Remedy For Sinkers Part 2

by Coach Mat | 6 Aug, 2014

Are you a sinking swimmer? I have published this second part a few days after the first part. From some comments received after posting the first part I want to clarify a few things:   First, Learn To Sink Evenly I would define a ‘sinker’ as someone...

Remedy For Sinkers Part 1

by Coach Mat | 3 Aug, 2014

Are you a sinking swimmer? I am going to share a little of my secret strategy, out of compassion for my swimming comrades who consider themselves ‘sinkers’ – I know a few many and a few less women who fit this category. I don’t know the overall...

Metrics In Open Water: How To Train

by Coach Mat | 20 Jul, 2014

For most swimmers who desire it training in open-water may still only be an occasional or seasonal experience. That means most swimmers practice in the pool, swimming and measuring things between walls – this is ‘normal’ while swimming without walls...

My Head Or My Watch?

by Coach Mat | 12 Jul, 2014

Should I count stroke in my head or can I use my swim watch? It’s a good question – you’re likely asking it because you own one of those expensive swim watches, and need to know what it is good for. I don’t want to discourage anyone from using...

Measuring Improvement

by Coach Mat | 5 Jul, 2014

In the Kaizen value system of TI we are devoted to continual personal improvement. In each practice we are inspired to pursue some piece of improvement in our swimming, and in our self. But, you and I live a real life in a real world. So often circumstances come up...

Open Water Sun Protection

by Coach Mat | 3 Jul, 2014

How do I protect myself from the sun while swimming in open-water? That’s a very important question, and one I hear often at this time of the year. Here are my two recommendations: 1) A rash-guard or swim-shirt. If you want no hindrance while swimming the fit...

Preparing For Your Open Water Race

by Coach Mat | 29 Jun, 2014

How Do I Prepare For My Open Water Race? Would you like to make your next open-water race experience as pleasant and successful as possible? Here is a way to maximize your chances of that… Here is summary of my advice for how to prepare for your next open-water...

Metrics In Open Water: Measuring Improvement

by Coach Mat | 21 Jun, 2014

When training in open-water how do I measure improvement? The best arrangement is to set up two fixed points (as described in the previous post), and then measure 2 of the 3 variables in the Pace equation: Pace = SPL x Tempo More specifically, for calculating Pace at...

Metrics In Open Water: Measuring Distance

by Coach Mat | 18 Jun, 2014

Now that open-water season is more widely opened up in the Northern Hemisphere we should discuss some ideas about translating pool practice into open-water. It takes an adjustment in mindset to move from pool practice to open-water practice. When asked I let swimmers...

Getting Enough Breath?

by Coach Mat | 2 Jun, 2014

Q: I have read your articles on Metrics-Tempo, Pace, etc with a lot of interest. What I was wondering, if you increase your DPS [distance per stroke], that means your SPL [strokes per length of pool] goes down. If SPL goes down, doesn’t that mean you will take...