2023 Polar Bear Plunge & 5K!
The 2023 new year
rolled in at Blue HolePark as it has for the past
six years.There was a bevy of
activity as a crowd gathered just before 10:00a.m., greeting each other
in the parking lot nearthe visitors’ center. Anticipation began building
while morning stretches were called out anda few jokes and smiles
were shared. The countdown began as participants moved into placeand last second photos
were snapped for families and loved ones. Thenthe start of a brisk run
in the morning warmthwas followed by a quick
jump in the chilly watersof Cypress Creek for the
near-ritual 5K and Polar Bear Plunge at BlueHole.
Richard Shaver was an
intern at the departmentwhen the event started
as a “hike and plunge.”Now serving as the department’s director,
Shaver reflects on whatthe annual affair has become for the community.
“It’s one of my favoriteevents of the year. We’ve
got people who haveparticipated each time,
making it their personalhabit to kick off the year,
and those who are brandnew to town,” shared
Shaver. “It started as away to bring off-season
awareness for Wimberley Parks and Recreationand our activities in the
community. It’s also a‘newcomer friendly’ opportunity for people to
invite others to be involved. We’ve got a widerange of involvement
from serious competitors to families pushingstrollers through the
course".
Online registrantspaid a $25 fee to receive
a custom designed t-shirtwhile others walked up
on new year’s morning. Devil Dog Coffee Company brought their truckproviding a different
kind of morning jolt thanthe plunge into Cypress
Creek and RoughhouseBrewery brought their
van, handing out a freepour of their pilsner to
participants.“We’re about to celebrate our fourth year in
the community and lovepartnering with Blue
Hole and our parks andrec group because of all
they do in our community for families,” sharedAlex Pasternak, co-owner of Roughhouse Brewing. “This was our second
year attending this eventand we appreciate the
hard work of the team atBlue Hole and their drive
to make each opportunity mutually beneficial forcommunity partners".
If you missed this
year’s plunge or wouldlike to stay up-to-date
on the opportunitiesprovided by Wimberley Parks and Rec check out our website, give us a call at (512)660-9111, or email us today!