Josh Wale believes running will help him fight his way to the British title.
The 26-year-old from Brampton has been trudging up the slag heaps at Cortonwood as part of five-mile warm-up runs before his daily gym sessions.
It's a relief to Wale who, up to and including his fight with world champion Stuart Hall in 2012, had been struggling with a knee injury that restricted his running ability.
To some extent, he feels like he has been let off the leash now that his knee is no longer troubling him and he has taken advantage of it with even more roadwork to build up his fitness and stamina.
Knowing the date of his second shot at the British title – which is two weeks from now at the Liverpool Echo Arena against hometown southpaw James Dickens – since before Christmas has allowed him to be in peak condition for the gruelling twelve rounds.
"This is the most notice I've ever had for a fight so we haven't had to rush anything," said Wale, who trains at the gym he runs with his dad Mick in Wath.
"Everything is ahead of schedule. I've been sparring with Jason Cunningham (English bantamweight champion) in Mexborough and with some lads over in Huddersfield.
"Jason is a southpaw and, with him being on our doorstep, it's come in very handy.
"There are a couple of things I have worked on since I last fought for the British title, when I drew with Gavin McDonnell (in May).
"A lot of people thought I did well that night, and I did, but that was still nowhere near what I've been showing in the gyms."
Boxers often vary their schedules to stop them becoming monotonous and Wale is no different despite him being a fitness fanatic.
"We sometimes train in the morning and run at night or vice versa," he said.
"That can include anything from five or six mile runs, hill sprints, pit stacks, short sprints. I do different runs every day.
"At night you're sparring and doing pad work and strength work and technique and strategy too. "I love running. That's one of my main strengths.
"It plagued me for a couple of years when I had my knee injury. Now I can run even harder.
"My metabolism is good really. I'm not one of these who piles weight on after fights.
"I'm pretty much fit all the way through the year because, if I'm not training myself, then I'm training kids. I'm always doing something.
"I really typify what it's about being a Barnsley lad. I love every aspect of hard work. When it gets hard, I get going."
Three Barnsley fighters are in action this coming weekend at the Doncaster Dome.
There is a Barnsley derby for the Central Area lightweight title with Wale's West Melton stablemate Brad Botham taking on Robbie Barrett from Darfield.
Cudworth-based super-featherweight Andy Townend will contest the English title with Bradford's Femi Fehintola in a fight that will also be deemed as a Commonwealth title eliminator.
Full previews will feature in Friday's Chronicle.
