The heat of late August pressed down on Dortmund like a heavy blanket, the kind of oppressive warmth that made the asphalt shimmer and the air thick enough to taste.
At 6:30 AM on Tuesday, August 27th, 2013, the sun was already climbing steadily into a cloudless sky, promising another scorching day that would test the resolve of anyone brave enough to venture outdoors.
Mateo Álvarez laced up his running shoes in the quiet dormitory room, careful not to wake Lukas, who was still deep in sleep after another late night with friends.
The routine had become sacred to him this early morning run from the dormitory to the Brackel training facility, a journey that served as both physical preparation and mental meditation before each training session.
