Wow!! What a rush!!! As most of you that know, I had the Polar Plunge this past weekend. It was something I've had on my bucket list & was ecstatic to do it. I would be lying if I didn't admit I was very nervous. I have heard that people have had heart attacks due to the shock their bodies endure jumping/running into such cold water temps. But, even with a warning from my mom, I decided to charge on, er plunge on. :) I am sooooo glad I did! What a blast! I can't wait to dress up next year & do it all over again! They have costume contests, which I did not know about. A friend of mine, Robin, invited me to join her team & I was so worried, because I had 2 weeks to raise the min of $75 in donations. I hit it day 1! So I upped my goal to $150, hit it about a week later I guess it was, & by the night before the plunge I was $5 short of $300! And I am so happy to say, that as I opened my laptop to blog about my experience, another donation came in! I am at $320!!! Awesome!!! If you wanted to donate, & did not get a chance, you may still go here and make a donation until March 15th I believe.
First off, you all are awesome! Those donations just flew in & I am in awe of the outpour of donations. What an awesome thing to see everyone come together to support the Special Olympics of Illinois. Just amazing!
Second, so here it goes. I am registering in a nice warmed tent by the lake & then we line up. Now there was a lot of alcohol for sale for those that wanted to partake. And there were a lot of folks who had a few too many to drink (especially before noon???). I was already nervous. I could hear my mom in the back of my mind "you know, people have been known to have a heart attack doing this". Thanks mom. LOL. And then, there we are standing in line waiting for our flight to go out & 2 men drag a lady totally unconscious through the crowd. Luckily my friend pointed out that she wasn't even wet yet & that the lady probably was really drunk. OK, good. I'm ok. In my mind, I'm thinking "oh man, I hope mom isn't right". It's our flights turn to go out of the warmth of the dry tent & line up on the boardwalk along the lake front. BRR! A large portion of our lake is still frozen over & from my understanding they were out breaking the ice off the beach Friday before the plunge! They announce that the water is a lovely 35degrees!!! BRRR. Only a couple degrees above freezing! Hello? What am I thinking?! I told Robin, I will do it this once but never again. I also announced that I doubt I make it to the rope. (who am I kidding, like my hubby said. I am stubborn, he knew I would go all the way.) After all, I was stubborn & refused to give in to pain meds with my 3rd child until it was too late to get them. I am tougher than I ever dreamt! They announce our team, we line up along the beach & I choose to go on the side where I can run straight out & the rope isn't as far as for everyone else, but I wasn't thinking about how I had the farthest to go to get across the beach to exit the water! oops. They fired the gun & I ran as fast & as hard as I could into that water & after about waist deep I fell forward because my bottom half sorta came to a halt in the water but my top half was going full speed. I was having a really good hair day so I was trying to keep my hair dry. haha. I also had somewhere to go right after & didn't want to go home & wash & dry it & straighten it all over again. I made it all the way to the rope & lifted it. Then turned & went back. judging by the pictures, I didn't realize how cold it was until I let go of the rope & turned around. I got out of the water as fast as could be. It was so much fun! Such a rush. And I do plan to do it again! Every year if possible!
Here are some pictures from the plunge. Some are from my husband, & the rest from my dad!
Thank you guys for taking pictures!
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of Mikel
courtesy of dad
courtesy of dad
courtesy of dad
courtesy of dad
courtesy of dad
Me & my friend Robin, our team captain!
And with that I bid you a HUGE Thank You!!
Another sip of java! Make mine extra hot please!!
