We host some amazing and inspiring people in our villas.  Not least this group of college friends who now reconnect regularly – thanks to the power of Facebook and the Central Florida Tough Mudder events.

If you’re not familiar with the Tough Mudder concept it’s an opportunity to raise funds for the Wounded Warriors charity through 12 miles of teamwork and running with military-style obstacles thrown in.  And when we say military-style obstacles we’re talking barbed wire, dangling live wires and Berlin walls… Let’s just say it puts the Ellis Exclusive Villas team’s New Year’s resolutions about a health kick to shame!

The six members of the ‘Fear the Beard’ team pictured here (above) before embarking on the race are (back row, left to right) Ed, Conrad, Michael; (front row, left to right) Jason, Bryan and Mike.  Another three college buddies completed the team (and the Tough Mudder course), most of whom stayed at the Ellis Exclusive Villas holiday home “Jasmine” in Kissimmee.

Michael found us via Flipkey and said staying in a villa was much better than their previous year’s approach of all staying in hotels:  “Last year we all stayed in different hotels and meeting up after the race was more difficult.  This year we were all in the one spot.  The villa was just three miles from the race site so it was easy to head back there, take a shower, get the mud off, and then all play by the pool.”

If you’re wondering where the Fear the Beard team name comes from it was inspired by San Francisco Giants baseball star Brian Wilson, who sports a rather impressive beard of his own. Michael says it was just a bit of fun and an excuse not to shave for five weeks!  And it gave an extra dimension to washing the mud off after, we guess!

Although we have to say the boys really looked after our property and left not a trace of mud behind them.  It really was a pleasure to host them.

Happily, the feeling seems to be mutual because Michael told us: “We really appreciated the convenience of booking a villa, the great location, and the way the Ellis team took care of us.  They said they would give us a welcome pack, but we weren’t expecting the beer to be thrown in too!  We’d book again with Ellis Exclusive Villas in a heartbeat!”

Team Fear the Beard: congrats guys and we look forward to hosting you again this year!