Tulsans Celebrate New Year With A Splash In Icy Water

Grant Sloan, News on 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Some of Oklahoma's Own are bringing in the new year with a splash.

The Tatur Polar Bear Plunge may start like any other race, but it definitely doesn't finish like one. Hundreds of runners welcomed in the new year with a short run and a triple dip in ice cold water.

"The first one is kind of a shock, but the second one hurts, and then the third, yeah It's not too bad," Rob Cowles said.

Three pools, two miles, and, it's all for one of the medals to prove they had what it takes.

"Trying to run after that cold water is kinda hard," Cowles said.

But, you might ask, why would anyone in their right mind do this?

"Why not? It's the first day of the year, you might as well," Valerie Suhr said.

For some, coming out of the cold water and into the cold air was a little harder then they'd thought.

"My wife's resolution was that we have to run a race in every month in 2012. This was my first race, it was freezing cold, two and a half miles, I thought I was gonna die," Todd Pennington said.

If you're afraid of looking foolish, then this is not the race for you, because that's all part of the fun.

Proceeds from the race will go to benefit the River Parks Trail systems. And, despite the cold, most said they would be back for the next new years.