Speed Math | Mediterra Swim & Run

Some Ways To Measure Baseline Stroke Rate

by Coach Mat | 27 Mar, 2023

In the previous article – When You Go Harder But You Can’t Go Any Faster – I discussed how stroke length and stroke rate are yoked together and suggested as an initial step that you get a baseline measurement of what your current comfortable stroke...

Can You Increase Speed Without Increasing Power?

by Coach Mat | 22 Dec, 2018

Can you increase speed without increasing power? Yes, and no. Or rather, it depends. To explain why the answer could be yes and it could be no, let’s look at the speed equation: Stroke Length x Stroke Rate = Speed (Velocity) In terms of training in the pool,...

The Speed You Must Earn

by Coach Mat | 17 Sep, 2016

This is a continuation of thoughts from Going Beyond Easy Speed. There are some ‘easy’ breakthroughs in speed which come from that initial – and usually radical – improvement in body shape and movement control. But the other way to appreciate...

Endless Pool Review + Stroke Demo

by Coach Mat | 12 Mar, 2016

Last July I had the opportunity to get a little practice time in the Endless Pools Performance model unit owned and operated by my TI Master Coach colleague Tracey Baumann, Swim Solutions UK. The studio is located in Wraysbury, near Windsor, near London UK, where she...

A Sprint Improvement Project

by Coach Mat | 21 Feb, 2016

Since I am back in Oregon USA and back to the short 25 yard pool, my interest has been drawn back to short distance work for these winter and spring months, until open water season arrives again. In Antalya I enjoyed year-round sea swimming, but I am now back to a...

Swimmer Speed Curve – Part 2

by Coach Mat | 10 Oct, 2015

This is a continuation of Swimmer Speed Curve Part 1… In this diagram we see two swimmer speed curves. The further to the right the curve, the faster the swimmer is going. They both curve upward as the swimmer applies more power, and eventually reaches an...