Shallow Pool Effect

by Coach Mat | 5 Sep, 2015

Back in the 18th century Benjamin Franklin documented his observation that vessels in shallow water move slower than vessels in deep water (with all other things equal between the vessels). Why? As the vessel moves forward it is pushing against the water in all...

Drink Down?

by Coach Mat | 31 Aug, 2015

I wrote the essay Drink Up! recently describing the importance of adequate hydration to maintain mental as well as physical performance – I cited medical observations by Dr. Kenneth Kamler in his book “Surviving The Extremes.” It is important to...

Building A Bridge

by Coach Mat | 22 Aug, 2015

I want to expand upon the topic of Overcoming Swimming Fear, but from a different angle – I want to address the fear of expanding motivation, expanding one’s orientation for swimming. Everyone may have a blend of motives for swimming, but each may be able...

Converting A Masters Workout

by Coach Mat | 15 Aug, 2015

One thing TI Coaches are often asked by swimmers who have migrated to Total Immersion training from traditional masters swim programs is “how can I still do these workouts we’re given, but do them in a Total Immersion way?” The short answer is this:...

TI Weighs In On Ledecky

by Coach Mat | 13 Aug, 2015

Like wasps prowling a picnic, many coaches are weighing in on Katie Ledecky after her stunning sweep of all 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle events at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Why not TI? In this article in Outside Magazine are some observations...

Perceived Danger Zone

by Coach Mat | 8 Aug, 2015

This is a diagram I made to supplement my thoughts in the previous essay on Overcoming Swimming Fears. I just want to outline the subject in this post, while I can see the opportunity to expand a lot on each section of this diagram. Zone A – Personal Comfort...

Overcoming Swimming Fears

by Coach Mat | 1 Aug, 2015

You may have heard it said something like this: there is no courage except in the presence of fear. Fear is what makes courage meaningful. *** The day before the Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race, while sitting at lunch on the boat during our pre-race training and...

2015 Bosphorus Race Review

by Coach Mat | 28 Jul, 2015

I wrote some pre-race comments in Funky Current in the Bosphorus, and now it is time to review what actually happened in the 2015 (27th Annual) Bosphorus Cross Continental Race in Istanbul, Turkey. The morning started very calm and beautiful. There was a northern wind...

Funky Currents In The Bosphorus

by Coach Mat | 24 Jul, 2015

I am in Istanbul this weekend for the 2015 Bosphorus Cross-Continental Race. Previously, I wrote about the 2013 BCC race I participated in. This year we have several swimming friends and students converging from around the world – Netherlands, Russia, UK, South...

Drink Up!

by Coach Mat | 11 Jul, 2015

As the heat of summer gradually builds into an oven-like experience here on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey I am reminded annually to renew and improve my habit of hydration. That habit has gotten better for me but I still notice weaknesses in it. And I am betting...