Training | Mediterra Swim & Run

First, Build A Sufficient Fitness Tank

by Coach Mat | 7 May, 2023

I wrote last recently on the idea of having two fuel tanks, one for fitness activities and the other on reserve for survival. Using that analogy as a reference point, and linking to the concerns I raised in the essay last week regarding knowing when you are ready for...

How Do You Know When You Are Ready For Your Event?

by Coach Mat | 30 Apr, 2023

For the last two years, as a service to our local swimmer community, I have conducted private lessons as well as lake and river swimming clinics to help athletes in our area prepare for the swim leg of our local Ironman 70.3 Oregon race. In the Willamette River that...

What Is An Extreme Athlete and Can You Be One Of Them?

by Coach Mat | 26 Feb, 2023

While the word ‘extreme’ can refer to doing something greater than most others have done before, it can also simply mean doing something greater than you have personally ever done before. In this way, do you regard yourself as an extreme athlete, or aspire...

The Power Of Three Ps

by Coach Mat | 22 Jan, 2023

I have a recipe for achieving improvements in my strength and skills that I’ve learned over the decades. It includes the three Ps. Process – Persistence – Patience Process is a set of sequential actions to take that are designed to produce a...

Endurance As An Agreement With Yourself

by Coach Mat | 8 Jan, 2023

A few weeks ago I did a 30-mile (50 km) point-to-point run with my good friend along the iconic Forest Park trail that has a lot of elevation gain toward the end. He runs this trail once or twice a year though this was to be my first time joining him on it. I had been...

Going From Pool To Open Water

by Coach Mat | 12 Mar, 2022

Spring is the time of year when more people are contacting us to get ready for some summer events or activities in open water. It could be for a triathlon, a swim holiday, snorkeling, or being more comfortable swimming recreationally or for personal safety while...