And you've got to know when to fold 'em. According to this New York Times article, Hello, Ms. Chips: The New Face of Poker, more women are playing high stakes poker and participating in events such as the World Poker Tour and the World Series. I've never been much of a gambler but recently spent a Saturday evening playing poker for very low stakes with some friends. It was great! I'm totally into poker now, as long as my total investment remains below the $10 mark. But this article inspired me. Maybe now that I'm done with Kinja, I'll begin my training to become a professional poker player!

On Saturday morning I ran the New York Road Runners' Al Gordon 15K in Central Park. Weather permitted, for a change, and race day dawned a warmish 39° without the forecast rain showers. I ran alone for this race, and was late to the start, forcing me to cut across a muddy field as everyone began and causing me to go off the line at a brisker pace than normal, and in more of a panic. But then I settled in and just ran ran ran, then I ran some more. Never one to give up, I kept running. Then running. And when I wanted to stop, I ran and ran. Then finally I walked a tiny bit because I had cramps. Then I started running again and running and running. 15K is 9.3 miles. It was 94 minutes and 16 seconds of running. It was very long. But strangely, it was fun, and I was very happy as I came to the end, spotted Jason — who gave me a high five rather than snap a photo — and crossed the finish line. With splits of 10:08, it wasn't too shabby. And if only I hadn't stopped to walk, I might have broken 10! Drat those cramps. Of course, looking at my results (enter 'Hourihan'), I've got a ways to go. Those other runners are fast!

Just like the Postal Service, neither wind nor snow stopped me, David, and Alaina from running this morning's Hot Chocolate 15k. Designated a "fun run" by the NY Road Runners, it wasn't timed, and the distance was reduced to 6 miles. But it was fun. Not only are we crazy enough to run in a blizzard, David was crazy enough to moblog the event!

• Here's the start
• Heading down the course
• My shoulder, smiling Alaina, David's arm
• Frozen water at the water station
• David and I chugging along (not really suffering as much as it appears)

Our time? 1:04.38, not too shabby with all the snow on the ground and wind in the air. And at that speed, there was lot of opportunity for gabbing along the course. And of course, our fearless supporters Anil and Jason were there to cheer us along. Meanwhile, unless it stopped snowing while I was sleeping (which I doubt), it's been snowing since ~11AM yesterday, which means we're into our 30th hour of snow! But I think I'm done being out and about in it. From now on it's all BB&B — baths (hot), bed, and books.

Update: one final photo snapped by Anil that I call Triumph!, aka Us at the finish.

6 – 11 inches of snow is forecast for New York City in the next three days. I can see snow already falling outside my window here at work, and this is what's predicted for tomorrow:

Snow along with gusty winds at times. Cold. Temps nearly steady in the low 30s. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Snow accumulating 4 to 7 inches.

Yikes! Tomorrow morning is my NYRR Hot Chocolate 15K, which I'm really looking forward to. Hopefully it won't be too snowy to run, and then after it's over, I can come home and get in my cozy bed and read all afternoon as it snows heavily outside.

Update: totally weird. Exactly a year ago it was snowing as well, and I was excited and posting about it. And a year ago, Gina posted a picture of snow outside her window at work. It's starting to look like that outside our window here at work, a year later. Does this simultaneous anniversary snowstorm mean that we'll have another snowy winter? Or are we experiencing some strange Groundhog Day (the movie, not the Day) experience?

Amongst the growing pile of items to read, I think I'm most looking forward to Henry Newman's Tapes: A Modern History, Trends in the August 2003 Sys Admin magazine.

Go Red Sox, kick Yankee butt! What to do today in New York City. Don't eat potato salad if it's been left too long in the sun. Keep all you digits when playing with fireworks. And remember:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

So enjoy Life today (sunny summer, yay!), be thankful for your Liberty (no work, woo hoo!), and most of all, pursuit your Happiness (picnic? ball game? fire works?). I'm off to Coney Island for beachside fun and Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest.