Chapter 167:
Training Regimen
Megan’s POV:
Morning sunlight spilled across the gym windows as I tightened my gloves around my hands. That same smell of sweat and promise radiated from the gym, filling the air as it did every morning. Today would be the beginning of a new regimen-the one Jane had said would train me harder than ever.
“Ready to give it your all, Megan?” Jane’s voice echoed in the hall, her eyes razor-sharp and focused.
I nodded, feeling the surge of determination. “Absolutely. What’s on the agenda today?”
Jane beamed, a little sparkle in her eye. “We’re stepping things up. New drills, increased intensity. I want to see you at your best.”
I took a deep breath as both anticipation and anxiety took turns racing through my blood stream. “Let’s do this.”
We did the usual warm-up, but I already felt the difference. Jane really pushed me to have each movement well done, with every muscle involved. Even the warm-up alone had me gasping for air, yet I knew that was just the beginning.
“Alright, Megan, time for some speed drills,” Jane announced firmly. “I want you to be faster than ever before.”
I positioned myself in front of the speed bag, focusing on the rhythm. My fists blurred as I punched, and the bag moved rapidly. Closely, Jane watched and nodded her head.
“Good, Megan, keep that pace. Faster. I want those punches sharp and quick,” she instructed.
I pushed even harder. My muscles burned with my efforts. “Like this?”
“Exactly. Now, move to the heavy bag,” Jane directed.
I moved around to the heavy bag, my focus purely on the task at hand. Punches rained down easily to land with a heavy thud-one could feel the power behind my strikes.
“Use your hips, Megan, put your whole body into it,” Jane called out.
I gritted my stance, gave every punch my greatest power. The drops of sweat ran down my face, though that did not deviate from my concentration. I was in the zone, whirled in by training.
What seemed like an eternity later, Jane gave the signal to break. I snatched up a towel, sopping up the sweat off my brow, and drank deeply from my water bottle.
“You’re doing great, Megan,” Jane said, her tone encouraging. “But we’re just getting started.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of pride and determination. “What’s next?”
“Footwork drills,” Jane replied. “I want your movements to be light and quick. Imagine you’re dancing around your opponent.”
She then led me into the open area of the gym where Jane proceeded to give me some demonstrations of the kind of footwork she wanted me to practice. I followed her lead at first, clumsily, but soon fluidly.
“Keep your balance, Megan. Easy on your feet,” Jane coached.
I zeroed in on my steps, trying to mimic Jane’s grace and finesse. It was hard, but with every repetition, I could feel myself improving.
“Nice work,” Jane said, nodding approvingly. “Now, let’s add some combination drills.”
We spent the next hour working on various punch combinations, Jane correcting my form and technique. Each time that I got it right, she’d push me to go faster, hit harder. It was relentless in its intensity, but that’s what I thrived on.
“Remember, Megan, it’s not purely strength. It is about strategy. I want you to think, anticipate your opponent’s moves,” Jane reminded me.
“I get it,” I said, panting. “Mind and body working together.”
“Exactly. Now, let’s see those combinations again,” Jane ordered.
I launched into the combinations, my mind sharp and focused. The movements felt more natural now, my body responding instinctively.
“Good, Megan. Very good,” Jane said, beaming. “Take a little break, then we’ll do some sparring.”
I collapsed onto the bench, my muscles screaming protest. For all that it was exhausting, I felt accomplished. This was what I needed to be pushed to my limits and beyond.
Caught my breath, I watched Max come into the gym. He waved and smiled before he came over to where I had picked a seat.
“Hey, Megan. How’s the training going?” he asked, curiosity really in his eyes.
“Intense,” I admitted. “But I need it. Jane’s really pushing me.”
Max nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “That’s good. Sometimes we need someone to push us to see what we’re really capable of.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, using my towel to wipe my face. “What brings you here?”
Max shrugged. “Thought I’d check out the gym. Maybe get a workout in myself.”
“Boxing?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He laughed. “Not quite. More like general fitness. But maybe you could show me a thing or two.”
“Sure,” I said, feeling a sense of camaraderie. “I’d be happy to.”
Jane approached, her eyes narrowing slightly as her gaze fell upon Max. “Who’s this?” she asked, her voice neutral but inquiring.
“This is Max,” I introduced. “He’s an artist I met at the studio. Max, this is Jane, my coach.”
Her expression softened a bit toward Max. “Nice to meet you, Max. You here to train?”
Max nodded. “Yeah, but not as intense as what Megan’s doing.”
Jane smiled. “Well, if you ever want to try your hand at boxing, let me know. We could always use more fighters.”
Max laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. For now, I’ll stick to the basics.”
Jane turned back to me. “Ready for sparring, Megan?”
I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline. “Absolutely.”
We got into the ring, and I put on my headgear and mouthguard. Jane introduced me to my sparring partner-a much more seasoned boxer named Carlos.
“Okay, Megan, remember what we practiced,” Jane said, stepping out of the ring. “Stay light on your feet, use your combinations, think strategically.”
Carlos and I touched gloves, and the sparring began. He was slick and quick, but I kept up pretty well, focusing upon my footwork and combinations. Every punch was relaxed, every movement intentional.
“Good, Megan. Keep it up,” Jane called from the sidelines.
Carlos threw a quick jab, and I ducked right, counterpunching with a right hook. It connected solidly, and satisfaction raged through my veins. The training was paying off.
We went on sparring round in and round out, each one pushing me beyond my limits. By the time Jane called for a stop, I was soaked in sweat, my body throbbing, but elated.
“Well done, Megan,” Jane said, her face beaming with approval. “You’re improving every day.”
I smiled, pulling off my helmet. “Thanks, Jane. Good to see some improvement.”
Max ambled over, clapping his hands together. “That was sweet, Megan. You did great out there.”
I blushed, feeling both proud and ashamed. “Thanks, Max. It’s all down to Jane’s training.”
Jane nodded. “You’ve got the talent, Megan. Keep pushing yourself, and you’ll go far.”
I cleaned up after myself and started preparing my stuff to leave the gym. I was much more focused now, and this training was just what I needed.