Poker and running up a tower block

I was recently considering taking part in the ‘Vertical Rush’ event. The one where you race up the steps in a London tower block (called “TOWER 42”). It takes the stepping machine at a gym to a new level I guess; very difficult challenge and certainly not one for the faint-hearted. I think unusual events like that and, for example, the GRIM Duathlon make all this training a bit more varied from time to time.

I was browsing their website and noticed the link for 2014 entries on the Shelter (Charity) website. That gave me the possibility, perhaps, for taking part in a more unusual event next year?

Anyway, whilst on the site I got looking into some of the companies who sponsor the event like Gibson Hall, Evian and Pokerstars. They seem to be sponsoring the event for a variety of reasons including, in the case of PokerStars, supporting their mobile Poker App.

I’m all for a Friday game of Texas Hold ‘em with my mates but have never really considered the online version. I guess poker offers the best way to utilise a high degree of mental skill through the understanding of probability and counting cards. My mates are notorious for not shuffling the cards correctly and dealing out in chunks of 2’s and 3’s rather than individually (because it’s faster). That must be eliminated using an automated game. Although I’m never quite sure if the online versions work with one deck or several, like some casinos do (to stop card counters). Actually maybe that’s Blackjack. Shows I don’t know much about casinos I guess.

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Anyway I was thinking back to a Bushy Parkrun PB back in November 2009 which followed a very late session the previous night. I avoided all alcohol (apart from one beer) and left after four hours with EXACTLY the same amount that I came with. At least I got a free Chinese meal out of it courtesy of a generous host.