Cow Key 0K

April 16, 2018



Virginia





Cow Key 0K

Key West is full of wacky and creative events and one of our favorites is the annual Cow Key Channel bridge run  0K. This annual race across the appx. 300 foot long Cow Key bridge is a response to the 7 mile bridge run and produced by the creative geniuses David Sloane, Marky Pierson and Liz Love. Since the beginning, I think perhaps five years ago, Kathy and I have served as sponsors for the event and found our names listed on the back of the coveted t-shirts that participants get for signing up. Notice that I did not say for running because just about any form of transport can be used. Walking, skateboard, walking on your hands, crawling or just skipping crossing altogether is acceptable in this race.



Graf and Eileen





The race was conceived by a group of friends sitting around sharing a few drinks and discussing that many will never know the thrill of competing in one of the many athletic running events that currently clog the calendar in the Florida Keys, events like the seven mile bridge run, the Key West half marathon or the many, many, many 5K races that seem to go on every weekend. The less athletically inclined who don’t feel up to participating in the more rigorous races, yet still want a free t-shirt had not had the opportunity until the creation of the zero K race. So the Cow Key bridge run was born.









Participants signed up right away and from that first year on, hundreds have shown up, many in outrageous costumes that play along with the annual theme, this year being DisCow Inferno.  The motto encourages participants to “Sleep Late, Wear a Costume, Bring Your Herd, Graze Across the Bridge, Win Absurd Awards, and Burn, Baby, Burn, Discow Inferno.”







​The bridge is about 300 feet long. Runners gather near the Overseas Heritage Trail on the Key West side and finish on the Stock Island side. A water station hosted by the Green Parrot bar is located mid-bridge, and volunteers and signs let walkers know that cars drive on roads and that if they walk in front of moving cars it will hurt really bad.



Jim





People clock their own time, run at their own pace, dress how they want. Some are on relay teams. There are trophies for fastest and slowest, and a Beer Bash Awards Ceremony at the end. It is a family friendly event and many kids, pets and assorted farm animals participate. Even Moe the Sloth from the Animal Farm crosses the bridge ever year.

Greta and Tom










Participants are encouraged to do the Cow Key Triathalon which starts with a shower, then moves to a slow bike ride to the bridge, followed by the run. Bibs and t-shirts are sold to cover basic expenses. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Monroe County Sheriff's Animal Farm. The race is run entirely on the Overseas Heritage Trail, so as not to disrupt traffic.





Heather May and David

At the completion of the race is perhaps the best part, the Moos & Booze Survivor's Party which was held at the new Sunset Green Event Lawn. A DJ, food truck, full bar, Shipyard Beer, $100 raffle and the infamous Golden Calf Awards all followed the actual race, which in reality takes only a couple of minutes tops. Participants celebrated their success with booze, a rather typical way to wind down after a tough race. All in all it is yet another damn fine and fun day in Key West,


one that Kathy and I are proud to be affiliated with.














http://cowkeybridgerun.com/home.htm