Make your bed… faster! The Coconut Grove Bed Race
What is the wackiest thing the citizens of Miami, Florida, get up to in bed? Why, racing it of course! The Coconut Grove Bed Race is returning to the streets of Miami this September the 2nd to prove that beds are not just for bedrooms, not any more.
Image Courtesy of http://www.alexfeldsteinphotography.com/Travel/Florida/2009-Coconut-Grove-Bed-Race/9560922_bfkx23#!i=652570190&k=i2zND
Participants of all shapes and sizes can compete in teams of five, one lying in the bed and four pushing it as fast as possible along an 1/8th of a mile of flat road. However, this being Florida, a lot of the competitors are young, tanned and wearing what look suspiciously like cheerleading outfits. Even the mayor of Miami, one of the judges, said in 2010 that the top qualities he was looking for in a team were ‘beautiful people’ and ‘happiness’…. yes, definitely Florida!
Image Courtesy of http://welcometomiamiandthebeaches.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/coconut-grove-bed-race-returns.html
To all the Brits out there feeling a pang of jealousy, you can rest assured that our very own version of this noble sport, the Great Knaresborough Bed Race held in North Yorkshire, is a lot more strenuous (if a little less glamorous) than the Coconut Grove race. Teams competing in the Knaresborough race must contend with downhill slopes, rough terrain, and even a river crossing, while the Miami teams simply have to race their bed down a straight road while remembering to smile and not shed any vital bits of costume.
Image Courtesy of http://www.coconutgrove.com/events/the-2012-great-grove-bed-race/
Having said that, both races seem to put equal effort into what is arguably the most important part of the day – decorating and then parading the beds before the competition begins. This is where the Coconut Grove Bed Race really shines, with beds decorated as pirate ships, taco stands, operating tables and pretty much anything else you can imagine; the only rules are that it has four wheels, a headboard and a footboard.
Miami’s favourite thing to do in bed, its annual Bed Race, has always been known for its celebrity endorsements, and last year was no exception, with rapper, reality star and now real-estate guru Vanilla Ice turning up to give his support to the proceedings. The star factor for this year’s race is still an unknown quantity, but whatever happens, it will definitely be an event worth getting out of bed for.
Image Courtesy of http://coconutgrovegrapevine.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/great-grove-bed-race-is-one-month-away.html
About the Author
Adrian Simpson Adrian Simpson is a writer and TV presenter with a profound love of the outdoors. His family, snow, sea, brewing, vinyl, guitars and VW buses mean the world to him.
