"I just want to poop, is that too much to ask?!". Of course I didn't actually say this today but this was exactly what I wanted to say at the breakfast table when what should have been an egg sandwich with veggies because of last night's deal with eating that nasty frog was instead 5 boiled eggs, a loaf of bread still in its plastic and no veggies. Instead of going the easy route and just eating it, because you know I am too stubborn of a Polack to do that, I ate their Korean-style "egg fry" and some fruit. "How come you can't cook Korean food? Can you even cook egg fry?" joked the club owner. "I never said I can't cook", I responded, "how come you can't make an egg sandwich? It's two pieces of bread with egg in the middle." And with that everyone at the table looked at me because a simple joke had hit a sensitive spot with me and with that I felt I should continue. I had to get it out; it was now or never. "Why did I eat a frog last night?... Exactly. And by the way, "egg fry" isn't even an English word. It's fried eggs." I then got up from the breakfast table and went to my bedroom. I had been texting Snickers throughout the morning so he was well aware of what was going on. When I noted to him I had gone to my room, he called me. I was on the break of tears. I was so completely frustrated.
I'm killing it with my training and exceeding everyone plus my own expectations with the effort I am putting in but that means nothing because I feel constantly "stuffed up" and hungry. I've been leaning on the strong black coffee to help me out but it has proven to do nothing but leave me shaking through the day and awake at night. I've got two and a half days worth of food sitting in me. You know how that feels when I am running 8km in the Thai blazing sun or jumping around the ring at boxing?! It feels uncomfortable to say the least.
I am here for work, let's not forget that, so from here on out I just want to focus on the job at hand -- training for my fight. I had a lot to think about this, about all this, as the boxing club was closed. Tommy and the club manager headed out to a business meeting and I was left back at the house with The Kid (the other Korean boxer here with me). We're totally countryside here in Bangkok so besides oversized massive houses and plentiful street dogs I am eagerly want to pet but stick to just saying hi to, there isn't much to do so I read. I read and re-read The Mind Gym, by Gary Mack.
All the physical training I did today was 8kms in the brutal and unforgiving Thai sun. Then, for roughly 7hrs, I laid on my bed and read. With each couple of pages and each chapter, I'd put the book down and reflected on what I just read. I then tuned into YouTube and watched random videos on the chapter's discussion pieces. The Kid and the club owner's son were in the other part of the house, watching movie after movie while I just laid there, doing some mental training and then working on my image training. I imaged myself walking up to the ring, the announcer introducing me and then the round bell signalling the start of the round. I replayed this in my head over and over.
Seven hours later Tommy-Toes and the club manager returned. It was then that they called me over to the kitchen table to discuss with me what business they had done today. Today a lengthy meeting was held and I was discussed. I don't know if I am flattered or intimidated but I got word that the WBC President personally noted that he will be attending my fight this Friday. He wants to see me fight. Moreover, word of scheduling me another fight here in Thailand for even bigger odds against me than this Friday's fight were also discussed. Basically it's now up to me and the results of this week's game as to whether or not this next fight will happen.
"Big risks mean bigger rewards", they told me.
The Korean Boxing Commission with it's confusion as to whether to prize me like one of its own home fighters or dis me like I'm an outside means they really don't know how to deal with me and so they are inconsistant. They're inconsistent with themselves for that matter. What should be but one strong boxing commission for the entire country of Korea is now but four -- KBC (the original), KBA, KBF, and KPBF. But Thailand, they've totally taken me in and now they want me to continue to fight here. The boxing manager here, though he himself is Korean, wants me to ditch my goal of becoming the next Korean flyweight champion and instead reach higher, go for the Asian light flyweight champion belt and do so here in Thailand.
I'm killing it with my training and exceeding everyone plus my own expectations with the effort I am putting in but that means nothing because I feel constantly "stuffed up" and hungry. I've been leaning on the strong black coffee to help me out but it has proven to do nothing but leave me shaking through the day and awake at night. I've got two and a half days worth of food sitting in me. You know how that feels when I am running 8km in the Thai blazing sun or jumping around the ring at boxing?! It feels uncomfortable to say the least.
I am here for work, let's not forget that, so from here on out I just want to focus on the job at hand -- training for my fight. I had a lot to think about this, about all this, as the boxing club was closed. Tommy and the club manager headed out to a business meeting and I was left back at the house with The Kid (the other Korean boxer here with me). We're totally countryside here in Bangkok so besides oversized massive houses and plentiful street dogs I am eagerly want to pet but stick to just saying hi to, there isn't much to do so I read. I read and re-read The Mind Gym, by Gary Mack.
All the physical training I did today was 8kms in the brutal and unforgiving Thai sun. Then, for roughly 7hrs, I laid on my bed and read. With each couple of pages and each chapter, I'd put the book down and reflected on what I just read. I then tuned into YouTube and watched random videos on the chapter's discussion pieces. The Kid and the club owner's son were in the other part of the house, watching movie after movie while I just laid there, doing some mental training and then working on my image training. I imaged myself walking up to the ring, the announcer introducing me and then the round bell signalling the start of the round. I replayed this in my head over and over.
Seven hours later Tommy-Toes and the club manager returned. It was then that they called me over to the kitchen table to discuss with me what business they had done today. Today a lengthy meeting was held and I was discussed. I don't know if I am flattered or intimidated but I got word that the WBC President personally noted that he will be attending my fight this Friday. He wants to see me fight. Moreover, word of scheduling me another fight here in Thailand for even bigger odds against me than this Friday's fight were also discussed. Basically it's now up to me and the results of this week's game as to whether or not this next fight will happen.
"Big risks mean bigger rewards", they told me.
The Korean Boxing Commission with it's confusion as to whether to prize me like one of its own home fighters or dis me like I'm an outside means they really don't know how to deal with me and so they are inconsistant. They're inconsistent with themselves for that matter. What should be but one strong boxing commission for the entire country of Korea is now but four -- KBC (the original), KBA, KBF, and KPBF. But Thailand, they've totally taken me in and now they want me to continue to fight here. The boxing manager here, though he himself is Korean, wants me to ditch my goal of becoming the next Korean flyweight champion and instead reach higher, go for the Asian light flyweight champion belt and do so here in Thailand.
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