A day passed in the blink of an eye. Early the next morning, the snow had stopped for once, and those who had signed up for the event began gathering at the Pokémon Center. Liu Qing looked them over carefully. Just as Nurse Joy had said, Yuling and Candice were the only two female participants. Nineteen of the others, including Liu Qing, were strapping young men around twenty, while another fifty or so were over thirty. Liu Qing even spotted a white-haired old man in the crowd with no teeth left and sunken lips. He trembled merely standing there, looking as though he might collapse at any moment!
"Everyone, today is the day of Defense Town's annual Snowfield Sports!" Having changed out of her usual nurse's uniform into a fitted outfit, Nurse Joy looked spirited and dashing as she stepped in front of the crowd. "Defense Town lies in northern Sinnoh, where snow falls year-round and the climate is bitterly cold. In ancient times, our ancestors didn't have the comforts we enjoy today, so they exercised to generate heat and keep themselves alive. That tradition has survived to this day, giving rise to Defense Town's Snowfield Sports! The events change every year, but one thing always stays the same: the warm-up before the actual competition-running! That's right, running. Anyone eliminated at this stage won't get to take part in the main events, so make sure you're mentally prepared! If you don't think you can last, you may withdraw now!"
"What? It's actually running?"
"I really didn't expect that. What kind of warm-up is this? We travel all day. Who knows how many miles we've covered on our own two feet!"
"Exactly! Aren't you underestimating us?"
"If we quit over a little running, we'd never live it down!"
As she