Tulsa's Polar Bear Plunge 2013

[sauerkraut]

Did anyone here do the "Polar Bear Plunge" on January 1st? Tatur Racing put on a very grueling event and I signed up for it as did over 600 people. I won't do anything like that no more. It was very grueling and bruital. They had two heats, heat#1 was at 1:pm and was sold out- so I had to do heat#2 at 2:pm. We ran a mile in 29-30 degree weather and then jumped into  the first of 3 pools, it seemed like the first pool was the worst that's where your body gets the cold water shock first, and you learn that it's harder to swim with shoes on, then you climb out and run a half mile to another icy pool and jump into that and swim across and climb out and run another half mile to the 3rd pool swim across that and dive under to pull out your medal, I pulled out only the ribbon so I had to re-dive and get the medal, then it was a 200 meter dash to the finish line. I was shivering for about two hours after the event. For extra money you cold go into a ice bath. I'm just sticking to running events from now on. That event would not be a bad thing to do in the summer, as an idea have a 10K race like that when it's 95 degrees and you jump into a pool at every two miles or so during the race.

[sauerkraut]

I would not mind doing a regular Polar Bear Plunge the kind that is normally done all over the world on New years Day where you just jump one time into a icy lake or river and dry off and warm up. That's one thing but this Tatur event was over the top with the 3 jumps into icy water and running with wet garb on. Well, at least it's over and now I can say I did it. The medals we got were  great and the "T" shirt's were kewl! The race results should be posted on line soon. I never did anything as crazy as that event.

[DolfanBob]

Congratulations on finishing that. I was shocked to hear about the distance and also three plunges. Shivering for two hours is the worst. I had that happen after a long ride during the Winter as a youngster. I'm not sure that my system could handle what you went through. But as you say. One and done. You did it.

[sauerkraut]

Congratulations on finishing that. I was shocked to hear about the distance and also three plunges. Shivering for two hours is the worst. I had that happen after a long ride during the Winter as a youngster. I'm not sure that my system could handle what you went through. But as you say. One and done. You did it.

Thanks, I don't think  it was  that bad last year (2012) I think last year they just jumped into the Arkansas River and that was all they did  over & done with... A girl I know signed up for this Polar Bear Plunge back in December, and she talked me into doing it. The results are now posted on line. No more of that for me.. When I left at 3:15pm to go home I counted 5 EMS units there and one fire truck. I heard that some people in the first heat got ice cuts from the sharp edges of the pool ice. Yep, it was really tuff. First we did a one mile run that was the easy part- then we went up to the first pool, and that was the worst pool IMO, the deepest and the biggest of the pools, we had to jump in the deep end swim across it and climb out at the shallow end and run a half mile in soaking wet swim trunks and "T" shirts,  in 29-30 degree weather, and into pool#2 dive in and swim across that pool, climb out run another half mile and into the 3rd icy pool dive in and grab your medal from the bottom of the pool and then run about 200 meters or so to the finish line. They had a ice tub there near the finish line that some people sat in but that was extra money, I dunno how anyone could do that. Anyhow, I'm glad I did it now and it's over with and I have this grueling event under my belt- I can always say I did the Polar Bear Plunge Tatur Style in 2013... I would not want to do that event over- I'd do a regular Polar Bear Plunge one time in & out of the water and go to the warm up area, but no grueling event like what I just did with 3 icy dips and running in wet garb in temps at 30 degrees, I was shivering for about 2 hours...  no thanx....

[carltonplace]

sauer, don't miss the TATUR mud run in August. This is one of the best and most entertaining running events in Tulsa (other than the McNellie's Pub Run with Guiness challenge).

[Conan71]

Congrats on finishing it, Sauer!

I'm running again in addition to biking, but I'm not running and jumping in frigid cold pools in the middle of winter.  You guys can have all that you want.  I may try some trail running this year and possibly some "adventure" races.  I've already got several ultra endurance mountain bike races on the calendar for the year.

[sauerkraut]

Congrats on finishing it, Sauer!

I'm running again in addition to biking, but I'm not running and jumping in frigid cold pools in the middle of winter.  You guys can have all that you want.  I may try some trail running this year and possibly some "adventure" races.  I've already got several ultra endurance mountain bike races on the calendar for the year.

That's great, I love running- I never could get into cycling -besides everytime I rode a bike I got a flat tire it seemed. I started running in the 1980's when I lived in Fort Worth, Texas and have been running ever since at first I just ran for enjoyment on the Trinity Trail, but today as I get older I think of all the health bennies of running. When I first started running I sometimes took my 10 speed bike along with me to the trail to ride after after I did my running to help me cool off and wind down but that got to be too much hassle hauling the bike  along everytime I went running- so I pretty much just quit riding it, never really liked cycling.

[sauerkraut]

sauer, don't miss the TATUR mud run in August. This is one of the best and most entertaining running events in Tulsa (other than the McNellie's Pub Run with Guiness challenge).

Tatur does some grueling events like the overnight 50 mile race- I'm not much into mud races or those new fangled obsitical course races I just like the old fashioned running race. I'd like to crack 25:00 in the 5K and I'd like to do a marathon someday. A Lady friend of mine did her first marathon in the Route 66 race back in November. As for the 2013  polar bear plunge I thought it was too grueling with 3 icy plunges and running a half mile between the pools- I think in years past they just did the regular polar bear plunge in the river -you dive in the river come out dry off and warm up, none of that triple dip stuff and running between dips. Glenn's Racing service does alot of 5K's without timing chips, Tatur's like to use timing  chips.. BTW in a mud race does Tatur offer a wash off place or someway to clean off the mud? I can't see driving home full of mud and then jumping into my shower, all that mud will clog up my drains.

[carltonplace]

Tatur does some grueling events like the overnight 50 mile race- I'm not much into mud races or those new fangled obsitical course races I just like the old fashioned running race. I'd like to crack 25:00 in the 5K and I'd like to do a marathon someday. A Lady friend of mine did her first marathon in the Route 66 race back in November. As for the 2013  polar bear plunge I thought it was too grueling with 3 icy plunges and running a half mile between the pools- I think in years past they just did the regular polar bear plunge in the river -you dive in the river come out dry off and warm up, none of that triple dip stuff and running between dips. Glenn's Racing service does alot of 5K's without timing chips, Tatur's like to use timing  chips.. BTW in a mud race does Tatur offer a wash off place or someway to clean off the mud? I can't see driving home full of mud and then jumping into my shower, all that mud will clog up my drains.

Yes, they will hose you off at the race, but bring dry things and towels for the ride home. There is no way that a fire hose is going to get all of that mud off of you, so expect and look forward to that shower.

The mud race is a blast; if you don't tape up your shoes each foot will weigh 10 pounds.

[sauerkraut]

Yes, they will hose you off at the race, but bring dry things and towels for the ride home. There is no way that a fire hose is going to get all of that mud off of you, so expect and look forward to that shower.

The mud race is a blast; if you don't tape up your shoes each foot will weigh 10 pounds.

That's what I figured. That's not for me. Just give me a regular old fashioned race. I'd like to know if anyone posting on this forum did the Polar Bear Plunge this year 2013, and what they thought about it. There were a ton of people doing that event.

[sauerkraut]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz2YJn7Tttg&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active  Here's the event from 2011. It looks like it was much warmer that day than it was in 2013.... In the 2013 event We had to jump in at the deep end of the pool and swim across and exit at the shallow end. In 2011 the runners jumped in at the middle of the pool. None the less it was a hoot everyone had a good time- it was bruital no question about that. Not sure if I'll do again next year or not.