How important is running?

[Bullet Charley]

I work out twice a day, push myself to the max every first work out of the day, and the second work out in the evening is a bit milder. First work out lasts about an hour and a half-45 min, second usually about 40 minutes, very very minimal rest periods, max 1 min at the most. I do a lot of shadow boxing/footwork with weights and jumping jacks integrated before and after the rounds, a lot of hitting the heavy bag afterwards, there are really no weak rounds when I hit it/shadowbox, by this I mean that I push myself, throw a lot of combos, power shots, and footwork. I usually do 6 rounds of shadow boxing, and 6 rounds of heavy bag in the AM, and at night I do 5 rounds of shadow boxing, and 5 rounds of heavy bag. I do a lot more, but it's more for muscle build up; weights, push ups, leg raises and crunches, planks, etc..

My question is, do you HAVE to run? If I'm already pushing it, how important is it? Could I substitute it with jump roping?

Thanks.

[BarryRobinson]

I have seen many people do a lot of cardio boxing, mma, and kickboxing but then forget to relax and breathe in a fight.

Running is not as important as breathing.

However I agree with my mentor Andrew Council that knowing you put those miles in gives you a lot of confidence because you put the work in. I run guys I work with on the stairs because it really builds your legs and you feel like they are attached to your base

[Bullet Charley]

relax and breathe in a fight.

Running is not as important as breathing.

However I agree with my mentor Andrew Council that knowing you put those miles in gives you a lot of confidence because you put the work in.

I see, good stuff.

[Sugarj]

I work out twice a day, push myself to the max every first work out of the day, and the second work out in the evening is a bit milder. First work out lasts about an hour and a half-45 min, second usually about 40 minutes, very very minimal rest periods, max 1 min at the most. I do a lot of shadow boxing/footwork with weights and jumping jacks integrated before and after the rounds, a lot of hitting the heavy bag afterwards, there are really no weak rounds when I hit it/shadowbox, by this I mean that I push myself, throw a lot of combos, power shots, and footwork. I usually do 6 rounds of shadow boxing, and 6 rounds of heavy bag in the AM, and at night I do 5 rounds of shadow boxing, and 5 rounds of heavy bag. I do a lot more, but it's more for muscle build up; weights, push ups, leg raises and crunches, planks, etc..

My question is, do you HAVE to run? If I'm already pushing it, how important is it? Could I substitute it with jump roping?

Thanks.

The important factor is to improve as an athlete. You can train ridiculously hard day after day, but if you aren't improving then there is little point. So always track improvement in whatever you do. I'm a touch concerned that you might burn yourself out by training with too much intensity and little rest.

Its very important to hydrate, refuel, rest and sleep; or you might just stagnate and head towards injury.

But as regards running, it is a terrific exercise.....and lets face it most professional boxers past and present have incorporated it into their training. Its great for weight loss and stamina building. But don't run flat out for several miles every day. You need easy running days to build up your base fitness and aerobic capacity.

If running doesn't interest you, swimming, skipping rope or cycling are comparable disciplines. But you need easy days now and then when you are not struggling for breath but are exercising at an intensity where you could hold a conversation.

[Isaac Hunt]

You are over training. If you are training for amateur fights you want your training to resemble your event 3X3 minute Fast rounds. You have 9 minutes of fast activity you don't need to do a physical routine that lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. It does not resemble your event.That is endurance training and amateur fight are long sprints.As far as running is concerned once you have a good degree of conditioning through distance running you would be better of doing interval training and hill sprints.You can train long or hard but not both together and you would be better off doing shorter higher quality higher tempo sessions with plenty of rest after. Rest is very important. The way you are going all you are doing is diluting the tempo and quality,working very hard towards poor results.

[Bullet Charley]

Thanks, pals! Great advice.

Also, I'm not training this hard just for this fight, I'm overweight and I want to slim down this year.

[eight...nine...]

You are over training. If you are training for amateur fights you want your training to resemble your event 3X3 minute Fast rounds. You have 9 minutes of fast activity you don't need to do a physical routine that lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. It does not resemble your event.That is endurance training and amateur fight are long sprints.As far as running is concerned once you have a good degree of conditioning through distance running you would be better of doing interval training and hill sprints.You can train long or hard but not both together and you would be better off doing shorter higher quality higher tempo sessions with plenty of rest after. Rest is very important. The way you are going all you are doing is diluting the tempo and quality,working very hard towards poor results.

[Sugarj]

Thanks, pals! Great advice.

Also, I'm not training this hard just for this fight, I'm overweight and I want to slim down this year.

In that case running could really be your friend. Even running easy paces for increasing distances over time can do wonders for dropping weight.

[THE REED]

I train relatively similiar to how you do... I'll tell you this, the way I FEEL when I am in running condition vs not running condition is amazing.

I have way more gas in the tank, my legs never get tired, it fuels my entire body when I am in running shape.

The best way to know is.... Start running, and see if you notice a difference.

[itsafight]

You are over training. If you are training for amateur fights you want your training to resemble your event 3X3 minute Fast rounds. You have 9 minutes of fast activity you don't need to do a physical routine that lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. It does not resemble your event.That is endurance training and amateur fight are long sprints.As far as running is concerned once you have a good degree of conditioning through distance running you would be better of doing interval training and hill sprints.You can train long or hard but not both together and you would be better off doing shorter higher quality higher tempo sessions with plenty of rest after. Rest is very important. The way you are going all you are doing is diluting the tempo and quality,working very hard towards poor results.

This guy knows what he's talking about.