We've worked really hard to improve our performance in this distance. We've spent many a practice doing back to back to back races getting better and better and better and we laid it all out on the water!
The heat race had us up against 4 other teams. We won it and clocked our best time ever at 54:76 seconds. It was one of those races where everything fell in line and felt awesome. Our start was strong, together and loud as everyone in our boat gives a good guttural grunt on each stroke.
There were 4 teams competing in the second heat and we soon learned who our direct competition is....again, the Aussies!
A couple hours later, after we were rested and refueled we were paddling out to the start line for our 200 meter final race with the Aussies in the lane in next us. There was a calm presence in our boat as we backed in to our starting position for a held start. Everyone ready to rocket out of the start and power down the race course to clinch the top spot again! As I recall it now I remember hearing Queen's "We Are the Champions" coming from the podium area where other teams were collecting their medals while we were lining up for our final. I'm sure others heard it as well....more fuel for the finish.
Back to the podium we go! Now we have a matching set of gold medals...as Marj calls them, her new earrings. So now we need to get her the matching pendant in Saturdays 500 meter races.
Friday is a free day for us to rest and do some local sight seeing. The area is beautiful with ancient churches, mosaics and frescoes to take in.
Stay tuned!