Competitive/Performance 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...

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...

Be Powerful and Be Smooth About It

by Coach Mat | 24 Oct, 2020

I have a saying: “Power is important, but (in water) shape is more important than power.” I use it to persuade a student to be patient with our process of developing the frame of the body and the streamline shape before we focus directly on the propulsive...

How To ‘Lift Weights’ In The Water – Part 2

by Coach Mat | 14 Dec, 2019

This is continuing from How To ‘Lift Weights’ In The Water – Part 1… The Primary Form Of Strength At this point in the essay, the main lesson for everyone is that stroke length is the foundation to speed and the better you are at achieving a...

How To ‘Lift Weights’ In The Water – Part 1

by Coach Mat | 7 Dec, 2019

If you want to swim farther and/or swim faster, you have to be both more skilled, and stronger. Some people focus on just one or the other. But you can develop both of those together if you require both in how you go about your training. I trust you are already sold...

Being Streamlined Is Not Enough

by Coach Mat | 28 Sep, 2019

Watching a nicely shaped boat cut across a smooth body of water is a wonderful thing to watch. Photo by Oleksandr Hrebelnyk on Unsplash Watching a nicely shaped swimmer cut across a smooth body of water is too! In moving forward most easily in the water, although...