What A Knockout!

I thought I was in relatively good shape.

Then I started boxing.

Way back when, on the heels of having finished a marathon, I decided I needed a change of pace. I knew of a boxing class at a small, unassuming gym and decided to give it a go. I walked in with my head held up high armed with the knowledge that I had recently completed 26.2 miles, so nothing on earth can anything be more mentally or physically challenging.

I certainly learned that lesson the hard way.

Marathon running couldn't light a candle to how difficult boxing felt. They're incomparable, actually. Every motion, every hit, every kick was a completely new experience. I loved the focus it required and the deep, inner strength imperative to completing the workout. Whereas with running, I could zone out and zone in to saving the world's problem in my head, in boxing, the only thought that can cross your mind is the way in which you jab, cross, hook, or upper cut. If you allow your mind to wander for a split second, you will inevitably compromise your form. I learned that the hard way, as well.

Fast forward a few more years, a move to a different state, a slew of jobs and a new gaggle of friends, and I find myself missing boxing. Fortunately for me, my gloves and wraps were mere steps away. So was Mark, the trainer at Boston Sports Club who would become my new coach. His boyish looks deceived me; the man can throw a punch like few people I've seen before. Thankfully, he can also teach. With the patience of a saint, he's been reacquainting my uncoordinated, klutzy self with proper boxing technique, form, and footwork. I have come to remember why I love the sport so much. It pushes me in a way nothing else has; not running, not spinning, not strength training...and it's amazing.

September is a fantastic month for change. If you're thinking of entertaining a different kind of workout, or perhaps pushing yourself out of a rut, or simply that you are just bored with your current routine, I implore you to try boxing. It might look intimidating, but you can move at your own speed and improve at your own pace. Be patient, and know that you will get better each time you try one of the toughest, yet most rewarding experiences of your life.

Go kick some butt.

Keep Climbing,

ELD