Tempo, Stroke Rate (SR) | Mediterra Swim & Run

Longer Length Or Faster Rate?

by Coach Mat | 30 Jan, 2016

I’ve had this discussion behind the scenes with some swimmers recently and felt their challenge to bring up this topic more in the open. So here it is… I want to address ‘the elephant in the room’ (as one of them put it) regarding the apparent...

Intro to Pace Combinations

by Coach Mat | 25 Mar, 2015

A question from a friend about Pace Combinations made me realize that I have referred to Pace or SPL x Tempo Combinations several times without really laying out a direct introduction to it. So this essay is meant to give a brief explanation for Pace Combinations and...

Stroke Length Loyalty

by Coach Mat | 21 Mar, 2015

When you start feeling fatigue in your race (or while ‘just swimming’) you are urged to slow down. At some point you finally must give in. But when you do what is changing in your stroke to slow you down? SPL x Tempo = Pace (the inverse of the Speed...

Faster Tempo = Easier Swimming?

by Coach Mat | 29 Nov, 2014

Could it actually be easier to swim at a faster tempo? Yes. This could be the case for some of you. To swim fast or swim far you are not looking for longest stroke or the fastest tempo – you’re looking for optimal combination of stroke length and tempo for...

Remedy For Sinkers Part 2

by Coach Mat | 6 Aug, 2014

Are you a sinking swimmer? I have published this second part a few days after the first part. From some comments received after posting the first part I want to clarify a few things: First, Learn To Sink Evenly I would define a ‘sinker’ as someone...

Remedy For Sinkers Part 1

by Coach Mat | 3 Aug, 2014

Are you a sinking swimmer? I am going to share a little of my secret strategy, out of compassion for my swimming comrades who consider themselves ‘sinkers’ – I know a few many and a few less women who fit this category. I don’t know the overall...