Cool Water Training | Mediterra Swim & Run

Easing Into Cool/Cold Water

by Coach Mat | 9 Nov, 2012

I want to launch a little discussion (in your head at least) about how to get acclimated to colder water. Let me review my proposed temperature grades: Cool Water = 20 C to 16 C (68 to 61 F) Cold Water = 15 C to 10 C (60 to 50 F) But really, what matters is how you...

Cool/Cold Water Planning

by Coach Mat | 25 Oct, 2012

Since there are quite a few of us who are interested I am going to start a series of articles to stimulate our thinking about adapting to cool/cold water swimming. Here is the objective of our conversations: to maximize our safety, our enjoyment and our longevity...

Is Your Open Water Season Closing?

by Coach Mat | 24 Oct, 2012

It is near the end of October, and so many regions in the northern hemisphere are considering the wild water closed until next spring. I had the privilege of helping ‘close’ the season for TI Coach Tracey Baumann’s ow venue, Taplow Lake in London,...

Official Polar Bear

by Coach Mat | 17 Oct, 2012

I did it. Today in a cold lake in Windsor, outside London, with Coach Terry eagerly swimming ahead, I made it 12 minutes in 12 C water. The body was fine, but my ice cream headache was unbearably painful when I submerged the head. Once I got breath under control i...

Considerations For A Long OW Swim

by Coach Mat | 16 Jun, 2012

From left- Serdar, myself, and Baha, on our first evening, as we return from a training swim at a beach only accessible by boat taxi. The 7.1 km (or so, with currents and navigation) swim is tomorrow! Baha was not able to get a spot in the race on the registration...

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...