Brendan Hines-Ike ran in the cold of Minnesota while visiting in-laws. Julian Gressel rose before the sun — and before his infant daughter — for workouts on a Jamaican beach. Steven Birnbaum took to the streets of London during a short vacation.
And before doing so, all three D.C. United players made sure to attach high-end smartwatches provided by the club days after the 2021 MLS season ended and before everyone scattered for the two-month break.
A year ago, Hernán Losada, a first-year coach with up-tempo tactics and high fitness demands, lamented the condition of players in training camp.