The view from here

It's hard to be sure, because I didn't know it would be an event at the time, but we're probably around end of my first month boxing. So far:

1) Both coaches and pretty much all the boxers who show up every day know my name; people who show up a few times a week wave.
2) I can name both coaches and pretty much all the boxers who show up every day.
3) Equipment:

Mexican hand wraps
Ringside bag gloves
Pro Boxing speed bag
Mouth guard and turtle shells
Very cool plastic jump rope with nice handles
Bag to put all this in
with lots of zippers and pockets
Lots and lots of sports drinks from the
vending machine right outside the gym

4) Training regimen:

Wrap hands
Stretch
Jumprope: 10-15 minutes
Shadow boxing: I lose count after about 6 but I think I'm doing about 8-10
rounds
Mitts: 2-3 rounds if I can catch the coach's eye, but that doesn't
routinely happen
Double end bag: 2-3 rounds
Heavy bag: 2-5 rounds (getting better but sometimes I'm just pooped out by
this point)

5) Stuff I'm kind of figuring out at this point:

• They all say you're supposed to breathe out when you're punching and they're all right. You can do it quietly if you're afraid that your opponent will pick up on it, but if you aren't disciplined about this you'll find yourself all worn out with roughly nine hundred years until the bell goes off.
• The particulars of hand wrapping are very, very important. Get someone to do it for you until you are 100% sure you are doing it right.
• It doesn't really look like it but you're kind of punching with your feet, your hips, your back: it all has to work together. Arms alone just aren't going to do it.
• People who are really good are also really fast.
• It doesn't look like it but three minutes is a really, really long time
• There is no way in the world to make it all the way to the water fountain and back in thirty seconds. No way.