Pirates of the Cowibbean

April 10, 2019

 

 

Pirates of the Cowibbean

Now celebrating its seventh annual birthday, the Cow Key Bridge Run was held this week. This fun and crazy Key West event is a Zero K run across the very short Cow Key bridge that connects Key West and Stock Island by passing over Cow Key channel. Once again this year, Kathy and I are proud to be sponsors of this wacky celebration which this year had the theme of Pirates of the Cowibbean.  Some runners push themselves to sweat through marathons and distance challenges, but not the competitors in the Cow Key Channel Bridge Run.













“Athletes” in the annual “zero K” race will follow a course across one of the Overseas Highway’s shortest bridges, spanning approximately 300 feet between Key West and neighboring Stock Island. Entrants are encouraged to run or walk at their own pace, clocking their own time while attempting to beat the course record of 23.1 seconds. Separate heats are held for competitors with pets, relay teams and those attempting to cross the bridge in the slowest time. 

 



David

Dan



As usual, most of the participants were dressed up in suitably outrageous pirate cow themed costumes, including bull or cow ensembles inspired by the name of the bridge over Cow Key Channel. The theme inspired costumes included “herds” of entrants dressed as bovine buccaneers.



Virginia







It is estimated that between 1500 and 2000 entrants participate in the run, which benefits the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Animal Farm. Farmer Jeanne is always on hand with Moe the Sloth to act as official Grand Marshall’s of the festivities and they are among the first to cross the bridge each year.







Scott and Kristyn





As with all serious races, there is a hydration station midway through the race at about the 150 foot mark. The water station was manned as always by a crew from the Green Parrot led by our friend Jim. The race begins on the Key West side of the bridge as participants gather to mingle and get photographed before lining up at the crack of noon for whatever heat race that they choose to enter.











Marky

The speed record of 23.1 seconds remained safe again this year, no doubt due to a stiff light breeze headwind that the runners faced. Most of the people are not (shocker) serious runners chasing after record times, but simply fun loving Key West locals and visitors looking for yet another excuse for a good time and a party.







A post-race party is held every year at the Rum Row at The Gates Hotel. Live music, food trucks and libations were on hand to re-energize any “exhausted runners” — and glittering “Golden Calf” awards were presented to all the winners in a plethora of various categories.  I simply love this event and offer kudos and congrats to everyone involved in continuing to bring this sort of wacky, fun event to our island.

http://cowkeybridgerun.com/