At 2:30 a.m., Goodwin returned home and lay quietly in bed, not wanting to move. Images from the game kept replaying in his mind.
If only I could... If only I could... Then the team wouldn't have been eliminated so early.
Suddenly, four words surfaced in Goodwin's mind.
I have to get stronger!
I have to become stronger during the offseason, strong enough to turn the tide. I don't want to go through something like that again!
The NBA offseason was extremely important for every player. It gave them time to rest properly and let their bodies recover from the fatigue of a full season. Of course, some players also used the offseason for specialized training to improve their fitness and skills and prepare for the next season, giving themselves an advantage in competition.
Goodwin, naturally, chose the latter. He didn't need a long rest; one night's sleep was enough to make his fatigue disappear.
So Goodwin would start training tomorrow.
He would add more to the system's daily training plan.
As long as he didn't train until he threw up, Goodwin wouldn't stop.
He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
He slept without dreaming.
The next day, Goodwin slowly opened his eyes. With a whoosh, he sprang straight out of bed.
Training!
He washed up, brushed his teeth, changed, then headed out for a morning run.
The system's daily training plan called for a 10-kilometer run, so he would run 15 kilometers—five more than the plan required.
A little over an hour later, Goodwin was drenched in sweat as he walked slowly back to his front door.
After a run, you shouldn't stand still or sit down. Lactic acid builds up after running, and if you stop moving or sit, your body can't properly clear the metabolic waste.