by Coach Mat | 5 Jan, 2019 | Competitive/Performance Training, Design Principles, Distance Training, How To Train?, Long Distance Training, Marathon Distance, Metabolic Training, Open Water Training, Practice Series
Continued from Part 1. How Much Is Enough To Be Comfortable? When someone asks me a version of this question, I need to know a few things to help guide them toward an answer that is more suitable to their personal situation: How do you want to finish this event:...
by Coach Mat | 25 Nov, 2018 | About Coach Mat, Coaching Ethics, Cold Water Adaptation, Cool Water Training, Getting Chilled, Metabolic Training, Open Water Challenges, Wetsuit Training, Wetsuits
Comfort Barrier If the water is cooler than you are comfortable with, or even really cold, should you wear a wetsuit? Well, my short answer to this question is, if the cold will keep you from swimming, but otherwise you are fit, capable and eager to go, then wear a...
by Coach Mat | 11 Aug, 2018 | Food & Hydration, Metabolic Training, Nutrition, Nutrition, Recommended Reading, Weight Management
Continued from Part 1. Do You Need To Eat Less Calories? Or maybe you just need to eat better quality calories. Here are some ways you can go about it… Eat mostly plants. Fill up on them first. Leave animal products to the last and in the smallest amounts....
by Coach Mat | 8 Aug, 2018 | Food & Hydration, Metabolic Training, Nutrition, Nutrition, Recommended Reading, Weight Management
I want to make an argument for choosing food for what vital nutrition it supplies more than by how it pleases the taste buds or entertains you. But first, I want to acknowledge that meals are an important part of social bonding and a daily, centering activity in many...
by Coach Mat | 25 Feb, 2018 | Competitive/Performance Training, Design Principles, How To Train?, Martial Arts, Metabolic Training, Muscle Training, Neurological Training, Plateau (No Progress), Running, Speed and Pace, SPL, Stroke Length (SL), Tempo, Stroke Rate (SR), Training Theory, Triathlon Swimming
A member of our online training site, the Mediterra Swim Dojo, has been noticing that after a certain distance in a training set, his stroke quality deteriorates which results in his stroke count (strokes per length of the pool) going up uncontrollably. He asked a...
by Coach Mat | 9 Dec, 2017 | About Coach Mat, Design Principles, Fitness Training, Food & Hydration, Metabolic Training, Running, Weight Management
As well as being asked about this from time to time, I’ve learned that this is a common online search phrase so I should get some extra hits on this post. Previously, I’ve written some thoughts on body fat in relation to swimming: Does Swimming Burn Fat? 1...
