Triathlon Swimming | Mediterra Swim & Run

Training In The Scarce Energy Zone

by Coach Mat | 4 Jun, 2016

This post was first published as Part 4 of the Swimmer Speed Curve Series, but I have got the impression that it was mostly overlooked as tail-end of that series. It is an important topic in the conversations I am having with my athletes, so I feel I should call more...

Guidance For Using A Snorkel

by Coach Mat | 19 Mar, 2016

A reader recently asked about my perspective on using a snorkel in training, particularly to help set aside the concern for disruptive breathing for a while. My response… With any pool tool, if you understand what the tool can help you with, what it’s role in...

Relaxation Paradox

by Coach Mat | 12 Dec, 2015

Sometimes it seems like we have a paradox with relaxation in swimming – a dissonance between the understanding that speed requires power and power requires muscle tension, yet speed is restricted unless there is relaxation in the muscles. In Easy Strength the...

Swimmer Speed Curve – Part 4

by Coach Mat | 24 Oct, 2015

This is a continuation of Swimmer Speed Curve Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3… Maintaining best form when energy is abundant is a great Level 1 accomplishment. That is really a good functional goal for recreational swimming, and that may be as far as some want to go...

Swimmer Speed Curve – Part 3

by Coach Mat | 17 Oct, 2015

This is a continuation of Swimmer Speed Curve Part 1 and Part 2… In this diagram we see the curve of one swimmer, but with two options for how the curve will form. Below Node #1, when power is low, her swimming is beautiful, smooth, efficient. This is the Easy...

Judging An Efficient Stroke

by Coach Mat | 28 Mar, 2015

In response to the recent essay Stroke Length Loyalty (and the subsequent essay Intro to Pace Combinations) I’ve entered into an enjoyable email discussion with a retired engineer about judging efficiency of the stroke. He has been asking how we know when a...