Less than 24 Hours to go!

Are you ready for the Plunge?
The lake is nice and cold, bathrooms are working, hot coffee is being donated by Starbucks, the Badge O' Courage is really cute and the lifeguards have promised to go to bed early tonight.
If this is your first plunge or you just need a reminder about what to do, here's the game plan:

1. Find a place to park.
2. Get a wrist band, they are numbered and help us know how many people come.
3. Stay warm.
4. Wait for the count down to plunging.
5. Get your Badge O' Courage from one of our volunteers. But only if you've managed to submerge up to your neck. Please - no diving - it's too shallow! Lst year a guy tried that and he needed stitches.
6. Have something hot to drink, take pictures, hug people and have a good time.
7. After you get home please come back to this blog and leave a comment on the January 1 post.

Here's some more details about the Polar Bear Plunge...just in case we have some new folks this year.

The Best Way to Start 2010 is by Coming to the
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE!
Matthews Beach Park • January 1, 2010 at Noon
Park entrance is at the corner of NE 93rd St. and Sand Point Way NE
We jump in the water at High Noon as a group to welcome in the New Year with a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. Come wash off the old year and start the New Year right! Costumes and festive energy are encouraged.
Warm refreshments will be served and a Commemorative Badge of Courage will be awarded to all those who brave the icy waters of Lake Washington up to their necks.
And we’ll once again feature the new "Polar Cub Club." It’s a special time just before the polar bear plunge, for younger folks or people who need a little bit more room.
Sensible safety tips:
• Anyone with heart problems—just watch.
• Do not drink—alcohol does not warm you up; it accelerates hypothermia.
• Do not stay in the water longer than 15 minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in water than in air.
• Do not remove your clothing until swim time and remove wet clothing before getting back into dry clothes.
The Polar Bear Plunge is sponsored by Meadowbrook Pool and Advisory Council and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Lake Washington

We just learned from one of our lap swimmers that the current temperature of the lake is 46 degrees.
It needs to get colder, don't you think?

Let the count down begin!

Only 27 more days until the annual Polar Bear Plunge at Matthews Beach on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle WA.

As in other years, there will be a Badge O' Courage for all those who brave the icy waters up to their necks.

We are hoping to have Hot Beverages too but so far we are having trouble finding donations.

In an effort to help younger participants we have started a "Polar Bear Cub Club" and we will have a special time for kids (or people needing a little more space and calmness) a pre-frenzy opportunity to take the plunge.

Look for yourself in the following picture. If you see yourself you win a "Free" snowball!

Polar Bear Plunge 2010

Same time.
Same Place.

Be there.