First Day 5K & Polar Plunge 2024

In an effort to start my year off on a positive note, I signed up for the Ocean City First Day 5k and Polar Plunge.  The middle child wanted to do the Plunge but not the run so I would be on my own.  I met up with some running friends at the start of the race, it is always great seeing everyone.  I started out wanting to run the entire 5K but not having trained I figured I would just go out and see what I could do.  I ran as long as I could, walked as I needed and enjoyed the beach and ocean view.  I made it back to the finish right around 30 minutes. I went to check my official time and I had no results, it looked like I never even registered!  I checked with the race volunteers and they would need time to check into my results.  The Polar Plunge would be starting soon so I went to get ready and figured I would check back later.  The beach was crowded with participants and spectators, we had to push our way to the water.  I ran out till I was deep enough to drop down and get wet up to my shoulders. 

It was cold and shocking and I felt like I had to force myself into the water.  No sooner am I out of the water and I am thinking “I should have gone out deeper, I should have stayed longer!”  It is crazy how the mind thinks.  Wrapped up in my towel, I headed back to check my race results.  They found my results, my official time was 34:08.5.  I looked back to my first, First Day 5K and found my time 36:26 five years before.  Considering the hurdles I needed to navigate with injuries in the last couple of years, I am happy with my time and I am looking at it as a starting point for the year to come!  What crazy thing have you done to celebrate a New Year or other milestone?  Tell us about it in the comments.