I've been playing against my gf who's an even bigger backgammon noob than me. I've lost 7 out of our last 8 games.

When we played in GNU, it said I was playing world class and her rating was awful. I'm sure that particular game was just an anomaly and my average rating will be something more like intermediate.

That being said, how often can a sick bad run like this be expected?

Well it kind of depends on how she beat you. I mean did she just get ridiculous dice 7 straight games or did you make some really bad mistakes? I know that when I first started learning this game, everything I saw and read said "play an aggressive, modern style." And so I played a little recklessly and wondered why my opponents were beating me even though I was "so much better than them." I had to learn the nuances of playing aggressively but also smartly and defensively. So a little more info might be needed. What did GNU not like about her game? Was it her cubing or her checker play? How long were the games? etc. etc. Also, what settings are you using in GNU to analyze the games? That can make a big difference.

Don't complain! It is better that you lose! :-) ( I once lost a gf because I became better than her at scrabble. I currently am a scrabble expert, who happened to have scored 2-0 (luck) against Dave Weigand , u.s champ, in his third scrabble tournament- first as an expert-at about the same time that I lost my gf. Why? Because she started out kicking my butt, and ended up getting her butt kicked.) Don't do it!!! Keep losing!! throw the games, if you have to!!