WHY I LOVE BREASTSTROKE RACES – By Keith Kendal

John and I have ‘struck out’ for the sixth time to race Breaststroke against one other. Each time we enter almost the exact same time, but we always get placed in separate heats. Here is a summary of our Breaststroke races to date:

Meet	Event	Keith	John	John’s PB-L5yrs
Cowichan – 05	100 Breast SC	1:26.62 (40.78) Split	1:27.85 (40.77) Split	1:25.19 (May 00)
UBC – 04	200 Breast SC	3:08.05 (1:30.38) Split	3:12.56 (1:34.2) Split	3:10.99 (Nov 02)
UBC – 04	50 Breast SC	38.90	39.14	37.55 (May 00) 38.02 (May 03)
Oak Harbor –04	100 Breast SC	1:28.26 (42.74) Split	1:29.51 (42.03) Split	1:25.19 (May 00)
Navy – 04	50 Breast SC	39.72	39.57	37.56(May 00) 38.02(May 03)
Vic Masters – 04	200 Breast LC	3:17.50	3:26.00	3:26.00 (Mar 04)
UBC – 03	100 Breast SC	1:29.16 (41.81) Split	Not Swam	1:25.19 (May 00)
Saskatoon – 02	100 Breast LC	Not Swam	1:32.82	1:32.82 (May 02)

Even though John is older, one would think that I should spot him a few seconds. As I am sure everyone who has witnessed our races first-hand, John uses a completely different set of mental and physical tools that I have no idea how to harness or that I haven’t been blessed with. Therefore, all is fair in “Love and War”.

I’m not even going to discuss the inherent unfairness in the Navy meet itself, but excluding that meet, we have had five races, never in the same heat, in which I have beaten the dickens out of John. So far, I have masterfully avoided the same heat races and the side-by-side lane assignments that, for whatever reason, allow John to bring into the race his awesome mental powers.

As you can see, I have beaten his personal best in the 200-meter event. I concede age may be a strong factor in that. But hey, I do not even pretend to do the stroke that well.

I haven’t yet approached his 5-year PB in the 100 Breast 1:25.19. It should be strongly noted that this expires in the month of May 2005. His 5-year PB will then revert to what has he done lately, a slow time of 1:27.85, which is not faster than my blistering 1:26.62 – also done also at Cowichan in 2005.

Conclusion: Keith will continue his mastery of the Breaststroke events over John by continuing to avoid being in the same heat let alone side-by-side lane assignments! Plus, it doesn’t appear that Keith has reached his full potential yet, John well.. AFTER MAY OF 2005, Keith will own you in breaststroke events other than that pesky May 2003 38.02 SC 50 breaststroke time, but I’m working on it!!…

PS: stay tune for the updates in the battle for supremacy in the other events of interest. Most of these battles will be highlighted in the upcoming LC meets at Nanaimo and Victoria.