A great 2007 by Annie Duke
Posted: 2008-01-07 16:42:22By: Annie Duke
It's Been an Amazing Year!
When people ask me how things are going they always seem to expect a poker answer. I think because I am a professional poker player that there is an assumption that my life is poker 24/7. But it really isn't. Not at all, in fact. My life is so much about how my family is doing, how my life with Joe is going, and how I am striving to try to make a difference in this world for myself and my kids. In regard to all those goals, 2007 has really been a banner year.
My kids are doing better than ever, having settled into life in LA really well. They love being near to their Dad and Ben and I have really gotten into the groove of co-parenting down where we really have completely consistent rules and fantastic communication between our two houses. I think we really set a great example for how divorce can work for a family, work better than being married in fact.
This year was a great year for travel for the kids. I got to take the kids to see the Redwood Forest for Spring Break. We all went to Laguna Beach for a little vacation right after the WSOP. Lucy and Nelly got to come to Aruba with me this year and then, of course, there was the amazing trip we all took to Italy over the holidays. Next year the plans are just as great: Boston for Spring Break and Hawaii after the WSOP are already in the plans. Lucy and Nelly will get to go to Aruba again (although this will be Lucy's last year) and my brother and I were thinking about maybe heading to Mexico over the Holidays in '08.
As for me, I also got to add in London this year for the first WSOP Europe. I made some good money with my 21st place finish there and, more importantly, got to finally be a real tourist in London, seeing the Tower of London, Parliament, The National Gallery, The British Museum and Westminster Abbey. I have been to London so many times and this was the first time I got to really see anything. It was really nice that Joe had time to spend the whole tournament there with me so I had my man to share the experience with. That was the best part!
I think, though, that hands down the biggest event of 2007 for me was the change in my health. Feeling so polluted after the WSOP this year I felt that I had to do something and getting on the Isagenix Nutritional program was the best thing ever (thanks Hollywood Dave!). I lost 25 pounds, quit Diet Coke and caffeine all together, quit smoking and went organic and no dairy. I set out on the program in July and still haven't wavered. And now I am going to run a marathon on June 1st. If you had ever told me that before a few months ago I would have laughed my ass off. But back in August I was watching the Ironman competition and when I saw a 79 year old nun cross that finish line I realized that I was being lazy and should really be getting off my ass more. I was hiking three times a week but the next day I started running. That first day I ran for only 8 minutes before I felt like I was going to collapse. I built up to 15 minutes within a week. Then by the end of September I was running 5 miles on a treadmill. Starting in December I ran outside in the Hollywood Hills and it was at that point that I started considering running a marathon. I figured if I could do 12 miles with steep hill work I could run a marathon and I knew I could run it to benefit Ante Up For Africa so everyone could win. I could have my personal victory of completing something pretty kick ass and AUFA would benefit as well.
That brings me to the great AUFA event this past year at the WSOP. Thanks to my co-founders, Don Cheadle and Norman Epstein, and the tireless work of the WSOP team headed by Jeffrey Pollack, Ty Stewart, Gary Thompson and everyone else on the team AUFA (www.anteupforafrica.org) raised over $700K at the inaugural Ante Up For Africa tournament at the WSOP. We had a goal of $250K so we outstripped our expectations more than we could have imagined thanks to the generosity of the poker community and the two winners of the tournament, Brendan Moran and Dan Shak, in particular. This year AUFA is an official WSOP event on July 2nd and we are expecting to raise even more money for the cause.
Unfortunately, the people of Darfur still really need the aid and it doesn't look like that will change any time soon. We will really see what my little marathon effort can add to the money we raise this year. I am hoping it won't make a dent in the money we raise from the WSOP tournament.
Another highlight of my year was having the honor of being asked to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee about the UIGEA. I think that that will always be not just a highlight of 2007 for me but a highlight of my life. To be able to get involved in that way in the political process and express and defend Americans' civil liberties was pretty damn special. Empowering is probably the right word here.
2007…easy recap…got healthy, played some kickass poker with great results, founded a charity and raised $700K for an important cause, testified in front of Congress, and did some pretty cool travelling with my kids. All in all, a banner year.
Annie Duke
