Shine on

Pat leans in and smears petroleum product across my eyebrows, cheeks, and the bridge of my nose. "I've always wanted to put vaseline on you," McPherson says. I sparred five three-minute rounds tonight, two with Chris Lytle, two with Dom, and one with Josh O'Brien, "Irish" Jake's twin brother and a reigning Indiana Golden Gloves champion. I got praise for pushing the action and taking punishment in the process but rather than get an ego boost I just felt like I got a Special Olympics ribbon for trying.

In the fourth round of jump rope Pat came over and told me my endurance is "fucking phenomenal." Sweating profusely, gasping for breath, I said something that sounded like a death rattle followed by "by comparison?"

McPerson said, "You look like a completely different person."

Today's lesson, in Pat's words, is "don't mindfuck yourself."

Diet 8 a.m. Homemade smoothie. 9 a.m. Green tea with honey. Noon A small Philly steak, fries, and a soda. 6:15 p.m. Small bottle of Gatorade. 7:30 p.m. Baked chicken breast over herbed rice, steamed brussel sprouts, broccoli and raw carrots.

Strength & Conditioning Five three-minute rounds of sparring, four three-minute rounds of jump rope, 200 sit-ups.

Skills I threw, and landed, overhand rights much more effectively this afternoon. I felt like my defenses were more consistent and I stayed a little more active, but amateur boxing doesn't reward hesitation. I need to be ready, willing, and able to turn each round into a two minute shock and awe campaign.