Imma Beast.

Today I had my weekly private training session with Gretchen.

I started out with 10 minutes on the bike, like I usually do since my shins suck at life and I can't jump rope.

Next, Gretchen had me do a circuit that Jaime had made Gretchen do earlier in the week...that was all she told me at first, and I just thought 'uh oh" to myself.

There were 8 stations, with one minute of activity at each station.

Derby has been killing my legs lately, but I got through it.

Next, we did some 3 minute combos on a bag, and I worked on getting high and low with my hooks, and some speed on pads for breaks (1 minute).

Then, Gretchen told me that we were doing all the way through speed rounds on the bag.

Two minutes, as many punches as I could.

I tend to lose speed after 30 seconds, a minute max, so this was a rather daunting gauntlet thrown my way.

However, I didn't really have a choice, so I nodded and Gretchen set the timer.

The bell rang and I started throwing like a cracked out chipmunk on the last bender of its life.

I started getting tired, and slowed into hook combos to give myself a rest. I moved into uppercuts, and then went back to straight punches. I concentrated on my breathing, since at this point I sounded like a beached whale with a golf ball obstructing its supply of oxygen. The 30 second bell rang, and I sped up.

All I could hear in my head was Zach saying "last 30 seconds, make it count! come on, throw faster!"

The bell rang and Gretchen told me to stop.

I put my hands down and wiped my dripping face on my sleeve, and then put my hands over my head as I tuned to look at Gretchen.

She was just standing there, looking at me. I thought to myself "shit. I didn't throw enough. gahhhh"

However, Gretchen said exactly the opposite. I threw 482 punches in the 2 minute round.

Gretchen told me to take a break, cause next round I was doing 500 punches.

I took a deep breath and nodded, and went to grab water.

When I was finally able to breathe like a normal human again, Gretchen reset the clock and round 2 was on.

I got that first wave of "ohjeezwhyamidoingthiscanijustslowdownnow?" but mentally punched it out of my brain, and worked though it.

That feeling of tiredness succumbed to my amazing mental brain punch, and I did a few seconds of super speed throws. I concentrated on my breathing and keeping my hands moving from my face to the bag, my face to the bag, my face to the bag.

The 30 second bell rang, and I threw straight punches for the last 30. I'm pretty sure that was the fastest I've ever thrown for 30 consecutive seconds, and it paid off.

Gretchen told me I threw 517 punches.

I was happy with that, I'm shooting for 600 next week though!

After the speed rounds, we got in the ring and did some pads, and then some abs.

My abs still hurt, but not as badly as they did Wednesday, but dare I say progress?! I hope that's the case and I just still wasn't floating on euphoria from my awesome right hooks in the ring.

Today's workout was awesome. I died a little bit, but I did a few things right as well. If only everyday was like this...

Listening to: All I Want-A Day To Remember