Sunday, 23 November 2014

Woody that was not a trundle


Sunday 23rd November. Sliding day 1. My timehop next year will be a good one! (Mum and Nanny read with caution) 

We all made our first descents today!!! 

I'm going to keep this brief as it's been a HUGE day and we have another three runs tomorrow...

My first descent was like nothing I've ever experienced and as much as I felt 'prepared' I was in no way prepared for it. It was to be brutally honest 'f****** mental!' I'd visualised the track, practised my steers , walked the track, watched videos of the track etc etc but all that counted for very little that first slide. I didn't have a clue what was happening most of the time, I was able to pick out our orientation points (huge corners) but that's it. My first words when I finished were 'do I still have a chin?' As it had rattled on the front of my sled the whole way. I didn't even feel the bump I took off 13, only saw it back on video. Also, we were assured that the start would feel like a trundle. Did it hell!?! By the end of four (first corner) I was thinking oh my god I'm shifting. And after that I don't really know - a lot of swearing going through my head, absolute carnage. I was quite shaken but quite willing to go again. 

And so I did. Five more runs over the morning and then afternoon session. Runs 2,3 and 5 felt somewhat under control. 1, 4 and 6 were harrowing and traumatic! For runs 4-6 we were pushed off the women's luge start like a bowling ball adding a new steer - quick progression. I slammed into a wooden wall on my first attempt haha! At least that one didn't hurt. The corners with their pressure and oscillations were big adrenaline rushes, but the straights with their bangs and walls to hit scary as you try to prepare for the next corner here. So there were highs but my biggest low came after run 6 which in hindsight I shouldn't have done (mentally fatigued and no idea how to rectify what was going wrong on 13). 8/9-the end was horrific, I caught my knuckles along 7/8 ricocheted my way towards 13 and then twatted (word of the day) my right ankle bone out of 13 after slamming into the wall. Seriously shaken and hurt I got out of the track and couldn't help but shed a few tears. I wouldn't call myself a crier but the pain and frustration got to me and I'd had enough.

So feeling pretty crap I loaded my sled (weighs 33 odd kg) and we went home for .. An ICE BATH (in the snow). Lovely. I stayed pretty grouchy until the video analysis session before dinner (although tea and choc helped). I'm not going to lie I was feeling despondent but seeing my slides (they looked painful) but more so having our coach tell me likely mistakes I am making has renewed my courage and faith to go again tomorrow. I need to let go off my steer sooner if you are wondering. My corner 12 was also complimented which helped restore some confidence and made me feel proud too. 


The ice bath and the hot shower afterwards. Inviting isn't it?

But the day wasn't over. After dinner (where as per usual we played guess the meat) we had to learn how to put snow chains on the van and then check our sleds after the days sliding. It's relentless - track and field athletes are ridiculously spoiled I've come to realise. Anyway we were back at the cabin and I facetimed my dad and family which apart from being told I look tired (do you know what I've been through today?!) was lovely and they gave me some good reassurance. I've since done some yoga to relax and chilled with my roomies. So a positive end to a mad day!!!! 

Quick bits....

The max speed recoded on the track today was 99kph. 
QOTD: I reckon I've perfected 4,5,6 (Hannah Stevenson, 2014) after her second run
Moment of the day: the first slide - unforgettable. And after when we got to celebrate as a group.
Funniest moment: I didn't see this but I am reliably told that Liv slipped walking down to the start and had to be stopped by the maintenance men's brushes. 
POTD: Alice icing her chin, she has a bump the size of an egg under there!! 

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