable milestone.
Vietnam is always behind you, watching and proud.
SEA Games is where we fight for our flag.
But the journey there is truly what should be cherished.
