Well, he did it. Since I'm taking a break from competing, I just have to settle for living vicariously through Marc's pool success. This weekend he won the U.S. Open 10-Ball qualifier at the Wynkoop in downtown Denver. He played ...

Who new Saratoga was so beautiful and had so much history? My husband loved how western and rustic the town was. Our adorable room at the Hotel Wolf made it almost another honeymoon for us.

You play pool because it’s fun. There’s also a part of you that enjoys the problem-solving aspect of the game. Your brain looks at the table and begins finding solutions to the puzzle. You can’t control it. That’s just how it works. It’s a game, which means there’s ultimately a winner. Your brain automatically begins to troubleshoot all the possible scenarios and outcomes to determine a way to the finish line.

It’s always good practice to take a deep breath and relax before you shoot. However, there are certain times when it’s especially important to take a moment to regroup and calm yourself before your next shot. High pressure situations can get your adrenaline pumping, which can ultimately result in an assortment of bad outcomes.

In the infant stages of my pool game, I was constantly reminded of the importance of practice and repetition. I was building muscle memory and honing my skills. If I went for more than one day without practicing, I could feel my game suffer. It seemed like I was taking an immediate step back and in some cases would even need to relearn things.