SHEFFIELD United picked the hottest morning of the year so far to stage their most punishing training session of what, on this evidence, will be a demanding pre-season programme.
The action at Shirecliffe was as scorching as the weather as the first-team squad received their first taste of what life will be like under Kevin Blackwell.
Having only taken charge in February, Blackwell and his coaches were initially forced to work with the tools they were given.
And while their decision not to embark on a wholesale makeover of the playing staff confirms they are happy with the footballing ability they inherited, yesterday's gruelling schedule suggests they are determined United will be one of the fittest clubs in the division next term.
Having spent Monday briefing their charges on the rules and regulations they will be expected to follow throughout the course of the forthcoming campaign, the serious, sweaty business started at 10.30am sharp.
After two light jogs around a full-sized pitch followed by a couple of short, sharp sprints, players performed a series of light stretches before spending the next 20 minutes running circuits in pairs.
Lee Hendrie and Chris Armstrong, Billy Sharp and James Beattie, Keith Quinn and Jon Stead were among those clocking-up the laps alongside a visibly more muscular Matthew Kilgallon.
All under the watchful eye of Blackwell and his assistant Sam Ellis.
As the sun beat down, water was doused and drunk in equal measure during a brief stroll designed to loosen tired limbs.
Then, to the visible relief of everyone present, a collection of balls emerged from the kit bags.
The thud of leather on leather echoed around the state-of-the-art complex throughout 11 passing and juggling drills while the eagle-eyed Ellis ordered those guilty of mistakes to do five press-ups apiece.
"You're supposed to run around in a clock-wise motion," Blackwell joked. "If anyone is wearing a watch you've got my permission to work it out."
That quip marked the calm before the storm.
After working-out with skipping ropes, metal bars and weights, United's players spent 40 energy sapping minutes running ever increasing distances.
Some, understandably, were clearly flagging.
But the competitive streak they will need to clinch promotion was clearly apparent as they willed and raced each other on.
Then lunch, bed, and, at 5pm, the whole thing started again.
No hiding place but plenty of hurt.
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