05/08/14
Return from illness. Going to be a longish post as I’ve had time to reflect on my boxing so far.
I’ve had pneumonia pretty much since I last posted. My lungs are still not great, but other than that I’m clear of other symptoms. Planning a return to training asap.This week is tricky cos of a backlog of stuff I need to clear after the illness, and various family commitments, so it probably won’t be business as usual 'til next week.
The positives are that I’ve watched a lot of fight tape, and I’ve realised that I either have to take this sport extremely seriously, or just train myself at home and go in occasionally without any real competitive goals. Because of my age and other responsibilities (not romantic), it is too much of a drain to do boxing three days a week, and try to take it seriously, when it only accounts for such a small part of my week. I find that when I’m only training 3 days a week for boxing, and trying to keep my weight constant, I end up doing fuck all on the other 4 days and justifying it to myself. It probably sounds counter intuitive, but it seems pretty clear to me that it is all or nothing. I’m going to try for all.
With that in mind, I’ve been easing myself back into training. The plan is to train myself 6 days/week in the morning before work, an then get into the boxing gym for mitt work and sparring 3-4 times/week.
Sunday was the first time I’ve been able to train in over 3 weeks. I ran 3 miles in just over 18 minutes, with 3 long hills, which was extremely surprising, as I’m shit at running and I think that is quite fast.
Monday I ran 3 miles again, and did 6x3 on the floor to ceiling ball, and 4x3 on the heavy bag.
This morning, Tuesday, I did the same as Monday morning. Tomorrow, I’m going to try to add in some skipping as well.
I’d like to use some of these sessions/some of the focus towards adding in targeted weight training. I have no real idea how to structure it, but this is what I’m thinking:
Monday: AM run 3 miles, skip 30 mins, heavy/f2c bag 30 mins.
PM Weight training session (low reps, focus on strength)
Tuesday: AM run 3 miles, skip 30 mins
PM Boxing gym - sparring/mitt work
Wednesday: AM run 3 miles, skip 30 minutes, bags 30 minutes
PM light weights session
Thursday: AM run 3 miles, skip 30 mins
PM Boxing Gym - Sparring/mitts
Friday: AM run 3 miles, skip 30 mins
PM Boxing Gym - sparring/mitts
Saturday AM Weights, then bag work and shadow boxing
Sunday: OFF
I’m thinking for the weight training I’ll do 2 workouts focused towards strength, and one towards hypertrophy. Mostly upper body, aimed at building up supporting muscles. I have disproportionately large leg muscles, and a relatively skinny upperbody. Some extra weight an strength in the clinch would be useful, particularly as I’m tall and less likely to be doing as much work on the inside. I’m currenly 6’1, and 79kg, so I could do with putting on a couple of kgs, as I physically couldn’t lose any more weight now. I am very lean.
Anyway, any thoughts or input from you guys would be much appreciated, because this is new to me, and I’ve quite possibly designed a stupid routine - I have no experience to draw on. I’ve had time to reflect, and even asked myself what the hell I’m doing getting involved in such a tough sport at my age, and the only answer I’ve come up with is that I need to make this sport a focus in my life, otherwise I’ll end up drifting for a few months and then letting it go, and I don’t want that.
If some of the above sounds negative, it is not my intention. The point I am trying to make is that if I were 10 years younger, I could spend a year or two drifting in and out of the gym, getting better slowly, until I was ready to decide how seriously to dedicate myself. These days, there are so many other possible distractions in my life, that if I don’t commit to boxing, an make it as important to me as my career, I’ll end up getting distracted by something (easier and less painful) sooner rather than later.