Open Water Training | Mediterra Swim & Run

Flip Turns Or Open Turns At The Wall?

by Coach Mat | 20 Jul, 2019

If you are one of those who have began pool swimming as an adult, you may have noticed how many people do those fast flip turns (also known as tumble turns) and shoot back off the wall powerfully, then travel quite far down the lane before breaking the surface to...

Amazing Things Can Happen In A Week

by Coach Mat | 6 Jul, 2019

I would guess that the average number of practices a week for those reading this is three days a week. I know of some whose schedule permits less and some whose schedule permits more. When we add up the interruptions and challenges in our routines over the months, we...

Surviving or Comfortable or Competitive? Part 4

by Coach Mat | 2 Mar, 2019

Continued from Part 3. Training In Cycles And, over the course of a few weeks, your fatigue accumulates. This is something you should expect and actually plan for. Through a process known as periodization, with cycles lasting several weeks, and changing emphasis at...

Delightful Swimming In The Dominican Republic

by Coach Mat | 17 Feb, 2019

We just completed a week of delightful open water swimming in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, in the Caribbean Sea. The sea water was 79 F (26 C), with mostly sunny skies in the 80’s, a little wind, a little swell, a little rain all mixing in for an enjoyable...

Surviving or Comfortable or Competitive? Part 2

by Coach Mat | 5 Jan, 2019

Continued from Part 1. How Much Is Enough To Be Comfortable? When someone asks me a version of this question, I need to know a few things to help guide them toward an answer that is more suitable to their personal situation: How do you want to finish this event:...

Should You Wear A Wetsuit?

by Coach Mat | 25 Nov, 2018

Comfort Barrier If the water is cooler than you are comfortable with, or even really cold, should you wear a wetsuit? Well, my short answer to this question is, if the cold will keep you from swimming, but otherwise you are fit, capable and eager to go, then wear a...