Polar Bear! 1/1/2011

I've been slacking.  I know.  The holidays pulled me into their delicious, intoxicating, crazy busy trap.  But I did manage to accomplish one list item over the holidays...The 2011 Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee.

Weather:  A Sunny, very windy 

Temperature: 8 degrees

Windchill:  Oh, i'm guessing here, maybe 0 or slightly below 0

The first thing everyone has said when I mentioned this was "so how cold was it?" and to be honest, I really don't remember.  I was so focused on running in, going under, running out, that my brain didn't take the time to stop and register exactly how cold it really was.  Or maybe I was just instantly numb.

And the outfit, you ask?  Well, it served two purposes.  1) Lots of people dress up or dress silly for this.  Lots of guys in speedos who don't normally wear speedos, and the like.  So it helped me fit in and look like a pro.  2) I don't exactly have the summer bikini body currently, especially since i have NOT been good about my running routine since Thanksgiving.  So the tutu provided some coverage.  As did the tank top.

Brian came with me and was my photographer/videographer.  It was such a lively scene that he commented, as we were leaving, that looked really fun.  "We should get a bunch of people together and do it next year.  And tailgate." 

And why not?  A true Wisconsonite will take any reason to tailgate, even if it means swimming in a lake on New Years Day.  I'll be there with ya, Bri.