Wednesday

30 min jog at lunch

First Judo session with my brother at night 6:30 to 8:30.

Was really different but I can see that there are a few things there which will help my boxing within about 6 months.

Warm up was soooooo different. Lots of tumbling on mats. Soooooo dizzy -I can usually eat 5 mins before training and it really doesn't bother me. I love my food and have a stomach of iron but I'm so glad i went there with an empty stomach because I wanted to vomit big time!

My bro said it's normal to feel dizzy and I'll get used to it within 6 weeks or so and it'll be good for me because if i get knocked I'll know where I am and trust my feet more.

Also short sprints, weird pushups, push up burpees. i am happy I had no problems at all doing the burpees. i guess my knee doesn't mind plyometrics at all done on mats over a sprung floor!

One class with several coaches instructing people of different levels. I have my own personal coach for the night which is pretty cool and while my bro is coaching the advanced players he still comes to check up on his little sis occasionally.

First thing I have to learn to do is land from a throw safely. Also get to practice one throw and one hold to be used on the ground. It's pretty fun - I'm not going to change sports but doing this maybe twice a week will be good cross training for me. I'm looking foreward to having improved balance, timing and confidence working in close to an opponent because I think that will strengthen some of the weakest points in my boxing.

I also think it'll be good from a self defence point of view. Especially if sparring a bigger or stronger person is ever getting out of hand again - the good thing about Judo in that situation is that people put their own weight into punches and it's that which can actually be used against them easily as an average Judo player whereas I think it takes a lot more skill as a short boxer.

I never would have done this six months ago because i would have felt that missing a boxing training is unacceptable but now with Saturday sparring I have an extra session anyway and I think it's a different type of exercise I can do properly when I'm too tired to be explosive enough to feel I'm putting in a good session boxing. Boxing seems more aerobic and explosive while Judo at the beginner level at least seems to be more anaerobic and about strength holding and pulling. it might also be good to keep my back strong because it'll work the opposite muscles to boxing.

Thursday Morning

Went to speed training with the road runners - first time back since doing my knee in. The guys I used to run with were doing long intervals. Ian has bought a boat and read about nautical miles which are apparently longer than normal miles so that's what they were doing.

It's a fun group. Ian ran the City to Bay on the weekend as an elite (12 km road race - very big) and got a good time. They reported the results in the paper but got him mixed up with his wife. He's been getting emails saying - "you had a crap run but Tanya did really well" - and "you run like a girl!".

One of my mum's beginner runners (mum teaches the beginners) is a mum with 4 kids. She had to go to the doctor the night before to get an injection to stop her vomiting. She asked the doctor if she could still run the city to bay if she drank lots of water - his respone "Are you a moron!". Poor woman. The fact she still wanted to do it just goes to show that everyone has their own goals and just because someone isn't elite it doesn't mean they don't care. After all how do you become elite if you don't go through the crap stage first!

Anyway I didn't do the nautical miles - I'd be too tempted to try to keep up and want to run with the Burnside runners tomorrow so know from experience to try doing both of these sessions hard. I did 4 X 400 m repeats with a 400 m jog recovery between - plus a few laps warm up and cool down. Cycling time was 30 mins each way too. A lightish session but enough to have done something I can gradually build on. I like running with other people!