Technology and Tools | Mediterra Swim & Run

Wetsuit, Waves, and Balance

by Coach Mat | 12 Apr, 2012

A few observations to share from my swim in the sea today, wearing my sleeveless, short-legged wetsuit. I went west along the shore for about 31 minutes, into a wind-driven current, with 50 cm swells and wind chop hitting me from 10 o’clock (to my side and...

Argument for Swimming Naked

by Coach Mat | 9 Apr, 2012

I bet the title on this essay is going to get me in trouble on some search engines, but there is nothing inappropriate in the content, I assure you. The title just fits… I was swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in Antalya yesterday. April 8! The water was 18 C. I...

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...

The Perfect 25

by Coach Mat | 9 Feb, 2012

Here is the Axiom: If I would like to swim a Perfect 1500 meters, I first need to learn to swim a Perfect 500 meters. If I would like to swim a Perfect 500 meters, I first need to learn to swim a Perfect 100 meters. If I want to swim a Perfect 100 meters, I first need...

Slide, Don’t Hammer

by Coach Mat | 27 Dec, 2011

I had a great practice set in the pool early this morning- 1600 yards broken into 16 x (4x 25 yard sprints), with a rest interval based on my heart rate*. The objective- holding SPL (at 16) while increasing tempo from 0.95 to 0.83 seconds, using a Tempo Trainer. In...

Review- Finis Positive Drive Fins

by Coach Mat | 26 Dec, 2011

Here’s one of my three new Finis tools- the Positive Drive Fins. When I looked at these on their site and considered buying a pair to test I wasn’t sure if I could expect that much performance difference from my standard zoomers. But the moment after I...