Bumps and Bruises

I had so much fun this weekend! I got to go down the Luge Run over at the Utah Olympic Park. You know those insane people you watch on the Olympics? The ones who go zipping down the mountain side on their backs, inches above the ice? Yeah. That was me! And it rocked. I can't think of when I've had more fun (as much, maybe, but more? Well..... that's going to be tough). It was so much fun. You get up to the top of the hill, and then lie down on your back, on top of these two rails attached by a hammock...... and hang on for dear life! We started off at Curve 12, which is only 3 curves from the bottom. That meant we weren't going overly fast. Sure, fast enough, but nothing insane. It was taking us around 19 seconds to make it from there to the bottom. In fact, I got through my first run and asked, 'How can I go faster?!?' (Yes, those of you who know me particularly well already saw that coming. But it's true! That's what I wanted to know!) Most of the 'go faster' stuff was 'get a skintight suit, good shoes, etc...' which obviously I couldn't do. But I could do the 'point your toes' bit. So I did. Yep. Sped things right up! After two runs on curve 12, we moved up to 'Tourist' which gave you a couple extra curves.... and a more speed. I went from just over 19 seconds to just over 14 seconds! Oooooh baby was that awesome! And I did brilliantly. I didn't hit the walls or anything. Until the last run. Yep. Totally bounced off both the walls. Repeatedly, just coming out of the last turn! I soooooooo should have been fine. But I must have overcompensated a bit too much, which sent me into the one wall, which is what set of the chain reaction of wall wall wall wall wall wall wall.... to the point where I couldn't sit up and grab the wall when I'd finished the run. And that's sort of a problem! Because you don't end up at the 'bottom' of the track. In fact, the 'Low Point' is half way between the last curve and the end of the track. They have to send you back uphill for a bit to slow you down! Now, obviously those of us doing this intro thing weren't going quite fast enough to really need that uphill, but the pros do! Anyway, it means, as soon as you get close to stopping, you've got to grab the wall, other wise you end up sliding backwards. For a long ways. And that's what I ended up doing. So I just hung out on the sled, going backwards! The guy who helps you climb out is standing there saying, 'Just hold on. You'll stop in a minute. And then you'll go forward, just let it go forward. And now you'll go backwards a bit again. Ok, now you can grab the wall.' Anyway, slowed me way down, obviously, but it was still fun. However it left me with some serious bruising! They're quite colourful today! I photographed them on Sunday so that I wouldn't miss them. But they're still pretty awesome today. Slightly green, but mostly still purple. My ..... not sure what to call him. He's not boyfriend... yet... but you know what I mean. Anyway, him. He said, 'Don't show those to people! They're going to think I did it to you!!'

p.s. -- Things are still going well with him.