Metrics 103: Pacing Failure And Success

by Coach Mat | 24 May, 2014

By gradually increasing distance you will challenge your abilities to hold your chosen SPL x Tempo combination. It will get difficult and you will reach what feel like limits to your ability for that day. Yet ‘failure’ of this type is an important part of...

Accumulation Of Small Advantages

by Coach Mat | 16 May, 2014

At our mini-open water camp in Kas today one of my swimmers was expressing his delight with the improvement he experienced with one or two particular focal points. He kept jumping back in the sea to review it over and over. I was pleased of course, that he identified...

Metrics 103: Pace Construction

by Coach Mat | 12 May, 2014

Can we assume that two swimmers who achieve the same Pace are equal in efficiency as well (in both terms of physics and of physiology)? No. Because the same Pace can be constructed by different combinations of SPL x Tempo, and each of those different combinations...

Metrics 103: Pace

by Coach Mat | 5 May, 2014

This is a simple math equation we use in swim training to measure performance (in terms of time) in a test or race: Pace = Strokes Per Length x Tempo By counting strokes (SPL) over a certain distance and multiplying that by the Tempo, we can calculate Pace. Or we can...

Enemy Of Improvement

by Coach Mat | 20 Apr, 2014

When we consider the goal of continual swimming improvement what is or are our enemies to that goal? A body that doesn’t want to work hard? A mind that is afraid of pain? Boredom? A lack of talent? Not enough time? I suggest that these are the real Enemies Of...

Metrics 102: Fast Tempo

by Coach Mat | 8 Apr, 2014

Why swim at faster tempos? Here are three reasons (among more we might think of):   1. To Improve Speed In order for increased Tempo to result in increased Speed, the swimmer must maintain a certain amount of Stroke Length, or he will end up going slower while...

Metrics 101: Stroke Length

by Coach Mat | 1 Apr, 2014

What is Stroke Length? Stroke length is how far your body travels forward on each arm stroke. It is like measuring the distance you move forward on each step or stride. We can easily feel Stride Length and see it on land as we walk or run. It makes sense to us as Land...

Metrics 102: Slow Tempo

by Coach Mat | 30 Mar, 2014

Why swim at slower than normal tempos? Practicing at slower-than-normal Tempos exposes your weaknesses in balance, stability – which make up the greatest portion of a swimmer’s excessive drag and energy waste. And that is the first crux in the...

Metrics 102: Tempo

by Coach Mat | 23 Mar, 2014

What is Tempo? In swimming jargon, and in TI Swimming in particular, Tempo refers to the number of seconds between each arm stroke. If you were to swim with a Tempo of 1.00 seconds, that would mean that there is precisely 1.00 seconds between the moment your right...

Three Training Values

by Coach Mat | 19 Mar, 2014

Here are three values that I identify in our TI training: Speed is a product of work. What kind of work? Work to reduce resistance coming against us. Work to over-power what resistance is left after Work #1. Speed is one measurement of how well we accomplish those two...