WHAT A RACE!
The Warriors arrived Friday and got in one stirring practice before the Saturday Showdown with the ZarZaur Law Firm.  We raced them in 2023, and both clubs wanted a rematch. 
Saturday kicked off with 24 teams being welcomed and the “slower” teams facing off, two at a time.
In the last heat of round one, #12, it was the Warriors in lane 2 and the ZarZaur Law Firm in lane 1.
We were ready , and conditions were ideal for a 250m sprint into a light wind with the tide in.
The horn blew and the two teams were off, and the race was on. 
ZarZaur got off a rocket start and the Warriors had to step it up immediately to keep pace, as we were behind 5 rows after only the 1st five strokes . But the Warriors Never Quit!
When the race was over,  ZarZaur posted a 1:04 and the Warriors a  1:06 , for the 250m. The 1:06, was the second fastest time of the day after the 1st and 2nd rounds.
But the Warriors are unaccustomed to second place. So, the coach reviewed his game plan, adjusted and waited for the championship round and the ultimate rematch.

 

The Championship Race 

The grand finale was the Championship Race was the last race of the regatta.
Five teams took the line with the Warriors side by side with ZarZuar. 
The horn blew and both teams kicked in classic starts. Toe to toe for the first 100m.  The Warriors were in sync, each stroke powerful and long. We were at our best.
The finish came in 1:04 for Zazaur and 1:10574 for the Warriors. The result was a blistering race with a Silver Medal performance by the Warriors. 

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And now the insight. . .
 

The Gold was won by a "hand-picked team of triathletes" recruited by the law firm to compete against the Warriors - And compete both teams did. 
The average age of the ZarZaur Law Firm’s 20, handpicked triathletes, was 36-42 years!
While the average age of the Warriors 20 mixed, traveling team was 72 years!
An age difference of 35+ years! 

 

The Coach’s post-race comments… 

As the coach huddled the Warriors for a final review, he proudly stated: 

“Leatherneck Warriors, you just raced a “pro” team of triathletes, 35 years younger than you, for 250m, and they could only beat you by 1:0574 seconds. And earlier by only 2 seconds!!  You gave away 35 years and yet were only 2 seconds off their pace. 
…. Simply an amazing performance. I am humbled!!“
Coach Lee

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And so, it goes. 
We received a rousing applause as we accepted the silver. And we knew we had outperformed everyone’s expectations.  The triathletes stood in a line to congratulate each of us, I think hoping they can put on as amazing a performance when they’re in their late 60’s and 70’s!
That memorable day, when 23 Warriors travelled to Pensacola, raced a “pro” team and they could only “best “us by less than 2 seconds.  
 

A Warrior’s memory, that will never fade.