Polar Bear Run - Asbury Park, NJ

I was planning on running this race last year and taking a plunge in the ocean after the run, but was injured and passed on it. It would have been the perfect ending to Bob's 50@50. I have been running with a bum right knee the last few months, but have been running pretty well and running a bunch of races so I wanted to finish the year strong.

This would be my last race of the year and I planned to actually go into the ocean. The Senator was swimming so I figured I would go in as well. Taugh decided to join us which was going to make it special.

I was picking up Ken at 11:15, but there was just one problem, a blizzard was approaching. It wasn't snowing when I left my house but when I got to Ken's it was coming down. Route 18 was a mess with many cars all over the road including a few that flipped over. The go was slow and it looked like we might not even make it on time. Ken wasn't running but volunteering.

We got to the start with 10 minutes to spare, used the bathroom, and stripped down to my running shorts and off we went. The race was originally a 5 mile run, but they smartly cut it back to a 3 mile run. The course was an out and back from the convention center times 3. Running away from the convention center, the wind was at your back, coming back we ran into a 35 mph head wind. I could barely see where I was running with the snow pelting our faces. It was definitely one of the worst weather runs I have done.

After completing the race, I still had to jump into the Atlantic in 25 degree temperature and in a blizzard. I finished the run in 25:45 got warm and then ready for the plunge.

Ken had his bathrobe on, Taugh had his boat slippers and I had a beach towel. After a short walk to the beach, we all started to disrobe including Lauren Rhatigan who was the Polar Beach plunge cheerleader. She really was a trooper, yelling and screaming about it and looked darn good in a bikini.

I think there was about 20 of us who took the plunge. The ocean was pretty angry with waves about 4 feet high and choppy. Surprisingly, the water wasn't that bad when I walked into it but I knew I had to go under. Usually on a summer day I hate having to dive in but on this day, I just went under and it was a total adrenaline rush. After about 1 minute of frolicking, I started to get dressed. I couldn't get my shoes back on so I stood on the snowy beach barefoot and my feet were starting to get numb & frozen. I ran the length of the beach back to the boardwalk and to the convention center barefoot and my feet were numb which was the worst part of the day by far.

I will definitely do a Polar Bear plunge again but it has to be with a run as well. After getting dressed, we headed to McCloones for a well deserved beer. In the meantime, the storm was intensifying so we couldn't hang out too long.

The drive home took 2 1/2 hours but we made it safely which is all that mattered.

Next up is a New year's race then another crazy run, The Freezing Cold HASH.