Poker in Progress

I know it was three weeks ago now, but I wanted to write some thoughts down.

1) The full marathon winner finished only forty minutes behind me.  So basically I crossed the finish line, caught my breath, stretched out, grabbed a water and a beer, and then saw the guy finish who ran twice as far as me.  His pace for the whole race was under a 6-minute mile, which I might be able to run for 1 mile - but definitely not 26.  Impressive, right?  He must be pretty darn good, right?  Well, turns out that the New York City Marathon was the exact same day, so the Raleigh Marathon wasn’t exactly the site where all the top-notch runners went.  Well, the Raleigh winner finished in 2:34, while the NYC winner finished in 2:09, a pace of under 5-minutes per mile.  Now that I definitely couldn’t do even for one mile.  How’s that for humbling?

2) Yes, I did get a beer - or two - immediately after the race.  Red Oak had a booth there, just pouring free beer for the participants.  Red Oak isn’t my favorite normally, but after a month of teetotaling, those were mighty tasty.

3) I couldn’t believe it, but there were runners who started walking with less than a mile to go.  How can you possibly do that?  Come all that way and then start walking when you’re almost done.  Obviously they had trained hard for it - I mean, come on, you gotta have some pride when you get to that point, no matter how hard it hurts.

4)  The organizers of the race did a fantastic job, especially considering that it was the first year of the race.  No one got lost, which is hard to believe since I always get lost when I’m in downtown Raleigh (I think I’ll stick to running from now on instead of driving).  I don’t know the roads too well, but we definitely ran on Hillsborough St for awhile, passing Pantana’s Pool Hall.  And we passed Cameron Village and Mellow Mushroom - and we ended up right around the RBC Center and the Wolfpack football field.  Sadly, those are about all of the landmarks of Raleigh that I know.  Oh wait, a bunch of big buildings too - does that count as a landmark?

5) If I’m going to continue running semi-seriously, I definitely need to start training on hills.  For whatever reason (height? weak leg muscles?), I’m just lousy running uphill.  I always pass everyone on the downhills, but still - I’d like to be able to at least keep up going uphill, and it seems to take a lot out of me.  Maybe I’ll start running up hills on the treadmill.  I want to be able to beat my brother at some race at some point in my life, and he’s infinitely better than my at hills, so that’s where I’ll start.

I can’t really think of much else, but here are some pictures from the race.

Actually those aren’t too super.  They probably do that on purpose so I have to buy them.

Anyway, since the race, I’ve been slacking off quite a bit.  Partly because I just wanted to relax a little bit, and partly because my feet have been sore since the race.  Not sure if I broke a small bone or if I sprained it or what - or maybe my shoes are just worn down, but every day after I run, I limp around.  Oh well, gotta fight through it.

Two weeks from yesterday is the Marathon Relay, which will be fun.  My length is 10 miles, which I’ll be able to do.  But if I run faster than my half-marathon pace, I’ll be happily surprised.  Time to get back to working out and running seriously again.

Oh, and by the way, check out this funny video from my dad’s blog.

This morning was the half marathon.  And I did it, finishing in 1:54:30.  Not too shabby. That’s a pace of 8:44 per mile.  I was hoping to get under 2 hours, although my only goal was to finish without stopping.  My brother, the freak of nature, finished about 5 minutes ahead of me.  I don’t know how he does it - he runs once a week and I have to work my tail off but I can’t keep up with him.

Time to go watch football and drink some beer (for the first time in over a month).  Go Lions!

Last weekend, I finally decided to set a workout / running schedule.  Considering the race was only 4 weeks away and I was struggling with my training, it was about time.  It had been difficult getting miles in, and when it came time to do my long runs on Sundays, I just didn’t have it.  So I made up a calendar.  Like most people, if I see it written down, and have to write a check mark or a “fail” every day, I’m more inclined to make sure I complete my workout no matter what.  So last week, and the upcoming three weeks leading up to the half-marathon, I’ll be running 5 days a week and lifting 5 days a week.  Following my dad’s advice, I’ll be running both mornings and evenings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Sundays will be my long run days.  And today, I really got back on track and finally feel like I’m actually going to be able to do this race.  That’s because I ran 10 miles fairly easily.  Now, if I can add one mile to my long runs each week, I’ll be able to run the race.  Keeping my fingers crossed - just three weeks to go.

Some other random workout thoughts:

1. I’ve been eating less food but more meals.  It’s a very, very strange feeling.  I’m both hungry and full all day.   Supposedly it’s better for you - keeps your metabolism up.

2. Running in the mornings isn’t as tough as I thought it would be.  The hardest part is getting out of bed.

3. When I’m running in the evenings, usually it’s on the treadmill at the gym near work.  Every night, the gym holds gymnastics practice which I can watch through the glass wall.  And oh my goodness, I stay quite entertained.  Those kids are just amazing, doing all sorts of crazy flips and jumps and other things that I would never be able to do, not even if I practiced for years.

4. Foot blisters are nasty.  Maybe it’s time to change shoes.

By the way, congratulations to my dad, who ran the Denver Marathon today in just over 4 hours.  In the rain and 40 degree weather, with a blister on the bottom of his foot from the wet sloshing around.  This is the same guy who was 265 and couldn’t walk a mile without being out of breath a few years ago.  Now he just finished his second marathon and is already talking about running the next one.  Quite impressive.

Sometimes we’re not as motivated as we should be in the office. I think we might have found a genius solution…

I watched the World Series of Poker final table last night on ESPN, and I have to say that I was absolutely disgusted by the play and behavior.  The nine survivors survived over 6000 players and 6 days of play to get there, only to throw their chips around like idiots when they got there.  Maybe it was being on center stage and the soccer hooligan type crowd that accompanied it.  Maybe it was the potential fame and fortune that lied ahead.  The guy who won it, Jerry Yang, clearly had the strategy that he was going to bet everything and call everything, and whatever happened happened.  The chip leader heading into the final table, Philip Hilm, got into confrontations that were totally unnecessary, and ended up giving all of his chips to Yang, when he should have known that Yang didn’t know how to fold.  The most accomplished player at the final table, Lee Watkinson, ended his tournament by going all-in with A-7 and getting called with A-9.  Ugh.  Those two hands all-in preflop with millions on the line?

The most despicable part of watching it was when every time Yang was all-in, he’d kiss a picture of his kids and say things like “Please father.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  This is my destiny.  Show them the light father.”  Like God happens to be watching the Rio poker room and decides which one of these guys who can afford to play poker will be richer because it’s their destiny.  People are dying throughout the world, people are starving, and Yang thinks God gives a shit about a poker tournament.  Give me a break.  I almost turned it off.  Especially when Lee Watkinson’s girlfriend started doing the exact same thing when Lee was all-in.  Praying to God or Jesus about a whether you’re millions of dollars richer or hundreds of thousands of dollars rich.  Just disgusting.  I was embarrassed to be even watching.

Events 2 and 3 of the Office Olympics occurred at lunch yesterday and today.  And they were both bowling.  We would have done it just once, but the bossman forgot to bring the camera the first time - and I think everyone wanted a second chance.

Turns out Feeve is a former New York doubles state champ.  Not really sure how they do doubles bowling.  Is it synchronized so they both have to roll at the same time?  With the exact same shaped shot?  With the same number of pins knocked down?  Of course, I would never ask that to his face because, well, he’s a lot bigger than me and could whoop my ass.  Not sure he would appreciate being asked if he was involved in synchronized anything.  And yes, he’s a good bowler.  He beat everyone yesterday, shooting something like 165.  I could have had him, but choked in the last frame, hitting only the 10 pin on my first throw and failing to pick up the spare.  I finished with 149, behind Feeve, Biggus (154), and Keith (151).

Today’s event was absolutely shocking.  Dave came from out of nowhere (109 the first day) and dominated the field.  He only had two open frames and ended up firing a 176.  I came in 2nd with 142 - pretty pathetic numbers from everyone else.  I really think Dave spent the night at the bowling alley perfecting his game.  Either that or he took his Geritol this morning.  Whatever happened, it was quite impressive - everyone’s jaw was down on the floor in awe.

Who knows when or what the next event will be.   Poker?  HORSE?  Only God and the boss know for sure.

I rarely play poker any more, and it’s even rarer that I play a live tournament.  I know it’s something I’m good at, but I don’t have much time, and the games are few and far between around here.  Well, Friday was payday, and there was a tournament on Saturday, so I figured what the hell, maybe I’ll win a few bucks.

Oh wait a second, the rest of this story is imaginary, especially if you’re an IRS agent or a sheriff looking to get your name in the paper.  Poker is only for people with gambling problems and should definitely be illegal.  If poker was never around, the world would be a better place - and the forces of evil that lie within the decks of playing cards would be banished forever.  Ok, IRS and cops stopped reading yet?  Great, let’s move on.

So in this imaginary tournament in  let’s say the city of Golly, there were 13 players who ponied up the $330 in fake money. It was really a nice structure, with 12,000 chips to start, blinds starting at 25-50, and levels being 25 minutes long.  So it was truly a deep stack tournament.  I had my A game, making maybe one mistake the whole way.  I did see some crazy hands - one time there was an all-in pre-flop with three players, one having 10-10 and the other two having A-A.  And of course a 10 came on the flop, leaving the players with A-A drawing dead.  Pretty brutal way to go.  I picked my spots, getting my money in only with made hands or huge draws.  When we got down to two players, I had a 40,000 - 100,000 disadvantage, and the guy I was playing was ultra-aggressive.  I got very very very very lucky on one of the hands, all-in pre-flop with A-J vs his A-K.  And wouldn’t you know it, a jack came on the river, keeping me alive and sending my ultra-aggressive opponent into ultra-tilt.  He still had the chip lead after that, but I knew it was over.  It was only a matter of time before he threw his chips at me.  And he did - I doubled up, giving me a huge chip edge, then got all the money in with A-10 suited vs his A-9.  With no help to him, I took down all the chips, and the top prize of $1800 (in fake money of course).  Playing well and getting lucky can equal wins - I’ll take it.

Then  in the cash game afterwards, I got absolutely hit with the deck, getting A-A, K-K, and a set with an A on board, in just 2-3 hours.  And most importantly, I got paid on all those hands.  So I won another $700.  All in all, after tipping the tourney dealer, I made a little over $2100 on the day.  Not too shabby.  Um, again, hypothetically.

Sometimes I feel like the weasels from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? when we’re shooting these videos. I just can’t stop laughing (as you can see at the end of the video).

I almost got into a huge bet today. I thought Derek was serious about betting me for whenever we do the Office Olympics mile race. The numbers were astronomical - more than I had ever wagered on any poker event. That’s how confident I was winning that event. Everyone in the office thought it was on. There was even a bunch of side action. But Derek was just joking around unfortunately. That would have been exciting.

I really need to watch my mouth though. If anyone’s going to actually make that crazy bet, they’re probably pretty darn fast.

So when I got home I decided to see how fast I could actually run the mile. My goal is to get sub 6 minutes when we do the race. I’ll need to improve a bunch though - my time was 6:20 today. And my lungs are still on fire.

Which begs the question, How in the world to top runners run under 4 minute miles? How is that possible? I know I was running pretty fast, yet they can run almost twice as fast? That’s gotta be like running a 40 yard dash in 5 seconds for a whole mile, isn’t it? Ok, let’s try some math here. One mile equals 1760 yards, which is 44 40-yard dashes. The world record for the mile is 3:43, set in 1999. 3:43 divided by 44 equals….. 5.07 seconds. That is just nuts. NFL wide receivers run on average 4.5 second 40’s - and those are world class athletes. I just don’t get it.

Anyone been watching the WSOP Main Event on ESPN?  Some of it’s interesting, but I’ve been very annoyed that they focus on the guys who make complete asses of themselves.  I almost couldn’t watch when they had Hevad Khan and Humberto Brenes on the featured table.  Humberto has obviously decided that in order to market himself, he needs to be the loudest guy in the room.  Hevad clearly has been taking lessons from Humberto, dancing, doing some sort of jungle or caveman mating call, and all around annoying the hell out of all of his opponents when he’s on camera.  One guy at the table actually told him to act like he had won a pot before.  Fortunately, they only showed a few hands involving those clowns.  I’ve been trying not to look at who made it to the final table so I can be somewhat surprised, but if I remember right, Hevad makes it all the way to the end.  Which means I might not even watch the final table.  Kinda sad that ESPN feels like they have to give guys like that camera time.