Yao Miao has always known how to run.
But becoming a better athlete isn't simply about running more. Over the past year, she has changed the way she trains — moving from relying on instinct and experience to building a more structured, professional approach.
“Only through competition can you find a stronger version of yourself.”
A More Complete System
Today, Yao's training goes beyond running.
With support from her coach and specialists in strength, nutrition and recovery, every part of her preparation has a purpose — from building strength and climbing ability to improving her speed and technical descents.
The goal isn't simply to train harder.
It's to train better.
From Pace to Heart Rate
When Yao first started training, she mainly focused on pace and distance.
Today, heart rate has become a much more important part of her training strategy. Her training plans and race strategies are built around heart rate, helping her understand how hard she is actually working and how to manage her effort.
For Yao, relying only on how her body feels isn't always accurate. The data gives her another layer of feedback — helping her control her pace, manage her effort and make better decisions throughout training and racing.
Her Suunto watch puts that information on her wrist, turning every session into a clearer picture of how her body is responding.
The data informs the strategy. Yao makes the decisions.
Stronger Through Competition
For Yao, racing is more than a test.
It's a way to discover what she can improve.
Every competitor, every difficult section and every race reveals another opportunity to become stronger.
Her love for running hasn't changed.
What changed?
The way she trains to become better.
