“You run like a girl.”
“You hit like a girl.”
Remember when that was said as an insult? Today, Dr. Jessica Radtke Maltez would say, “Thank you.”
She’s been running and hitting for years, and she’s proud of it.
Jessica, owner of Victoria Veterinary Hospital, is a multifaceted woman. She is not only a busy veterinarian, business owner, mother, and wife but also spends some of her free time boxing and running.
Competing in track and field as a child got Jessica interested in what has become a lifelong passion for running. When she was in college, she visited a boxing gym with her brother, and it opened her eyes to the sport.
Even with a hectic schedule as a veterinarian, Jessica runs several times per week. Running helps with stamina and endurance, which impacts Jessica’s boxing skills and agility.
“I enjoy pushing myself and getting in a good workout,” Jessica says. “The reward of putting in the effort makes me happy, and seeing myself improve in something keeps me moving forward.”
Jessica never thought she’d like to run marathons because she figured it would make running less enjoyable. Then she discovered that not every run needs to be fast, which has made running much more gratifying.
“I began adding miles and enjoying longer runs more,” Jessica says. “That’s how marathons became a goal.”
For those of us who have a hard time getting off the couch but would like to start a fitness program, Jessica may inspire you.
“Running is just a part of what I do on a weekly basis, she says. “It helps me relax, focus, and be calm. It gives me peace. It’s a routine part of what I do for myself. It’s my self-care.”
Jessica boxed competitively before she had children. She took a break for a while but never felt she was done with the sport.
“Boxing is a passion for me,” she says. “It’s been a great way to make friends and gives me something fun to do. It’s helped me work through feelings, like how to feel joy at success and how to move forward and rebound after failure.”
Jessica has several role models who have inspired her passion for boxing, including champion boxers Ana Maria Torres and Claressa Shields. These women make ‘hitting like a girl’ look pretty impressive.
“Ana Maria Torres is such a dominant fighter,” Jessica says. “I admire her for her hard work and guts. She was one of the first female boxers I watched.”
Women’s boxing started to gain some popularity in the 1990s but picked up steam in the United States after becoming an official Olympic sport at the 2012 London Games.
For those who doubt that women boxers aren’t as good as men, Jessica disagrees. She says there’s a stereotype that boxing is just “brawling and punching.”
“Because it’s strategy and thinking, women can box as well as men,” she says. “Women are improving with their style and defense.”
Boxing helps Jessica deal with stress, much like running.
“It’s not so much punching out frustrations,” she says. “It’s a stylistic movement, working on specific techniques.”
For women interested in boxing, but don’t know where to begin, Jessica recommends starting with finding a boxing gym. She trains at WURK gym in Minnetonka, which offers classes and training for all levels, along with Peekaboo Boxing in River Falls, Wisconsin who works in her corner at all her fights.
“Being a shy person, it was easy for me to take a class and see how I felt at first,” Jessica says. “A woman can start at any age. She may never want to fight, but can still learn techniques for fitness or fun.”
She says discipline is the biggest attribute of a good boxer.
“Keep showing up and keep working,” she says. “Being a hard worker makes a good boxer. Also, be a good listener. Listen to your coach and do what they tell you. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.”
Jessica’s husband and family are fully supportive of her passion for running and the ring. She tries to plan her workouts to not interrupt family time, her son goes to the gym with her, and her parents help by watching her children when she fights.
“Boxing and running are key parts of my everyday routine and life,” she says. “I look forward to creating new goals in both, and I want to keep good lifelong health.” https://victoriavet.net/
