Cool/Cold Water Planning

by Coach Mat | 25 Oct, 2012

Since there are quite a few of us who are interested I am going to start a series of articles to stimulate our thinking about adapting to cool/cold water swimming. Here is the objective of our conversations: to maximize our safety, our enjoyment and our longevity...

Is Your Open Water Season Closing?

by Coach Mat | 24 Oct, 2012

It is near the end of October, and so many regions in the northern hemisphere are considering the wild water closed until next spring. I had the privilege of helping ‘close’ the season for TI Coach Tracey Baumann’s ow venue, Taplow Lake in London,...

Official Polar Bear

by Coach Mat | 17 Oct, 2012

I did it. Today in a cold lake in Windsor, outside London, with Coach Terry eagerly swimming ahead, I made it 12 minutes in 12 C water. The body was fine, but my ice cream headache was unbearably painful when I submerged the head. Once I got breath under control i...

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...

Chuck The Kickboard

by Coach Mat | 23 Sep, 2012

At my last workshop in Kazan Russia a student (a swim instructor taking our course for the first time), after listening to our ideas about training, asked, “But what about kickboards then? Do you use them?” I paused, looked at her, and asked in return,...

Blending With Waves

by Coach Mat | 11 Sep, 2012

Something strange happened two swims ago. I was in calm, deep, clear water, making my way 2km along the cliffs to the old harbor. I had just seen my first sea turtle of the season swimming below as I started which lifted my spirit. But then, 30 minutes into the swim, ...

Health versus Fitness

by Coach Mat | 9 Sep, 2012

There is a difference between the concepts of “health” and “fitness”. Let me propose a definition for each: Health = the condition when systems of the body and mind are in an optimal state and harmony for energetic, productive, long-lasting, regenerative living....

Break The Rules

by Coach Mat | 20 Aug, 2012

I am getting ready to fly to Poland for another TI Coach training camp- but I will share some words from TI Head Coach Terry Laughlin. And I strongly urge you to spend some time browsing the TI Forums. A lot of good stuff for you there. Terry: I’m writing today...

Coaching Ethics

by Coach Mat | 16 Aug, 2012

[This originally was at the end of Smart Speed Part 1 but I felt it needed it’s own essay- and to shorten that one]. When considering the strategy for pursuing our potential as swimmers- whether young or old, it brings us to an ethical point for coaches and for...

Power From The Core

by Coach Mat | 12 Aug, 2012

Today’s post is taken from my response to a dedicated TI swimmer friend in Sweden. She sent some videos clips for me to examine as well. “Could you please give me some advise on how I can get the whole body working when I swim? I feel as if I am just...