Friday 24 March 2017 10:47, UK
Gasping for breath at 6,000 feet and fighting Americans in the mountains where bears and wolves lurk probably doesn't sound much fun.
This winter camp was never meant to be relaxing for Jack Bateson. For a young boxer who's desperate to move on from missing out on the Olympics and getting fighting-fit again for a new campaign, then Colorado Springs was perfect.
The 22-year-old Sky Academy Sports Scholar from Leeds hasn't fought since winning gold at the Tammer Tournament in Finland in November. Up next is the World Series of Boxing this week in Rome.
So how's Jack been preparing for his Italian battles? He reveals all....
It has been a great start to the new year. It feels good to get my mind back into gear and back on track looking forwards and working towards my goals.
I've just come back from a two-week training camp in Colorado Springs with the rest of the GB Boxing team. We stayed at the Olympic training grounds with Team USA and used their amazing facilities which included a world-class weights gym, running track and boxing gym.
The altitude there is 6,000 feet. This made training seriously hard but very beneficial as I have been preparing for my next fight in Italy.
The training camp involved some very early morning runs, strength and conditioning sessions and sparring, plus the obvious boxing training alongside the American national boxing team.
After the first training session I could quickly see it was going to be a tough two weeks and knew the altitude was going to take some getting used to and that I would have to prepare myself to put the graft in.
Training at that height almost feels like there is no oxygen. When you are trying to recover and get your breath your muscles become more fatigued at a much faster pace. The body struggles to get oxygen to the muscles which are working hard. So it just means you become tired more quickly and struggle to keep your form or shape.
At times the camp got really hard and the effects of the altitude started to play on my confidence because what might feel easy at home would be so hard when trying to repeat it at this location.
For example - six rounds of sparring in the UK was easy one week before the camp. So when I was really feeling the pace in Colorado I was almost questioning myself as to how fit I really was.
But that's what it's all about. I knew I would feel the benefits when I got home and that's what made me push on.
The sparring was top class in America and I was able to get some quality rounds in with the likes of Shakur Stevenson (Olympic silver medallist) and other current American National Champions.
The spars were all intense as they always are when two nations get together to help prepare to fight. This sparring is the closest thing you get to a bout and everyone is looking to impress or make their mark on the person they are competing with, just in case they go up against that same fighter in competition.
You always want to get that mental edge in case you end up standing in the opposite corner of a ring ready to fight one another.
While I was in America I had some good news that my first bout of the year would be in Rome in the World Series of Boxing representing the British Lionhearts against Italia Thunder.
It was amazing to hear because I always like to compete in the WSB and pick up the experience of boxing over five rounds against good opponents. I can't wait to get my year off to a good start and pick up a good win on away soil.
I'm feeling great after the visit to Colorado. What felt so hard in the training camp and being thousands of feet above sea level feels so much easier now I'm back home. I couldn't have had any better preparation.
WHAT'S COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS....
FEB 9: Jack Bateson, World Series of Boxing in Rome, Italy
FEB 24-26: Quillan Isidore, Gator Nations Supercross Series in Oldsmar, USA
MARCH 4: Sam Oldham, American Cup in New Jersey, USA
MARCH 10-12: Elise Christie, World Championships in Rotterdam
