Part I

Skeleton school coach: “To ease you into the feeling of sliding and getting use to the track, you will be starting at the junior luge start today, about halfway up the track.”

Me: “How fast will we go from there?”

Skeleton school coach: “Maybe 50 – 60 kph.”

Part II

Skeleton school coach: “It turns out that the gate from the junior luge start is frozen and we can’t swing it over right now to use that part of the track, so we are going to go up to the ladies luge start. It’s just two turns up the track. It won’t be that much different.”

Me, as we hike up at the hill to the new start, pass two giant turns: “How fast will we be going now?”

Skeleton school coach: “Oh, sixty-ish, maybe 65 kph, it won't be a whole lot faster than from the junior start.”

Skeleton school volunteers lauging and yelling from truck driving up to new start: "You're screwed! You're all going to die!"

Part III

Loudspeaker announcement: “Track is clear for Michelle Bartleman.”

Me, to myself: "Alright, 65 tops, this shouldn't be too bad. Lay flat, and try not to die, right?"

Part IV

Loudspeaker announcement: “Time for Michelle Bartleman, 45.13 seconds. Speed for Michelle Bartleman, 86.5 kph.”