For at least as many years as we’ve been organizing this event, we’ve been asked -- and even asked ourselves -- why it is that so many people willingly jump into the Chesapeake Bay in the dead of winter. And while I don’t pretend to have a concrete answer, in my 13th year I do have a few theories.
First and foremost – it’s just plain fun. I recently did a Google search on the benefits of cold water, and found a treasure trove of information on how cold water therapy – long popular in Europe but slow to catch on in the US – is actually good for your health. It enhances mood, boosts your immune system, increases blood flow and can even reduce pain and inflammation. Anyone remember retired Raven Mike McCrary laughing during a television interview about how the Plunge was the one day a year that his tortured knees felt okay? Turns out there’s a ton of scientific research to back that up.
But fun only gets you so far. Fun gets old. Fun doesn’t necessarily continue to grow for 13 years. And so I submit to you that the Plunge is more than just fun. It’s a build-up of excitement and anxiety, followed by a rush of adrenaline hard to find as we slog through our daily to-do lists. Don’t believe this? Plunge one time and try to do so without screaming or laughing or cursing or whatever bursts forth from your mouth involuntarily upon impact with 30-something degree water. At the very least, you know you are alive.
It’s also an easy way for the average mortal to embrace his or her wild side without risking life and limb. Not everyone wants to climb Everest or jump out of an airplane. But everyone wants a little adventure, and spending a festive day at Sandy Point State Park surrounded by family and friends while you simultaneously work up the nerve to actually run shrieking into the Bay is just the taste of crazy that most of us need.
And finally – and this last point couldn’t be more pertinent than in today’s economy – it’s a cheap thrill. We are all nervous about the economy. Some might even be scared. But in a world where you can’t put gas in your car, buy groceries or take a hot shower without feeling it in your wallet, isn’t it nice to know that the cost of letting go of the weight of the world for a few hours is still just $50? And it’s a good value too. I’m proud to say that despite some stumbles along the way, we have a good solid event that offers quality customer service and a positive experience. In today’s time, there is something to be said for that.
First and foremost – it’s just plain fun. I recently did a Google search on the benefits of cold water, and found a treasure trove of information on how cold water therapy – long popular in Europe but slow to catch on in the US – is actually good for your health. It enhances mood, boosts your immune system, increases blood flow and can even reduce pain and inflammation. Anyone remember retired Raven Mike McCrary laughing during a television interview about how the Plunge was the one day a year that his tortured knees felt okay? Turns out there’s a ton of scientific research to back that up.
But fun only gets you so far. Fun gets old. Fun doesn’t necessarily continue to grow for 13 years. And so I submit to you that the Plunge is more than just fun. It’s a build-up of excitement and anxiety, followed by a rush of adrenaline hard to find as we slog through our daily to-do lists. Don’t believe this? Plunge one time and try to do so without screaming or laughing or cursing or whatever bursts forth from your mouth involuntarily upon impact with 30-something degree water. At the very least, you know you are alive.
It’s also an easy way for the average mortal to embrace his or her wild side without risking life and limb. Not everyone wants to climb Everest or jump out of an airplane. But everyone wants a little adventure, and spending a festive day at Sandy Point State Park surrounded by family and friends while you simultaneously work up the nerve to actually run shrieking into the Bay is just the taste of crazy that most of us need.
And finally – and this last point couldn’t be more pertinent than in today’s economy – it’s a cheap thrill. We are all nervous about the economy. Some might even be scared. But in a world where you can’t put gas in your car, buy groceries or take a hot shower without feeling it in your wallet, isn’t it nice to know that the cost of letting go of the weight of the world for a few hours is still just $50? And it’s a good value too. I’m proud to say that despite some stumbles along the way, we have a good solid event that offers quality customer service and a positive experience. In today’s time, there is something to be said for that.
And that brings me to my final point of this first blog – and that is that we expect a successful 13th Annual Plunge because having something positive to look forward to couldn't come at a better time. The Plunge is more than just an event, more even than an experience (as we are fond of saying)…it has morphed into a reunion for a big, crazy family that gets together maybe just once a year, but all year long looks forward to the party. This event is not a corporate giant and certainly doesn’t fit in with the black-tie crowd. It transcends politics, bringing together folks from all walks of life to unite in the craziness of it all. This event is pure Bawlmer, hon! In fact it’s as much a part of the fabric of the community as the Ravens or the Orioles are – and we are proud to say it is popular among players from both teams.
It is, you might say, the anti-black tie event -- built one fun-loving, good-hearted Plunger at a time, until last year there were 10,000 of us. And we believe that there will again be 10,000 (or more) of us standing on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay on Saturday, January 24 because a little piece of the Plunge belongs to every person out there who has helped to build it over the last 13 years, making it the most successful fundraiser in Maryland. And if I know the people who make this event great, then I know that they aren’t going to miss out on the opportunity to Get Their Plunge On in 2009!
We have much Plunge fun in store for you come January so stay tuned to this blog, the website, your email and all around you for updates on what to expect when you Get Your Plunge On in January.
P.S. In case you needed any convincing…remember those hot showers I mentioned above? If you start “Plunge Training” now, you can both save on your energy costs AND be Plunge-ready come January. Go Green – Take the Plunge!
We have much Plunge fun in store for you come January so stay tuned to this blog, the website, your email and all around you for updates on what to expect when you Get Your Plunge On in January.
P.S. In case you needed any convincing…remember those hot showers I mentioned above? If you start “Plunge Training” now, you can both save on your energy costs AND be Plunge-ready come January. Go Green – Take the Plunge!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment