hi kristine!!! u probably don't remeber me, but i emailed u a few months ago. my name is claire and i am 13. I AM SUCH A BIG FAN OF U!!!!!!!!!!! you are such an inspiration to young girls like me. i remember when my PE coach used to say that i was going to play for the US WNT because i would play with the boys all the time at recess because they played soccer. i'd come home and my dad would ask me why me knees were skinned or why i was limping. everyday i would say the same thing. "i was playing soccer dad. no one would play goalie so i had to do it" (sometimes i got carried away because i have a bad ankle now so i sprain it all the time.) i had no clue what my PE coach was talking about then. but, a couple of years ago, i became a total freak....i have watched almost every WNT game and during the olympic final i made my math teacher turn the game on. pictures of the team are all over my room. i watched the movie the world at their feet. do u remember what it felt like to head the ball out of the goal during the final minutes of the 1999 women's world cup?? it was one of the most amazing things i have ever seen. my ultimate dream is playing for the WNT. some people said though that their are a lot of people that want that too. it made me kind of sad when they said this but im not going to give up. i am a total fan of staying in shape and running on the days i don't have practice or a game. do you think it is ok to run 3-4 miles every do except for practice or game days?? oh ya.....congratulations on being drafted into the boston breakers with angela and heather!!! (you guys are my favorite team in the WPS) and your daughter sidney is so cute!!!! i liked the picture of her at the pumpkin patch. good luck with the breakers!!!   claire

Hey Claire I love that you have the dream to play on the National Team, keep it alive. Just remember you have to work hard! I’m glad you saw the movie about the team. I do remember heading the ball off the line, but it happened so fast I don’t remember what was going through my mind. I think playing in the games and in practice is good work outs for you. Plus do you play other sports? If you do continue to do that and that helps you to be fit too. As for running 3 or 4 miles, probably once or twice a week, plus you can probably get away with 2 miles or so and try to run that fast. At your age, playing sports is more important than doing just running, that is my opinion! Good luck kristine

Hi Kristine, my name is Lauren. To be honest, I feel border-line lame emailing you to ask for some advice as a sophomore in college already, but I really kinda need it right now. I don't know how it was trying to come back from having a child, but I'm sure it took some effort which is what I need help with right now. Though I'm not having a kid, my leg is in a cast for several more weeks and has been for quite a few already. Granted, very different situations but I think we probably face silmilar circumstances as far as restrictions on activity and what not. The biggest thing I'm worried about with this injury is not being able to come back, or how I can even think about doing so. If you had any words of advice at allll on how to handle attemping to maintain any fitness level without actually being able to do cardio work (I can't stand, let alone run), how to mentally stay focused and tough through a situation like this, and how to come back once the cast comes off, both mentally and physically, I would greatly appreciate it. Obviously our restrictions were quite different and we both had a different set of obstacles and conditions to overcome in recovering, but if there is anything you could offer to help me out it would really be wonderful. I'm sure you must be crazy busy with your daughter and the WPS and all, so if you get a chance to respond that's great, but if not obviously I completely understand why. I was looking through your website and saw how involved you are with your fans in the "Ask Kristine" section and I was so impressed with it. I think its really great that you are so willing to be in contact with your fans, as well as the things that you do in your area. It's awesome to see players being so involved and caring, it shows what great role models professional athletes can still be. Good luck with everything coming up and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to see you play when you come to jersey to play Sky Blue! Thanks, Lauren

Hey lauren I hope you are hanging in there. I know it must be tough to be injured but you will heal and after that, it is up to you. Now I have been fortunate not to have had an injury but I have seen so many other players who have been injured come back and be better than ever. I think you just have to make a choice and know that the process is going to be hard but that you can do it. As for doing stuff while you are hurt, it is a bit tough with a cast on so not sure if you should even try. But after it comes off and the dr's release you to start up, then take it slow and know that you are starting at a different level then where you were before the injury. It was my big adjustment coming off my pregnancy, I was use to being so fit, that when I wasn't it was hard to handle, but I took it slow and reminded myself that I just had a baby and I am in a different place. So I took my time and now I am feeling pretty good. Take it slow, but you can do it and you should do it. Get back out there when you are all better, Good luck kristine