Specific Skills | Mediterra Swim & Run

Build A Better Feedback Loop

by Coach Mat | 15 Oct, 2016

It is certainly encouraging and advantageous to be at a training event with a coach who can give you feedback right there in the moment of action. But, as one swimmer recently commented, it gets expensive to keep the live coach around. These events costs money. ...

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...

Comfort Needs Discomfort

by Coach Mat | 21 Aug, 2016

Here is a challenging statement to ponder: You cannot secure your comfort by avoiding discomfort. You have to enter and work within a zone of discomfort in order to learn how to be comfortable in it. Before we get into that, let’s point out that there is a...

Self-Limiting Practice Sets

by Coach Mat | 16 Aug, 2016

I want to keep confronting the false notion that fitness training and technical training are two separate activities in the pool. Fitness and Technique are truly inseparable, and should be regarded as such in every practice activity. All repetitive movement is...

Be Present During Movement

by Coach Mat | 30 Jul, 2016

I’ve written a lot lately about mindfulness – since it happens to be a central theme in our coaching. Mindfulness is not just for perfecting the stroke and improving the experience, it is also about reading the subtle signals of the body you would not...

Time For Auto-Pilot

by Coach Mat | 23 Jul, 2016

I am continuing some more with thoughts related to the previous post Thinking Or Feeling? If you already agree that mindful practice, deep concentration on feeling with the nervous system is a good way to ensure quality during practice time, the question may come up...