I DID IT! I got to be a polar bear on Sunday 🙂 Well, really for thirty seconds but it happened!
I participated in the Long Beach Polar Plunge back in 2011. I was going to do it the next year but that was when Hurricane Sandy hit. I was recommended not to go since the ocean was going to be dirtier and filled with more debris. Then the years following, I either couldn’t make it or I was sick… BUT 2020 was my year! I got back into that frozen ocean and I couldn’t have been more ecstatic!
It ended up that I was the only one to take the dive. Originally I was going to be with two friends that were going to be joining me but they couldn’t make it. So plans change and it was Keith, two of our other friends and me. They were using the excuses that I went in to represent all four of us. I guess that was the case considering when I first went in, I didn’t go deep enough to get my entire body and ran back into the waves to submerge my hair! I don’t mind being the crazy one, I had fun!
Not only did they not want to be freezing cold but they do NOT want to push their chances of getting sick. I completely don’t blame them since that was one of my big risks leading up to this. I felt that I prepared myself well and so far so good! Yes, it has only been three days but I’m feeling good! Still taking my Ningxia and Inner Defense so I am keeping my immune system up. If you read my blog, How To Prep For A Polar Plunge, you know what I am talking about!
I thought it was going to be much more of a hassle… getting there – not a problem, parking – not a problem. These were two big worries for me but since we parked blocks away and got there early enough, my worries were gone. The sweatshirt I wanted was sold out but with people ordering online prior, I get it. You snooze, you lose!
The water itself, really not so bad. It did feel cold but I didn’t experience any kind of cold-shock, or feel that I had to get out immediately. Once I was out, my face and knees were red and my feet were getting NUMB. The feeling went away pretty quickly though. It might have helped that it was in the 40s, which for February, I will take! I didn’t have to worry about snow or much wind either so you can say it was the perfect day.
Overall, it was a great time once again and contributes to a great cause! I will be sure be participating again and again and I am looking forward to it just as much 🙂 . Have you ever done a Polar Plunge? Were you at this one and I missed you?
If you would like to watch the video of me basically falling into the ocean, you can watch it on my Instagram post for this blog!
See ya,
Samm 🌻
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