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

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

The Power of FAITH!

This picture pretty much sums it up for me...When I realized the fight had been stopped at 1:06 of the 4th round during my second professional fight last Friday, May 14th in Orlando, Florida, I looked up and thanked my higher power which to me is God. This was definitely a magical moment for me as getting to that place was nothing short of a miracle...

3 weeks before my scheduled bout, an MRI revealed a stress fracture on my right foot. A few days prior to that, a kettle bell dropped on my foot making it vulnerable to further injury, however, I couldn't stop training and I kept running and pounding on that foot until I was severely limping. The podiatrist was about to put my foot in an air cast for the required 4-6 weeks! I was in tears and told him how much this fight meant to me. When you speak to someone with sincerity, chances are that you will be heard. This Doctor was wonderful and taught me how to tape my foot as well as customized all my footwear with the proper cushion to relieve the pressure of the stressed bone.

I was to lay off the pounding which meant no long distance running or jumping. I got my heart pounding fix by doing hour long speed drills on the bike & elliptical machine. I made sure to tape my foot up well before my sparring sessions and not wince too much from the ridiculous pain. I was also wearing these crazy hard plastic orthopedics in my shoe that made my feet fall asleep, however, the toughest part was keeping this quiet from just about everyone. Two weeks later, I was scheduled to participate in a tough adventure run called the "Tough Mudder" which consisted of 7 miles of trail running with 17 obstacle courses designed by the British Military.

The thought of skipping this event did cross my mind, but I knew I would have felt as I had let myself down as waiting for everything to be perfect is not my style. Taking risks is what life is all about! I went forward with this event and I am so glad I did! I ended up finishing among the top women in an excellent time and had CBS do a special feature on me (which I just got confirmation will definitely air this Wednesday, May 19th on channel 2 during the Early show from 8-9am)...

After this event though, my foot was extra sore followed by extra hours of icing and pain. The training continued and then all of a sudden the week before my fight, my bout was cancelled! The replacement was going to be a tough and very experienced Mexican fighter. My only fight as a professional was back in October last year and I definitely had doubts, but it just made me NOT want to give up this opportunity to fight again as a co-main event feature under Hector "Macho" Camacho. I see every difficulty as a challenge, a stepping stone so I can never feel defeated by anything or anyone!

The week of the fight, I was waking up each day with feelings of amazing gratitude and hope even though there were still so many things that were up in the air. I felt that the only way to survive was with dignity, pride and courage. Everything fell into place literally at the very last moment and that was when I was raising up my hands in the end...

I am eternally grateful to my wonderful corner for being there and those closest to me. Thank you for your continued support throughout my journey! Although, these challenges teach me about life and having faith & patience it is extremely rewarding to be able to share my experiences and know that they have touched people in different ways.

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God."

Much Love,
Patty Boom Boom