Distance Training | Mediterra Swim & Run

The Role Of Heart Rate

by Coach Mat | 25 Sep, 2012

Another question came up soon after the Kickboard question: What about training and Heart Rate? Heart rate is a response in the body, not a causation. You don’t ‘train’ your heart rate, instead your heart rate gives you information about your...

Heat, Waves, and Head Down

by Coach Mat | 31 Jul, 2012

I am struggling in this Antalya heat. It’s ‘cooled’ down to the low 30’s but the humidity is high. After a several weeks, even with precautions and rest, the body and brain just start running more sluggishly. I hit the sea today a bit later-...

Good Food For A Long Swim

by Coach Mat | 11 Jul, 2012

Eat (well), drink (well), and be merry- for tomorrow we race! The night before our island to harbor 7km swim three weeks ago, one of my swimmers asked my opinion about what to eat that morning before the race. Some of my Tri and Ultra-distance friends would no doubt...

Precision Over Power

by Coach Mat | 22 May, 2012

I would like to make an argument for setting technique as a priority in your training. It’s a common theme in my blog. In other sports this would not be necessary, but for some reason swimming is dominated by people who think power is everything. I see signs of...

Smart Speed Part 2

by Coach Mat | 31 Mar, 2012

Smart Speed Part 2 – Effective Stroke Rate We looking at the next part of our Speed Equation in this essay: Speed = Stroke Length (SL) x Stroke Rate (SR) In the previous essay I introduced Stroke Length and discussed how we can each find our own optimal SL for various...

Smart Speed Part 1

by Coach Mat | 30 Mar, 2012

Smart Speed Part 1 – Your Optimal Stroke Length In this series of essays I will walk through the process of achieving speed through superior precision, rather than through absolute power. For anyone wanting to improve her triathlon time, expand the distance he can...