Running Therapy

As I have mentioned before I have ran for years. I started running around the time my first child was born. When I first began I couldn't even run around the block. I would come back to our little house near Commercial Drive in Vancouver gasping and panting. My wife would look at me and think I am sure this won't last. I kind of wondered myself. I had ran a bit in early high school but as I got older my running stopped as it really wasn't cool those days to be a runner. Anyways I persisted and eventually I could run a couple miles without stopping. I was starting to feel good about myself and with a new baby and work pressures I realized running was my time.
It was my escape. As I kept at it my distances got greater and one day I decided to enter a local 10 kilometre race for fun. I managed to finish. I was hooked.

I continued to run, my distances got longer. I entered a half marathon, completed it and then decided to try to train for a marathon. I met others who were training for a marathon and trained with them. Most were my age, both men and women. We became good friends. We all entered a local marathon and all of us managed to finish. I still to this day remember seeing that finish line and feeling the sense of accomplishment by crossing it. Over the years I ran many more races and marathons but that first one was special.

What I also realized is that running was my therapy. When I got out the door and started to run any stress I had in my life went away. I would do my best thinking while I was out putting in miles. I would come back from my run and everything was always great. I was always in a good mood. Running also became part of my identity. I was a dad, husband and a runner and I still am.

I ran yesterday and the stress of what had transpired the day before with my daughter worked itself out as I put in a few miles. I know what lies ahead with her won't be easy but I know in my heart that someday she will come back to reality. I only hope its sooner rather than later.

I decided to go play my regular Monday night game last night as keeping busy is good. We had just over 50 players and I had a pretty decent night. I was in a lot of hands last night which in itself was a bit unusual.
I got dealt K9c in the big blind and with 2 limpers the flop came KK8 with 2 diamonds. Nice flop. I checked. A lady who plays very few hands bet, the other guy folded. Action was on me. I was going to just call but the flush draw worried me so I raised. She then went all in. Wow. Did she have the other king?? With a better kicker or was she on a flush draw? I had her covered so I decided to call after some deliberation. She flipped over K,10. Not good. She had a better kicker. The turn was a 4 but the lovely river brought another 8. We split the pot.

A couple hands later I was dealt AK. Somebody had already raised so I just called. Flop came AA6. He bet and I probably should have just called but I raised and after some deliberation he folded. He told me he had pocket tens later. HMM . I probably could have got some more chips out of him. I didn't play that too well in hindsight.

A few hands later I got dealt AK again. First to act I bet 3 X BB which I think was like 3000 chips. Guy next to me went all in. 2 others also did as they were short stacked too. Wow. Action was back on me. I had all 3 covered but if I called and lost I would be very short stacked. Normally this might be a good call but after a lot of deliberation I folded. Turns out I would have had the best hand going in but as it turned out would have lost to AJ when a Jack was the only card that paired in anybody's hand. So I guess it was a good fold.

I went out about an hour later when after going really card dead and pretty short stacked and in the BB got dealt A5h. A guy (who had lots of chips) who I know tries to steal the Blinds raised and everybody folded. I decided to push back and went all in. He called and sheepishly turned over J,5 and he hit his Jack and I was out in like 15th spot. Still a decent night and playing got my mind off of things.