Specific Skills | Mediterra Swim & Run

How Long Will It Take?

by Coach Mat | 31 Oct, 2015

How long will it take to integrate this skill so that I can do it without thinking so much? That is a version of the question I hear from time to time. It is a good question with a very complicated answer, if I were to attempt to personalized it for each person who...

Swimmer Speed Curve – Part 4

by Coach Mat | 24 Oct, 2015

This is a continuation of Swimmer Speed Curve Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3… Maintaining best form when energy is abundant is a great Level 1 accomplishment. That is really a good functional goal for recreational swimming, and that may be as far as some want to go...

Swimmer Speed Curve – Part 1

by Coach Mat | 3 Oct, 2015

I have been working on a presentation to improve understanding of ‘Easy Speed’ and ‘Smart Speed’ concepts in the Total Immersion swimming framework, as I see it. I will break this presentation down into 4 parts. Let me post some diagrams to...

Two Essential Measurements

by Coach Mat | 26 Sep, 2015

I want to describe two essential measurements we must include in every performance training set. If one is looking for genuinely efficient speed then there are two essential measurements to make in every swimming action: How does it feel? What does it produce? The...

Shallow Pool Effect

by Coach Mat | 5 Sep, 2015

Back in the 18th century Benjamin Franklin documented his observation that vessels in shallow water move slower than vessels in deep water (with all other things equal between the vessels). Why? As the vessel moves forward it is pushing against the water in all...

Drink Down?

by Coach Mat | 31 Aug, 2015

I wrote the essay Drink Up! recently describing the importance of adequate hydration to maintain mental as well as physical performance – I cited medical observations by Dr. Kenneth Kamler in his book “Surviving The Extremes.” It is important to...