Week 48 - I didn’t know THAT could get frozen.

I am probably one of the coldest people I know, thermostat-wise - not emotionally, so it came as a big shock to everyone that I signed up for something as bone chilling as the polar bear plunge. I'm usually chattering when it gets below 65. I really wanted to do something crazy - this opportunity came up and I jumped. Well, actually it was more like I walked…


Saturday, 12/1/07: Sayers Dam: Polar Bear Plunge.

Troy and I belong to the YMCA, and they take a lot of our money for a membership that we don't use so much. Last year I was really disappointed that we missed the pre-registration and I wasn't going to pass it up again.

So, I collected money from some very generous family and friends (the rest of you are cheap and will can kiss my spinach artichoke dip goodbye!), and went for it.

Up until the plunge, I was really more worried about what I was going to wear. I really wanted this bathing suit, but $50 is entirely too much to spend for 20 minutes on a Saturday morning. I didn't want to look too chubby, nor too self-conscious, and I have to admit that I own only 2 or 3 pairs of shorts. I'm a skirt girl in the summer and that's pretty much all I wear. Or capris. Neither sound like a good idea. I finally settled on a cute pair of plaid shorts and my tankini top.


The morning of we got up early and puttered around the house waiting for the time to come. I piled on a couple of layers of shirts and a sweater and a pair of jeans and waited for the minutes to tick by with my wicker bag with towels, diving clothes and my favorite robe at my feet. About 10 minutes before we left, Troy started freaking a little, pacing and asking me if I should change before we leave. He was really very concerned that I would be diving in my jeans. I told him to relax and start the car. We were off.

From what I hear, the water was around 35 and the air was 29 degrees. Yikes!

When we got there, I went straight to registration. It was cold out, very cold. I didn't check the temperature before we left because I thought I would be better off being blind to reality.

Here is a text conversation that I had with Tre before the plunge. It was somewhat of a pep talk.

10:09
Melissa: Im congested. It's packed.
Tre: Good luck champ!
10:21
M: I just registered. They are feeding us eggs and bacon. We are eating outside. Everyone is really happy.
T: Drink some hot tea if they have
10:27
M: I can only find coffee and creamer. My fingers are cold. I just ate a huge donut. My stomach hurts. Troy just said, "It's cold out. dual me!" {Although this probably made sense at the time, I have no idea what this means now}
T: Eat some meat and coffee
10:38
M: I just changed into my shorts and bathrobe. It IS Ducking cold.
T: Hahahahahah
10:40
M: A man is dressed like finding Nemo.
10:43
M: I wish you had picture messages because it is crazy here. I'm nervous.
T:Send one to Nick
10:48
M: Those shitty mittens I bought broke.
10:52
M: Group picture time. This was a bad idea.
T: Send us a pic!
10:54
M:
T: That is an awesome nurse.
11:14
M: I'm done. My feet hurt alot.
T: I'm proud of you. Go get warm.


Awe, my sis! She was a great cheerleader even though she was half a state away.

Anyway, registration was painless and I got a Polar Plunge shirt and an Allstate beanie for my trouble.

They also had a breakfast for the plungers. I had some eggs, bacon and a large donut. It was yummy. I don't think that I was hungry, but I was nervous and it kept my mind off of being cold.




I like plain cruellers best, but all they had was a powdered cream donut. I ate around the cream center and only had dough.





Here is some of the crowd huddling for warmth.




This is what I looked like after I changed. I love this robe. Troy bought it for my for xmas and I adore it. Also, I look really small in this photo thanks to the towering photographer.




This is what this dude looks like after he changed.




This guy was kind of my favorite.




This guy looks like my Pop Pop Hambone. If your wondering why he's wearing an orange hat, it's because it's hunting season and there were hunters crawling all over the state park. Finding Nemo in all that orange isn't looking so silly now, huh.




This is Sayers Dam in Bald Eagle State Park. This is actually the boat ramp. I guess that they usually use the beach, but for some reason they did it here this year.




Me getting ready for the group shot.




All of the lovely plungers.




Here are the divers getting ready to get in the water. They were there inc ase we died or had shock or whatever. It was at this point that Troy really settled on the idea that I was crazy.




The first divers getting ready for the plunge. We went in groups of 15 for safety reasons. I would have liked to have run full tilt in with everyone




The first group walking in slowly. It was really very slippery on this ramp and you had to walk slowly or totally eat it.




My group was next. The wait was nerve racking. You can see in the video that Troy took I clapped my hands a lot and jumped up and down. People were falling left and right on the ramp and it was pretty much a blur.

The sneakers that I wore are my canoeing shoes. They have little holes in the soles so that all of the water flows out quickly when you get out of the water. I was worried for good reason about the water rushing in. It was like little needles stabbing me. It hurt instantaneously.

Troy took a video of my plunge, but luckily the Centre Daily Times got a shot of me in absolute pain and misery. I met this nice lady on the dock and we bonded over anxiety.



Here is the video of the plunge. You can see me hold the hand of the mouse for most of the trip, but the pain got to me, and after I touched the rope at the end, I hauled ass to get out of there all the while going, "Ow, ow, ow, ow."





One of the rules of the plunge is that you need to have a towel buddy. Troy was mine, but because he was taking video on the ramp he got stuck and was minutes away when I got out. Luckily I ditched my robe and grabbed it on my way up. That did not help my hair that is frozen in the picture.




I know, totally attractive picture huh? I was biting my glasses and in absolute pain. I told troy to stop rubbing my legs with a towel because I thought he was going to rub my skin off. Yes, it was that cold. I was kind of delirious when I got out.

So, we walked slowly to the bathrooms to get changed. I said Ouch a lot. My feet were frozen for a while. Here are the heaters warming up the bathrooms.




My legs were so frozen, I couldn't pull up my pants. I liken it to when you were a kid and you had to put tight pants on your barbie. That's exactly what it was like, but on my own legs.

We waited around a little for the awards and I finally found the hot chocolate, but I was cold and we had to get to Petco for pictures with Santa so we skidaddled.


All in all, I had a great time. I can't remember how much it hurts now but I know it was quite a bit. It would have been great to have another person there to take video of the delirium that I was in afterward - maybe next year.


I'm really grateful that I got to do it. I feel like I accomplished a lot and we raised some good money for the kids. And that's what counts the most.