Digging Deep!

"Overcoming obstacles in life & accomplishing goals are like reaching the peak of a mountain," Patty Boom Boom

As the Thanksgiving Holiday is among us, I start thinking about all the things I am grateful for in my life and this year, one particular thing came to mind and that was the power and strength to always dig deep...

There are times where you get the courage to move forward with a goal and plan every step and then out of nowhere, things don't go exactly as planned...This has been a constant occurence in my life that has taught me to dig deep!

Finding the strength and mental toughness to keep pushing, to keep plugging, to keep fighting is one of life's most daunting challenges. Sometimes we're up to the challenge, sometimes we're not. Or so we think.

Sports has been the greatest metaphor of life for me and I am forever grateful for each lesson learned. In 1996, I participated in my first Daily News NYC Golden Gloves. In my first match in the prelims, I fought a girl named Barbosa who had just got out of prison and her total focus was to eat me alive, but I gave her 3 standing eight counts and ended the bout in the 1st round. I moved to the semi-finals and faced the previous year's champion, Christine Bruno. I was the inexperienced younger fighter at the time & a huge underdog, but I ended up stopping her in the 2nd round and moving to the finals in Madison Square Garden. The championship match with Eileen Lacy was incredible and it seemed as if it was my night to shine, but the fight was too close and the decision did not go my way.

It was a devastating loss and I wasn't sure how to get back from that, but I was thankful to have faith and my trainer to help me believe that it was worth trying again. And so I did and came back to win 2 consecutive NYC Golden Gloves Titles, a National & International Title throughout the next few years! In addition to completing 16 Marathons throughout the past 15 years and competing in a variety of sports that totally take me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes, we just need to dig deep! We have more going for us than we sometimes believe; in fact, we have a whole lot more than we can possibly imagine. Deep down inside each of us dwells a limitless reservoir of untouched magic, a supernatural cache of power and strength capable of overcoming anything and everything thrown in our path.

This year, I faced all types of personal obstacles with my job, education and athletics. I am thankful that I am able to see these challenges as a way to teach me a lesson and make me stronger and more resilient. Whenever life starts smacking me around, I know I need to step back for a moment. And start digging deep. I listen to what my heart and soul tells me to do. The answers will come if you dig deep enough and long enough.

One of the events that taught me a valuable lesson and that I hold dear to my heart this year is the Men's Health Magazine NYC Urbanathlon. I dedicated 12-weeks of plyometrics, stair workouts and speed drills on the track during the crazy hot and humid NYC summer. The big day was on October 29th. Everything seemed to be going perfectly until a couple of days before the event where the temperature in NYC practically dropped 50 degrees and there was a threat of rain and snow for the day of the event. Just a few days before, NYC had been spoiled with great weather. The day had arrived and there was no turning back. One of my weakness and fear has always been the cold and rain, but this was another opportunity to face my fears and not give up no matter what.

The Urbanathlon truly tested me in every way and even though I did not win, I did finish among the top women and learned once again to get back up even when you get knocked down...
http://www.youtube.com/user/MHUrbanathlon?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/_zd3-b5T4lE

Life can come at you really hard, testing your will and taxing your tenacity; testing and taxing it right to the hilt. And life can push you right to the wall, right to the breaking point on occasion. But that's OK as long as you remember that it's not what's happening on the outside that matters the most, but what you've got going on inside. And deep down, where it counts, you've got way more than enough.

So this Thanksgiving Holiday, I am thankful for my never-ending faith, my loved ones, my supporters and the ability to tap into the magic within by digging a little deeper when things don't go exactly as planned.

"Real riches are the riches possessed inside."

Wishing you all a very Happy & Healthy Holiday Season!

Much Love & Blessings,

Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar
Professional Boxer, Competitive Runner &
Fitness/Commercial Model
Website: www.patriciaalcivar.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/PatriciaAlcivar
Blog: http://pattiboomboomsblog.blogspot.com
FB Fan Page: facebook.com/PatriciaPattyBoomBoomAlcivar

No Guts, No Glory!

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results!"

The Chicago Marathon was nothing short of magical. My sister and I were nervous but excited when we arrived in Chicago last Saturday,October 8th. Besides, she had been in the hospital just a week before with a serious debilitating injury/condition that had caused her to rethink about her plans to run this marathon in which she had put in 15 solid weeks of training.

I remember her asking me "What would you do in my situation?" I took a deep breath and tried to respond the best way I could with her safety in mind. In my second professional fight last year, I fought with a broken foot and earlier this year, I fought with a respiratory infection. Obstacles will always be part of our lives and you have to do what you feel in your heart is best for YOU and the rest is pure Faith. I assured her that I was proud of her despite of what her decision would be. A couple of days later, she would confirm her decision to run the Chicago Marathon although her goals had changed and completing this Marathon (her 3rd ever) after a 6-yr break was going to be beyond rewarding.

The alarm sounded at 5am on Sunday, October 9th. I had awoken with amazing feelings of Gratitude for arriving safely the day before, for having an awesome night out in Chicago and for the day I was about to have. My sister and I got great sleep and we were stoked that the hotel's Starbucks was opening at 5am to accomodate the runners. I was smiling big when we went downstairs to have our tea & oatmeal. Genuine Enthusiasm, Confidence & Faith are contagious and I knew I had enough for both of us.

We made our way through the 47,000 thousand registered runners to our assigned corrals and the time to say good-bye had arrived. I gave my sister a heartfelt crazy tight, but very confident hug & then I focused on the race I was about to run. A run that I knew I was ready for and was doing to test myself; to bring the best out of myself & continue to strengthen my faith. The airhorn went off at 7:30am & the 26.2 mile journey begun...

My goal for this Marathon was to run a solid 3:40 that would qualify me for Boston. I had battled through a few health scares & injuries for a few years that prevented me from running a marathon at that pace since 2005. I visualized what I wanted to run & how I wanted to feel all week and just had the faith that I could finally pull it off. The first 3 miles, I was flying at a 7:30 pace. I was rocking to my mp3 player when all of a sudden it made a weird high pitch sound and completely died on me. Whoa! What was I going to do with 23.2 miles left without music? I don't think I ever ran any long distance events without music.

I did panic for a couple of minutes, but all of a sudden felt a sense of peace. It dawned on me that this was an opportunity to really take in each mile; to listen to my body; to rely on myself and on my faith. Each mile was dedicated to a certain time in my life where I could remember great achievements. I could also hear the church songs playing in my head throughout the race. Mile 23 seemed to be where I started to struggle the most & felt incredible fatigue & ache in my lower back. I knew I had it in me to push through the discomfort.

As Mile 26 approached, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I could see myself raising my hands in victory and as I made my way to the 26.2 mile finish line, I looked up and saw 3:40! I was overcome with tears of joy and amazing feelings of gratitude. I walked in disbelief but with a big koolaid smile. I waited anxiously for my sister to finish and seeing her finish a couple of hours later was the icing on the cake! We had both completed the Chicago Marathon and we were both healthy and proud..

This was my 16th Marathon and definitely a very special one that I will hold dear to my heart forever for a few reasons. Training my sister for this event helped bond us in a unique way, but also seeing her dedication & transformation was rewarding for both of us. Sharing the incredible feeling of accomplishment and knowing that we both did it for our own personal reasons was significant as I have learned the hard way that doing things for the wrong reasons to prove other people wrong results in empty feelings. To me, this run was spiritual as it showed me the power of faith and belief like never before.

The feeling of accomplishment; to know you pushed beyond your limits and brought out the best in you for YOU is an inner satisfaction that no one can ever take away from you...I am forever grateful for this opportunity and can only hope to continue to bring out the best!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVDXiTF95fU&feature=share

Much Love,
Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar

Me & My Sis..

ALL relationships worth fighting for require Communication, Honesty & an open mind and heart...Someone has to be willing to give in and have an open mind/heart as you cannot fight fire with fire. In not doing so, you run the risk of losing precious time/milestones in each others lives that you cannot bring back. Giving in requires both humility and an open heart even if the other person does not give in. Doing your part ensures a healthy heart free of toxic resentment.

The problem with many people in my family has always been the inability for someone to give in. About 4 years ago, my younger sister and I had a disagreement where neither one of us gave in. We would be estranged for 3 years while I was living in North Carolina. There was not a day that passed by where I wondered how she and my niece were doing. I prayed that somehow we would come back into each other's paths. That opportunity came when I moved back to NYC last year. I asked my mom to invite my sister and niece to my house for the Christmas Holiday. That would require both of us to have an open heart and mind...

I will never forget the feeling of peace, relief and joy when I came home the evening of December 24, 2010 to find my sister, niece and mom standing in my kitchen. We hugged and spoke like two old friends that had not seen each other in years. Even though there were no apologies exchanged, I think we both understood that we had punished ourselves enough by letting so much time pass without speaking. I was excited and grateful to have this new opportunity to have my sister back and I was already planning all the things I wanted to do and share with her.

I noticed my sister had gained considerable weight (about 30lbs). My way of showing love to my loved ones is sharing my passion for health, for life & faith. Little by little, we became closer as we once were and I found out about her goals to regain her health & fitness and the desire to conquer a Triathlon and a marathon "down the road." She saw her goals as a distant dream, but I didn't. I was more excited about her goals than she was and remember researching the perfect events & designing a program that would enable her to achieve all her goals THIS YEAR!

In late February, I had the perfect plan that included conquering not one but 2 Triathlons; one in June & one in July, a Biathlon, a couple of Half Marathons & the grand finale with a full Marathon in the Fall all while she revamped her nutrition and lost the 30lbs. I remember telling her my plan and the look on her face thinking I was completely out of my mind. "If you can't, you must!" I assured her with every ounce of confidence that my crazy plan was doable. All I needed was her commitment to the training regimen. I got that from her and much more!

I love inspiring people, but there are times where I need to be inspired and it really doesn't take that much. Whether it is the desire to never give up, a small detail/words of gratitude, commitment, loyalty, honesty and open communication are definitely big things that inspire me. They are powerful details that just make me want to give even more of myself. My sister did all of the above! We attacked our fear of the water on a weekly basis, we ran the roads & trails, we biked some long distances and had amazing adventures and challenges all while we bonded more than we ever thought possible.

8 months later, my sister has lost over 40 lbs, conquered 2 Triathlons, placed in her age group in her first ever Biathlon, Completed 3 half Marathons and has put amazing training & dedication all while being a great mom to her 14-yr old daughter, a hard worker and a great sister & daughter. The grand finale is here and we are set to run the Chicago Marathon this Sunday, October 9, 2011.

Chicago will be my 16th Marathon & I plan to use it as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. But besides the inner staisfaction of completing this marathon, it truly will be a special marathon as I see my sister cross the finish line. A Marathon that helped heal and bond us back together.

In closing, I have to say that I have learned that in life, relationships, sports, education and work, you must truly give it your all to ensure you have no regrets. If for whatever reason things don't work out, at least you have a peace of mind knowing you did everything you could and that I can certainly live with..

Much Love,
Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar

Reason, Season, or Lifetime
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life

Determinded Ladies!

It is said that when something is continuously done from the heart with enough enthusiasm, love, energy and passion, the vibe is felt and breaks down resistance...That is what I was hoping for when I got hired to be the Head Coach at a first time program named "Running & Community Engagement," a scholarship program where 20 High School Senior Girls from all over the 5 NYC Boroughs were chosen from a pool of about 100 applicants. The requirement for this program included an essay, references from a teacher or mentor, the desire to be involved with community service and no prior significant running background.

My job was to design and lead an 8-week program that would enable them to complete their first ever 5k. But that was just the easy part...The first day had arrived and I got to meet the 20 Girls that would become a very important milestone in my life. We introduced ourselves and I could tell that some were excited, some were nervous, some were skeptic and some were confused. I took them right out of their comfort zone and tested them with a 1.5 mile loop of the reservoir. The assistant coach, Zach was in charge of motivating them throughout the run and pretty much being my eyes and ears. We had a talk after that first practice and agreed we had our work cut out for us, but I was sure that the girls would never forget their first day as it was a wake-up call!

I wanted to create a "Team" environment and knowing each other's names was priority. I gave myself 2 days to learn every one's name and then required the very same from them, if not, they were required to do 5 push-ups for each name they missed and they were also given 25 push-ups for anyone that came 1 minute late to class. Needless to say, they were doing a-lot of push-ups the first couple of weeks. So, one day after class, they all got together and took a picture as a group and tagged each other on Facebook! Sure enough, they learned each other's name and were nearly perfect for the next class. What mattered to me was that they were working together as a "Team" to find a solution...

We met 3 times a week (Tuesday & Thursday evenings & Saturday mornings)and for the next few weeks I put them through some very challenging workouts that included calisthenics, plyometrics, speed drills, stairs and hill repeats just to name a few. Most of them had never performed any of these exercises and they cringed at the thought of push-ups and pull-ups. That was perfect, I thought..Each time I named a new exercise, they were never too shy to say, "There is NO WAY I'm Doing that," but my response with out hesitation would always be "YOU MUST!"

There was definitely many different personalities that sometimes shocked me, frustrated me, made me laugh, inspired me and then just sometimes made me dig within myself and my own feelings. This was just not a "Running Program." To me, it was a valuable opportunity to help these young ladies experience the power of belief in themselves; Of giving something a try even if they didn't think they could do it and never giving up on them even if they fought back...

One of their projects within the first couple of weeks was to come up with a team name which in the end was voted "Determined Ladies." I think the name started really resonating with them each time they completed a demanding workout which was pretty much every practice for the first 6 weeks.

The weeks went by and even though it was amazing to see how their fitness was improving, I did not back-off one bit. It was important to me to keep pushing them until the very end. Even though, I could notice them jumping higher, running faster and just an overall progression. In week 7, it was time to re-test them and show them how far they have come...We re-tested them on the 1.5 mile reservoir run as they did on the very first day. The results were nothing short of astounding! 100% of the girls improved and cut between 3-7 minutes off their time.

While recording and comparing their times, I was definitely moved with emotion. From my own personal experience, I knew what it felt like to have a coach push me so hard and believe in me more than me. It was that which made me perform to the best of my ability in amateur boxing and helped me become the first female ever to be voted "Athlete of the Year," by the United States Olympic Committee.

However, I needed to stay strong as their big moment was still awaiting. I gave them each a high five for a job well done and did point out how far they have come. We still had a week left of workouts before their big 5k. The big day was suppose to be on Saturday, August 27th; the day before Hurricane Irene was suppose to hit NYC, but the City of NY cancelled ALL events including our 5k. I was truly disappointed at first, but then realized, it was such a great metaphor for what truly happens in life. We can plan all we want, but life happens and we have to "roll with the punches," readjust and keep pressing forward.

I had to re rally the girls for an extra week of workouts and found another 5k the following weekend. The extra week of workouts was not suppose to be brutal, but instead, focus on maintaining what they had built over the past 8 weeks. On September 10, 2011, "Determined Ladies" ran and completed the Continental Breakfast 5k successfully! I waited for each and everyone of them as they crossed the finish line placing a finisher's medal around their neck with the biggest smile ever.

This was truly an unforgettable and rewarding Summer that has left and amazing impression in my heart. Thank You "Determined Ladies" for allowing me to coach you. My hope is that you will always remember this program during any times of difficulties and know that you can do ANYTHING, if you just give it a try. YOU are your own hero and Don't ever let anyone tell you "You Can't." Everything you need is already inside. You all were definitely worth the effort!

As a special treat that just added to the emotion, my 13 yr old niece was inspired by the "Determined Ladies" to also participate in her very first 5k with them. Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm and I was ever so proud that it rubbed off on so many wonderful people this summer!

So for now, my mission was accomplished...When you genuinely want to inspire and get through to someone, it takes dedication, commitment and never ending belief and regardless of age, gender or race, the barriers will fade. It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living!

"Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams!"

Much Love,
Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar
www.patriciaalcivar.com

"La Humildad"...Humility

~ Life is a long lesson in humility. ~

I do believe that Life is a long lesson in humility. Humility has so many meanings, but to me it is accepting your faults, realizing your weaknesses/shortcomings & striving to always overcome them. Acceptance is not submission; it is acknowledgement of the facts of a situation. Then deciding what you're going to do about it.

As a child, I grew up being really afraid of the water after my father threw me in the ocean thinking my survival instincts would kick in, but instead, I nearly drowned. Ever since then, I was petrified of being in the deep waters but as I got older, I realized that the fear of the water was also tied to my fear of life, my fear of the dark, of failure & my most inner demons.

I always admired & loved watching triathletes compete, so about 6 years ago, I decided to learn how to swim. My first lesson was a disaster! I panicked the minute I got in the water & spent my entire lesson learning how to blow bubbles without passing out. Talking about humility! I spent the next 8 weeks learning the freestyle stroke, breathing & more bubbles to relax.

My belief has always been to choose a goal to intensify the meaning of what you are doing, so of course, I chose a triathlon. After 8 weeks, I was ready to participate in my 1st ever Triathlon in Harriman State Park. The morning of the Triathlon, I was surprisingly very cool until my "wave" was called & I was standing in the middle of hundreds of cap covered heads. I had only experienced swimming in the nice clear blue pool by myself, so I felt an incredible heaviness in my chest. Once the horn sounded to start my wave, I put my face in the water & felt everything literally go dark! I was swimming in Sebago Lake which was crazy dark & all my fears came back! I couldn't breathe & started to panic. Within seconds a lifeguard on a kayak came to my rescue & asked me to hold on. He asked me to climb up & take a breather which sounded perfect until he said, "if you do, you are disqualified!"

The thought of failing horrified me more than the fear of the water! The lifeguard also said, "If you decide to go back out there, you must complete the swim in under 30 minutes." I held on for about a minute & went back out there. Everything I had learned in the pool went out the window! I doggie paddled, backstroked, side stroked & even invented a few of my own. My official swim time was 29:45! The bike & the run was a piece of cake compared to the swim & I managed to finish my 1st ever Triathlon! I participated in a few more Triathlons after that including a Half Ironman, but always seemed to struggle big time on the swim. I was discouraged and kind of gave up. I am so used to being good at everything I set my mind to and couldn't understand why I couldn't kick ass in the swim.

I got overwhelmed with anxiety and uncertainty that I decided to take some time off from Triathlons. "Some time" meant about 3 yrs+ and in reality, I was running away from my fears. The water represented so many things I am afraid of & unless I stood up to them, they would always be in my path. Failing doesn't make you are a failure. Giving up, accepting your failure, refusing to try again does!

After relocating back to NYC last year, I decided to start new and accept everything about myself! I mean everything and have no regrets. On my list of dreamy goals is to one day complete an Ironman, but I have to be realistic and take the proper steps and address my fears with 100% sincerity & humility.

Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day, saying,
"I will try again tomorrow."
- Mary Anne Radmacher

I got back in the pool this past March with my younger sister with a goal in mind of participating in a Triathlon in July. We encouraged each other through some difficult swimming sessions and it seemed that anytime I was having a challenging time in my personal life, it would be reflected in the pool. The difference this time was my self awareness, acceptance & the courage not to give up.

On July 23rd, I came back to Triathlon Racing at the NYRR Triathlon. I was not perfect in the swim, but I was able to get through it and at the same time, I saw my sister complete her first Triathlon ever! It was definitely a great day of accomplishment for both of us!


Even though I struggled once again on the swim, this time, I was not discouraged and instead decided to go right back in the water the following week at the Central Park Triathlon and it totally paid off! I struggled less in the water, attacked the bike and the run and placed 9th female overall and swept my age division placing 1st!


I was once again very proud of my sister as she completed her 2nd Triathlon ever & I got to "Face My Fears" and take a step closer to living my dreams. This Sunday, August 7th, I will take another step and participate in my first open water triathlon of the year at the Nautica NYC Triathlon which starts in the Hudson River. I am definitely anxious and afraid, but come Sunday, I will not let that stand in the way and as a special friend said to me when the fears creep up, say "Fear, I spit in your face! I trained way too hard for this!"

To me, Triathlons, Boxing, Running and competing in general are all opportunities to learn a valuable lesson to apply to your life on humility, on accepting and improving your weaknesses, on taking a leap of faith and never giving up on yourself and for that, I am truly grateful!

Much Love,

Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar
"Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams!"
www.patriciaalcivar.com

"Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them!"

"Fighting" for My Life!

What is Strength? It's not just built of limbs, a tangled muscle & sinews. It's not just the bash of helmets on shoulders or crack of a baseball punching holes in the sky. Strength is a feeling...A Power...A Look. A shout tapped deep from within that says, I will Persist. I will Conquer. I will Prevail. That says this is the moment it all begins. That says I will not settle for anything less that I can be, share or do...If we just chose to Listen...I HAVE CHOSEN TO LISTEN!

From a very young age, I have literally been "fighting" for my life and dreams. From calling the police on my father to being on my own since I was 15 years old to each opportunity I take to stand up for what I believe in. Each day I pray for continued strength to never give up and to be able to accomplish my goals while being a positive influence in the lives of my loved ones, friends, athletes, women & anyone who has needed hope through my athletics and the way I live my life inside & outside of the ring.

Boxing to me represents an opportunity to continue to "Fight" for my life and dreams. The will is stronger than anything I could ever imagine. 10 days before my 5th professional fight on April 2nd in Jupiter, Florida, I was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection. The doctor advised me not to get on the plane on the afternoon of March 23rd. I was on my way to Florida to get my body acclimated to the warmer weather as I would be fighting in the middle of the day in an outdoor stadium. Dr. Brody had his nurse come in as a witness to both the conversation & the signing of a document he had prepared advising me not to get on the flight that afternoon or fight on April 2nd. I had debated with him and told him I could "tough" this out as I fought my 2nd pro fight with a broken foot. His response was "I would rather you fight with a broken arm as that won't kill you."

I would be prescribed an antibiotic (Zithromax) for 5 days and without a doubt I got on that plane. My condition did worsen for a couple of days and I was afraid, but kept never ending hope. I took my workouts down a notch, but still ran during the warmest parts of the day. Fight day had arrived and although my body did not feel 100%, my heart & my will were going to give 1,000%. I was after all "Fighting" for My Life and Dreams!

On April 2nd, the sun was beaming and the humidity was high. I would over hear a couple of the fighters say that they could feel the heat from the boxing ring canvas burning their feet as there was no coverage from the sun. I entered that ring knowing in my heart that I was going to give my very best no matter what. I gave one of my very best performances under very challenging circumstances, but proved once again that anything done with passion and faith, can & will provide outstanding results!

My Desire & hope is to continue to approach everything in my life with much dedication, perseverance and fortitude. I believe the secret to lasting success is not something you find with an X on an old map. It must be MADE. It's being a creator and an INFLUENCER. It's being on a roll..Being an ULTIMATE, unrelenting, uncompromising go-getter. It's of GRIT & Determination, GUTS & MIND...It's a chain linking mastery & momentum and it drives you ever forward...Ever learning. Ever reaching. Ever striving for the next breakthrough....And it means never ever stopping. EVER!

With Much Love,
Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar
"Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams!"
www.patriciaalcivar.com
FaceBook: Patricia "Patty Boom Boom" Alcivar Fan Page

Agua Dulce, Agua Sala'...Sweet water, Salt Water

In 1997, I was standing in the middle of a boxing ring in Augusta, Georgia getting the first ever Women's National Amateur Boxing Championship belt placed on my little waist after fighting & winning my preliminary bouts for 3 days straight and then facing off a very tough opponent on the championship night under very challenging circumstances.

"Agua Dulce, Agua Sala," (Sweet water, Salt Water) is a metaphor for life...In that moment in 1997, I felt both. The feeling of giving it my all, having my trainer say he was proud of me & the inner satisfaction was definitely "Agua Dulce!" Not having any of my family members there, not knowing if I would ever feel this way again and not knowing what the future holds was "Agua Sala."

Well, quite a few years later, I continue to have many days of both "Agua Dulce & Agua Sala," but have been blessed with the maturity to see and accept the true meaning of each experience. Each wonderful Marathon (15 in total)that I have completed has taught me never, ever to give up and taught me that with a strong mind you can will yourself to do anything! With each boxing match, I have learned that my dreams are worth fighting for and each triumph brings me a little closer despite the obstacles that always seem to present themselves. Every person that has come into my path has taught me a valuable lesson about myself & life even if those people are no longer in my life.

So, these days, "Agua Dulce" is the opportunity to welcome each day with a run, workout, prayer and gratitude. "Agua Dulce" is the being thankful for the very special people in my life and appreciating their qualities & contribution to my life. "Agua Dulce" is all the adventures I get to experience, face my fears & live my dreams & have no regrets.

Life is all about balance and you can only appreciate the sunshine that much more after rainy days, so of course there must be "Agua Sala" which to me means tears, moments of sadness and trying days. I have definitely experienced my share of "Agua Sala" during injuries/illnesses, not so great performances, failed relationships and disappointments.

I deal with my "salty water" days the best way I know how & that is relying on faith, prayers, strength & determination and realizing that each "salty water" day has a good purpose in my life & will teach me a meaningful lesson.

My wish for my loved ones, friends & supporters is for more of those beautiful days of "Agua Dulce" where you feel like you can fly and reach new heights and for those "Agua Sala" days to be eased with comfort in knowing that after each storm, the sun will shine and with enough faith, things will always get better!

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; But often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."
Helen Keller

Much Love,
Patty Boom Boom
www.patriciaalcivar.com

For the True Love of Boxing!

When my mom gave birth to me, she had not picked out a name for me. Talking about last minute planning..A student visiting her mom in the next bed brought in an old newspaper that she was doing her research paper on. The front cover picture caught my mom's attention. It was a picture of a woman with a machine gun holding up a bank...My mom named me after "Patty Hearst."

For as long as I can remember, I have always fought for my beliefs and passions and have literally put my life on the line for them. When I was 10 years old, I called the police on my father when he committed a mortal crime. At the age of 15, I decided I had enough of an abusive home and went to live on my own. The consequences of my actions were severe as I had to endure ridicule from my family and struggle to pay rent, go hungry many nights and work while I went to school. However, I would not change a thing today and stand by my decisions and dreams.

Even though I went through some incredibly difficult moments, the things that always provided comfort were my Faith, My Dreams & Sports. I have participated in quite a number of sports, but the one that caught my attention was Boxing. Perhaps, it is because it's the sport that most resembles the struggles of my life and gives me the opportunity to once again fight for my dreams.

I spent over 6 years as an amateur boxer winning two NYC Golden Gloves, the Empire State Games, a National title & an International Title. My biggest & proudest accomplishment in my amateur career was being the first female ever to be named "Athlete of the Year," by the United States Olympic Committee. After waiting for about 8 years for Women's Boxing to go to the Olympics, I took a break from boxing and always felt like I had unfinished business and had not done everything I could in the sport.



Against all odds, on October 9, 2009, I made my professional boxing debut in Columbia, TN. Little did I know the extreme challenges in the sport of pro boxing. There would be no purse (pay) for me and my opponent & venue changed about 6 times. My reward would be a first round knockout and the personal victory of doing something I truly loved and the satisfaction of taking that first step towards my ultimate dream of becoming World Champion.

Almost 17 months & 3 fights later, not much has changed. In order to keep fighting for my dreams & be able to train and make ends meet, I have had to work a number of freelance/part-time gigs and have compiled quite the resume with skills that include: Event Management, Personal Training, Translating/Interpreting, Dog Walking, Babysitting, Massage Therapy and my latest after graduating with honors, Emergency Medical Technician!

Some female boxers like myself are not fortunate enough to have their professional boxing careers funded in order to train full time. It truly is a big sacrifice and I do it for the True Love of Boxing and My Dreams! On March 4th, I will be taking a closer step towards my dreams when I fight my 4th professional fight in my hometown of Queens, NY! In attendance for the first time will be my mom, younger sister & niece. It is an amazing opportunity which I am so thankful for, however, in order to make it truly successful, I definitely need the support of my supporters! Ticket Sales are an amazingly important part of professional boxing. Links to purchase tickets are included below...

http://www.wix.com/jsizzle141/boomboomtickets OR my website at:
http://www.patriciaalcivar.com/updates

In closing, I just want to thank all my family, friends and supporters for following me on this incredible journey thus far, Trinity Boxing for providing a safe & reliable place to train and my manager, Johnny who works exceptionally hard to make my dreams a reality! I thank God for giving me the opportunity to Dream High for my chance to Fly High!

Much Love,
Patty Boom Boom
www.patriciaalcivar.com

"Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go,
be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and
one chance to do all the things you want to do"

Los Caminos De La Vida – The Paths of Life

The title of my blog is "Los Caminos De La Vida," which means The Paths of Life. This is the title of a Colombian vallenato that I grew up listening to on the very popular Hispanic radio station, "Radio Wado 1280." I still listen to this radio station in the early mornings & the song was featured very appropriately yesterday,the day before my Graduation as an EMT. Whoa! I have had a lump in my throat all day yesterday and today...It is a familiar bitter sweet feeling I get after a difficult journey.

In 1997, someone who believed in me more than me, encouraged me to enter the 1st ever Women's Amateur National Boxing Championships. I had just lost a very close decision in the NY Daily News Golden Gloves in Madison Square Garden and honestly wasn't sure I was mentally ready. I remember my trainer's words 3 months prior to the big tournament like it was yesterday, "We are going to bust our butts and work harder than any girl out there! Mark my words, YOU WILL BE A NATIONAL CHAMPION!"

We overcame some rough adversities throughout our training that summer including recovering from a broken right wrist, but we were laser beamed focused and had one goal in mind..The week of the tournament was here! I fought for 3 days winning my bout on each day & making it to the Championship finals! My opponent would be a tough fellow NYer who had impressively stopped her opponents throughout the tournament. I was considered a huge underdog to everyone except my trainer. He just knew and believed in me & my abilities.

Right before the bell rung to start the bout, I took a deep breath, looked at my trainer and then at the sky. It was just going to take that leap of faith to dig deep & give it everything I had. I definitely gave it my all & ended up winning in a very impressive fashion. Right before getting the Championship Belt placed in an emotional ceremony, my trainer said to me "I am very proud of you." It was the very first time someone had ever said that to me and something I would never forget. During the ceremony, it was a bittersweet feeling knowing that all my hard work paid off & hearing something for the first time. What other feeling can ever come close to that?

Throughout the years after that, I have been very fortunate to use the accomplishments from different events to help me continue to believe in myself & apply them in other areas of my life. Each extraordinary moment taught me something new about myself & fulfilled me in a different way. Tomorrow, I will graduate as an EMT and receive awards for Academic Achievement & Perfect Attendance. This EMS course challenged me & pushed me to great heights and once again, helped me see what is possible when you don't give up no matter what the circumstances.

It's a bittersweet feeling that I will feel when I get my certificate/s. It may be that I will miss being challenged with tough exams on a weekly basis & being pushed out of my comfort zone with balancing school, work & training. It may be that for the first time, my mom & younger sister will be present in a very significant moment in my life or it just may be that here is an opportunity for me to be proud of myself and not wanting that feeling to ever go away...

"Los Caminos de La Vida," represents to me a lifetime of choosing different paths. I feel like I may have been dealt with some extreme and unusual circumstances throughout my life, but have been blessed to make the best out of each situation & still make own path.

Tomorrow, I will make a toast & enjoy this bittersweet feeling and look back at my journey through this Emergency Medical Services course and review my plan of working part-time as an EMT, help as many people as I can until I start Nursing School in the Fall while I continue my boxing dreams & pursuit of Excellence!

As always, thanking my supporters, friends & loved ones for accopanying me on this journey!



"Face Your Fears, Live Your Dreams!"

Patricia Alcivar
"Patty Boom Boom"
www.patriciaalcivar.com


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L9itEadUCE