Hey everybody,

We are back in training as of yesterday.  Well, almost everybody, but that looks to have resolved itself as well.

It is great to see all the guys again.  It is a big difference from last year when a whole group of  guys were all getting to know each other, and trying to impress the coaches for a chance to make the team.  This year, we have all the same faces, minus a couple, and a few new guys hoping to make an impression.  In many ways, the first day felt like training had not stopped at all, almost like it was October 2009 and we had only had a weekend off.

My body on the other hand is telling me that I had more than a weekend off.  You can train, lift weights, run, bike, do whatever you think is going to get you ready for preseason, but nothing can get you ready for a full professional  training camp.

The best part about MLS preseason being so long is that the coaches can take a gradual approach toward fitness.  They don’t have to kill us the first week because we have a lot of time to prepare.  At different times for a couple of my teams in Europe we didn’t even touch a ball in the first week of training camp.  I personally spent more summers with the National Team than having to participate in the first week of solid running.  Unfortunately, one summer I wasn’t so lucky and found myself at an army base in Southwest England being trained by drill instructors. Needless to say that wasn’t a lot of fun.  I’ll take a nice cool January day at Starfire anytime.

As February 1st approaches the CBA is on the thoughts of all soccer people across the Nation.  Negotiations are at a delicate stage.  For this reason, we have been asked to keep all public statements to a minimum.  I can report that the players and the owners both agree that nobody on either side wants a work stoppage.  Lets continue the tremendous success Seattle has proven to the sports world.  Soccer has a huge future in the United States.

Keep keeping it real Seattle

Kasey

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