East Ottawa Star
Published: Friday, September 18, 2009 Rolling with the punches like an amateur Regular readers may know that amongst my pursuits, I have been a certified amateur boxer for over two years. At 41, I fought in my first charity boxing match complete with headgear, mouth guard, gloves and a, errr, protect the next generation of Robinsons’ protective apparatus. I enjoyed it so much I did it again last year and am gearing up for my third fight – again in support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation of which I am past chairman – on March 27, 2010 at Fight for the Cure III to be held at the Hampton Inn. Heck, my mug and resplendent blue (what other colour would I wear?) ring attire even graced the front page of the Orléans Star back on March 10 of this year. Yes, it was a slow news week. In preparation for this third bout of my mid-life boxing career and likely my swan song (shh, it’s what I keep telling my wife even though the boxing ring is strangely addictive), yours truly decided it was time to get serious and train a good seven months out before the fight. So we are now into twice-weekly sessions at Ray Friel – one cardio-care and the other technique and glove work – along with a weekly trip to the Final Round gym to get pummelled by 20-year-olds in sparring sessions. And we’ve thrown in a few runs each week along with the odd weight training session to boot. But I’m not alone in this training; there are four of us each Monday doing the core work and another seven or so on Thursday learning all the punch combinations one can throw. So far the words that have come to my lips most often are, “Ouch, OMG, cramp! cramp!! cramp!!!” and a few for the swear jar. Wonder if the others are feeling the same way? Moreover, I’ve learned a new term. DOMS, as in delayed onset muscle soreness. If you have ever started a new exercise regime – core, cardio, weights, spinning, etc. – you will know the DOMS quite well, that experience where the day after the workout is not so bad but two days later, even blinking is a burden. But I digress. The point being is that it is never too late to try and get back in shape with a new activity. But a word of advice, there is something to be said for gradually gearing up to your desired fitness level. While there is some merit to the old saying no pain, no gain, too much pain can lead to never again and amen. Thankfully it is a requirement that I go for a full physical before each fight (given my advancing years) and this year I will no doubt get my taxes woth … painkillers, massage prescription, maybe even some forced R&R from work. Then it’s retirement, at least until 2011.
Now, how do I break this news to my wife? = = = = =
Comments can be sent to Walter at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca. |