We did it!
The Second Annual Polar Plunge raised over $190,000 for Special Olympics!!
Now that’s something to get excited about!!!
🙂
Millions of thanks to everyone who donated to my fundraising page. All of the money raised truly went to a great cause. Being there today, surrounded by so many Special Olympic athletes, inspires me to do more with the wonderful organization. Those athletes truly are the real heros here. 🙂
The Polar Plunge took place this morning at Aquatica Water Park near Sea World.
It was breezy this morning and very chilly considering how sunny it was.
I owe Megan big time for tagging along as my spectator/ photographer for the day. She was a trooper despite the cold.
I think the best part of any type of event like this is the people watching. And boy did we have some people to watch! Loved all the costumes! Next year I plan to go all out with a team and costume theme. Anyone down for the “Running Ice Queens”?
At 11:00 they started the ceremony to announce all the costume winners and top fund raisers. I found it very inspiring that all three of the top fund raisers were Special Olympics Athletes and all three were so excited to be there raising money for the cause. They enjoy competing so much and wanted to make sure everyone else experienced the same thrills they do. 🙂
The organizers queued up all 500 plungers and sectioned the line off to 40-50 plungers at a time.
I was placed in the second group of plungers and made sure to wait until the very last possible minute to lose my outer layer.
Like I said – next sure I’m bringing a costume… or a wetsuit. Both will work just fine. 😉
Brrr…
Oddly enough the water temp had been brought down to 65 degrees, meaning the water was warmer than the current temperature in the air. I mean, you can say that all you want – that water was still cold to me!
The DJ counted us down and before I knew it I was chasing all of the other crazy plungers into the water.
I ran out as far as I could, splashed around for a bit, then hightailed my butt out of there.
Brrr…. It was definitely worst coming out than it was going in. Luckily Megan had a towel waiting for me as soon as I exited.
I owe Megan. Big time. 🙂
We didn’t stay to chit chat. Instead we ran to a bathroom to change into dry clothes and headed straight home.
It was a fun experience, but I’m not sure how those crazies do it up north. Plunging in the snow and negative temps? I think the FLorida version is just about what I can handle. 😉
Megan and I were both starving when we made it back to my place, so I made us a quick lunch.
A grilled wrap using crumbled Vegan Sausage Balls from last night, spinach, tomato, cheese, ketchup, and mustard.
And on the side some carrot sticks and apple slices.
We also split a mini Heath Cupcake from Sweet!
I’m on my way to Tampa now. Derek and I have tickets for Beauty and The Beast tonight! Please hold while my inner 10 year old self squeals. 🙂
Ahhh! You’re so brave! I did that once when I was a kid at Buccanneer Bay over @ Weeki Wachee (IDK if you’ve ever been down to that part of Florida, but it was my favorite water park as a kid!). SOOO cold, I cringe just thinking about it!
Faith @ lovelyascharged recently posted..She Dreams of Feta
Ahh! I grew up in Spring Hill! This makes me excited to hear that someone else in the world has gone to Weeki Wachee and Buccaneer Bay!! I spent every summer of my childhood at that park. 🙂
No WAY! That’s crazy! I lived there till I moved for college!
You’re awesome for raising money for the Special Olympics! My brother used to compete in that and he liked it so much. I’m not sure I’d be able to force myself into that water…at least without someone chasing me! 🙂
Kara recently posted..Ready to run!
Yay! Good for you! I’m all for fundraising, but I sure don’t have the balls to jump into an ice cold pool like that. So awesome how much money was raised though!
Enjoy Beauty and the Beast. If it’s anything like The Lion King, you’ll LOVE it!
Megan recently posted..Its not all fun and games
Congrats for doing the plunge and more importantly, raising money for a great cause. I’m now going to go snuggle in a blanket, because this post made me cold 😉
Oh my 65 degree water would be wonderful, thats the ocean temp memorial weekend! On our way to run this morning, the bank clock temperature said 8, and i thought last weeks 26 was cold. The high this weekend in Philly PA is a balmy 16 degrees (without the wind chill). Me and the husband talk about moving to a warmer State all the time, think my mom would kill me though!
I’ve never heard of one of these before. How cool though for a good cause. And that temp is all I could handle too thats for sure.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..Sitting Pretty
I volunteer with Special Olympics in the summer, but I’ve never had the balls to do a polar plunge up here – yesterday we didn’t even hit double digits! I’m glad you were out supporting Special O!
Kim @ girlevolving recently posted..pizza date night
There’s a polar plunge on the 5th in Virginia Beach consisting of 5k then the dip in the ocean. No thanks. I’m sick of running on the boardwalk and I certainly don’t wanna do it in the windy winter months. Unless it’s a freakishly warm day you can count me out. Good for you for braving the cold!
Carolyn @ lovinlosing recently posted..I’m a Star!!
LOL. Hilarious that everyone else is in full costume and you’re in a bikini!!! Looks COLLLLDDD!
Kath Younger recently posted..Juicy Couture
Heh! I just love that a polar plunge in Florida is 65 degrees. Our polar plunge is usually about 45 🙂 And wetsuits in tris aren’t compulsory above about 60.
Great work on the fundraising, and participating in such a fun event!
Kate recently posted..Recovery and skillz
Up here in Michigan, our polar plunges consist of jumping into a lake that has a big chunk of ice cut out of it so there is an opening just big enough so you can jump in and get out 😉
Krista @ Journey to a Healthy Berg recently posted..Emotional Eating
That’s a real polar plunge!
wow congrats! You are so awesome 🙂
Make sure you stay warm the rest of the day 😉
Marina recently posted..like Alice through rabbit hole
Ah Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie! We saw the mini theatre show at Hollywood Studios!
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Creepster moment: was Derek at the Seasons 52 race today? I thought I recognized him but I’m obviously not going up to a stranger out of the blue to tell him I read his girlfriend’s blog. LOL!
Meghann–
We have a Polar Bear Plunge here in Wyoming. I have never personally experienced it…I’m not brave enough…or maybe dumb enough. BUT we definitely do it a little differently. They jump into a lake…that’s frozen over! They have to drill through the ice layer. I’ve only seen pictures of this event. So you are pretty lucky to have 50* weather and 65* water temps.
So, so fun. What a great and memorable thing to do. Stay warm!
Brrrr!!!!!
I used to date a guy who did polar plunges! Better you all than me…id freeze my butt off 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) recently posted..Morning Workout Tips
Way to go! My friend did a polar plunge last year with a bunch of people from her college in Wisconsin. I was really hoping to do it with her this year, but unfortunately I can’t afford the trip over there 🙁 Congrats!
Sarah recently posted..Life
Looks like a fun event!
What a great cause! In Kansas they always do the polar bear plunge and there is snow on the ground! I would be shivering for days after something like that!
Kelsey recently posted..Use a Business Instant Messenger to avoid Stress
So awesome they raised that much money!!!
Congrats on doing it and yay for Megan being such a great friend!
Have fun tonight, Beauty and the Beast is my fave disney movie!!!!!! I bet the play is just amazing! I always wanted to be Belle ! lol!
katie recently posted..Date Night and Target happiness
What an amazing event! I love the Special Olympic causes!!! I eventually want to be a public health nurse and do lots of work with special olympics!! You go girl thi was so amazing!!!!
Have fun tonight I love beauty and the beast 🙂 xoxo
Valerie from Love and Running recently posted..I moved
Have fun at Beauty and the Beast! I wanted to go so so so bad, but my mom and I decided to go to Billy Elliot in Feb instead! Let us know how B&B was! 😀
Katy (The Singing Runner) recently posted..Back to Reality and Looking to the Future
That looks like absolutely hell, but at least it’s for a good cause 🙂
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) recently posted..Getting Organized- Part Deux
Good job taking the plunge!! So jealous you are seeing beauty and the beast!!
Lauren @Hungry Dancer recently posted..Wrap it up
I kind of had to giggle at this “plunge”. We have to have tons of medics here for our Polar Bear plunge because there really is the chance of going into shock and/or hypothermia. Either way, congrats on being part of such a great cause!
Have fun at B&TB! How exciting 🙂
Lacey @ Lake Life recently posted..MLK day black-out
Awesome job! They do a Polar Plunge at the big lake near me in March, and I think the water is only 40 or so degrees, maybe colder. I could never do it!
Lauren recently posted..Redhead Ramblings
that’s awesome that you did a polar plunge (even if it was a florida version!). i’ve worked with developmentally disabled individuals for a long time, and special olympics is truly one of the highlights of some of their lives. they are always so proud to compete and get their medals. it’s a cause i 100% believe in!
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OMG OMG OMG!!! I love Beauty and the Beast! I’m squealing right along with ya!
Tale as old as time…I love Beauty and the Beast and am jealous. I saw it years ago in DC.
You’re right, if you are going to do a Polar Plunge, Florida is the place to do it!
Lee recently posted..Dinner Guests
Okay that seriously does not even LOOK like fun! 🙂
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey recently posted..scholarly pup
And I got you on video today! Congrats on a brave plunge!
I’ve had friends do the Polar Plunge here in Minnesota. I’m with you–I could never be THAT crazy!!
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat recently posted..Who Loves Going to the Dentist
It ain’t legit unless your head goes under. 😛
Seriously, though, great cause! I used to do it in college – we had a polar plunge in the pond and always had to break a hole through the ice. I remember that the plunge almost wasn’t as big a deal as trying to get back to your shoes through the snow and not wipe out on the ice!
If you did it all four years of undergrad you’d get a “golden towel” with your name embroidered on it, heh.
Congrats on the plunge, you did it 😀
My brother in law does winter plunges in freezing temps in the Amsterdam!!! Unbelievably cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiran recently posted..Home-made Pumpkin Spiced Chai
Hooray for raising money for the special olympics! My first half marathon last spring was a fund raiser for the Special Oympics of NJ. I could never do a polar plunge! When my sister and I were kids, we’d go in our backyard pool when the water was in the 60s, but as I got older there was no way that was happening! Have a great time at Beauty and the Beast.
RunningOnCoffee recently posted..Thursday nights Boot Camp kicked my butt
Props for getting in the water! No way I could do that 😉
Wow! That looks soo fun…I think I could handle it plus I love any chance to dress up! It was definitely cheating with wetsuits though…Have a great time at Beauty and the Beast! P.s. Heath is my second favorite from Sweet=)
Grace recently posted..At the Copa…Copacabana
I think the New England plungers would have killed for the Florida version 🙂 Looks like a great time though, go you for going out there for such a great cause!!
Emily recently posted..Something New- Lentil Stew!
Your face coming out of the water is priceless. I couldn’t do it in the arctic either. Brrr!
Maren recently posted..snack-tastic afternoon
You seriously keep paying it forward. You have some pretty awesome karma going on 🙂 Way to go!!!
Aleyta recently posted..My sweet husband and outfit of the week
Woo hoo!! You go crazy girl!! 😀
Christin@purplebirdblog recently posted..Grocery Goodness
That looks cold, but if you stay in for awhile you get used to the temperature!
You did it! Haha awesome! I am from the north and I don’t know how people jumped in the river in Pittsburgh just last month… CRAZY. Lunch and the cupcake looks awesome 🙂 Wraps are so yummy for lunch… or any time ;p
Allie recently posted..I have to admit
It made me giggle to see you both wearing purple jackets, for some reason….so coordinated, hehe. And great job taking the plunge! Such a great cause. 😀
brrrrrrrrr I am cold just thinking about it!!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) recently posted..My new equal favourite – Carrot and coconut cake
That is fantastic! Good for you and congratulations on raising that much money for a great cause!
Tracy @ Commit To Fit recently posted..A Happy- Healthy Hike
Meghann! I cannot stop laughing! I LOVE the look on your face when you’re in the water. Like I said you’re a brave crazy soul! I love it!
Lauren @ Team Giles recently posted..Everybody loves YouTube on Friday
I love this idea! So fun and it raises money where did you find out about it?
<3
Jess
I’m impressed! There is literally no way in hell that I would jump into cold water in the wintertime. At least not up here in New York. 🙂 Florida water still gets pretty cold in the winter, too!
Lauren @ Running Examiner recently posted..Run in the New Year
I grew up in Ontario – when our pool hit 65 in the summer it was perfect for doing the first swim of the season! As for the polar bear jump, it’s done in Lake Ontario on New Year’s Day, usually when the outdoor temps are below 0 celcius (under 32 F). Sometimes, they have to cut out a section of the ice for everyone to get to the water. Now that’s cold!
Cute suit! Where is it from?
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