This is the first day of the rest of my life

I may be a little over-dramatic but I am beyond ecstatic that I climbed, what should never have been, a huge hurdle. I (re)ran my beep test and got the much desired 11.0 on the Canadian Leger test with ease and in front of the coaching staff. Not only is this a huge task to ask of me but it feels like one of those high pressure situations. Our coach says that we shouldn't be nervous unless you feel like you do when you are about to write an exam that you didn't study for. I don't know. For now, I won't ever feel fit enough... maybe when I run my 13.0 I will be more confident going in. Anyway... the next 6 months are dedicated to running a 12.0! I am pumped and so motivated.

Beyond the beep test, I've just been named to the World Cup Qualifier team that travels to San Diego from March 21 to April 4. We leave in 10 days and I am excited to get to face some really great competition, including:
-Belgium
-Korea
-France
-Mexico
-USA
We face them in that order. It's going to be exciting. The team that wins the tournament (basically single knock out) will go on to the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina.

It's back to Vancouver tomorrow for training and more training. We are prioritizing fitness and defensive and offensive short corners for now. I am on the bike for the rest of the week to rest my knee up. Nothing major. I just have tight hips/ITbands/hamstrings/quads which aren't that painful but the "weak link" apparently is at my knee so that's where I feel the pain. Anyway, the bike isn't painful and I am learning to get great intensity on the bike. I haven't quite made the "sweat puddle" below the bike yet but I am getting there. Practices should be good for the last two weekends leading up - lots of corners (I am pulling out on APCs and playing "3" on DPCs).

Official team has been e-mailed out and I assume posted tomorrow (or today rather).

Went to the new PISE facility tonight with Katie to do our bike work out and weights. It is gorgeous!! I love working out there :) I would recommend it to all athletes in Victoria. It's worth the drive and your time!

No pictures for now but I am going to work on some sort of photo and video blog while we are at the Qualifier. Look for more information and updates as we go through this upcoming tournament, when India visits us in June/July and the Commonwealth games in Sept/Oct. Stay tuned!