Always train for your next performance

I'm sitting here at lunch with an aching back.  While many suffer back aches from long rides on the bike, I've never had that problem, likely thanks to a good bike fit!  Today isn't any different.  My back isn't hurting from a long bike ride.  Nor a long run.  Not even for doing too much yard work.  I'm hurting because I wasn't prepared for last "performance".

Monday was Labor Day.  We decided it was a good day to rent a boat, enjoy a local lake, and do some water skiing.  Mind you, over a decade ago I skied nearly every weekend.  How hard can doing it once a year be, after all?

I jumped in the lake and, of course, had to go out on one ski like the old days.  I popped right up (OK, with a LOT of work climbing out of the water) and proceeded to cut back and forth.  I felt a little less stable than years ago, but figured it probably the ski.  Eventually, I felt a little tired, dropped the rope, and decided I would do a few minutes on two skis (even though my back felt a little tired).

I was amazed how simple it was to get up on two skis after just having skied on one.  I continued to cut back and forth across the wake, showing off to our exchange students a bit, and finally dropped the rope.

My back was now feeling very tired, even somewhat sore.  I've felt it before coming out of T2 in triathlon before, and it eventually relaxes and goes away.  Well...not this time.  Since then, I've been wincing every time I stand, bend, or really attempt to do much of anything.  I can tell it is only muscular, basically overuse.

Yep, I hadn't prepared my core for the riggers of water skiing (and probably pushed it too long as well).  I needed to make sure I was better prepared for this performance.

Train safe!