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

Work Smarter

by Coach Mat | 21 Nov, 2012

In support of what I wrote in the last post, coincidentally, here is an excerpt from what Coach Terry sent out to TI Coaches worldwide today: Do you recall the TI Swimming Success Algorithm? It comes from data collected by USA Swimming at the Olympic Swim Trials from...

Improving Stroke Timing

by Coach Mat | 21 Nov, 2012

I’ve been experimenting with a new way to use the Tempo Trainer in adjusting the stroke timing, in order to preserve a long stroke at faster tempos. In TI we use a Focal Point called the Patient Front Arm to help train this skill. This long stroke skill is...

Long Live ‘Slide And Glide’

by Coach Mat | 19 Jun, 2012

I’ve been prescribing the classic TI drill “Slide and Glide” a lot recently. I used this for hundreds of hours in my early self-taught TI days, and it is still my favorite warm-up or warm-down drill. It’s a great way to pull together the focus...

Smart Speed Part 2

by Coach Mat | 31 Mar, 2012

Smart Speed Part 2 – Effective Stroke Rate We looking at the next part of our Speed Equation in this essay: Speed = Stroke Length (SL) x Stroke Rate (SR) In the previous essay I introduced Stroke Length and discussed how we can each find our own optimal SL for various...

Using A Tempo Trainer

by Coach Mat | 27 Feb, 2012

I am committed to being a content-producer, so I rarely repost someone elses work, but TI Head Coach Terry wrote a marvelously concise primer on the advantages of working with a Tempo Trainer and included 5 practice set templates at the end. If you have interest in...

Perfect 25 Training

by Coach Mat | 19 Feb, 2012

In order to test and expose the qualities I need in my Perfect 25 I do many repeats with a certain amount of rest- not based on seconds but based on heart rate (HR) recovery. I intend to push my neurological limits, not my anaerobic limits, so in each repeat I use a...