From My Coach's Car... Saturday, February 18

Am writing this to you all as I travel in the backseat down to Kim Hae City -- where my weigh-in is today and where I'll be fighting tomorrow. It's an estimated 4 hour drive so we're basically driving all the way down to the tip of south South Korea, close to Busan. In the car beside me sits Snickers. Junior Mint is driving and I'm happy to note that one of my sparring partners/teammates has come along with us -- The Cheonan Bulldog.

I've trained hard for this fight, harder than I ever have or ever anticipated. Sparring no longer makes me nervous and I've learned to learn from those I train with as supposed to focusing solely on just what my coach tells me. One of my boxercise gals noted this to me and I've heard it before, "the best way to learn something is to teach it", and it's true. In leading my boxercise classes I've really stepped back to disect my punches, combos, boxing stance and so on.

I've never been afriad of getting hurt in the ring and, oddly enough, I feel great pride after a fight when I do sport a black eye. Today in the car my coach asked me why I box to which I replied "because it's given me everything" -- a second family, great health, sense of belonging, identity, opportunities to travel,... etc, etc.

Having said this, it hasn't been easy being a foreign female boxer in Korea but I both love and hate that. It's been a challenge, so to all my family and friends that continually support me, thank you. You may never know how grateful I am for your support. I hope I make you proud tomorrow.