Measuring Quality in Open-Water

by Coach Mat | 12 May, 2012

In rock climbing, when trying to climb a route ‘clean’ (no falls, no hanging on the rope) the artist has no room for mistakes. A mis-step, a mis-catch causes a fall and the climber is obligated to start over. The whole climb has to be executed without a...

Masters versus Mastery

by Coach Mat | 8 May, 2012

I just read a Facebook comment from a swimmer friend coming to terms with aging and slowing down in the pool- a return to his Masters Swimming group after many years away (spent swimming impressively in open-water, I believe) where he now found himself in the...

Race-Crashing

by Coach Mat | 5 May, 2012

I had some spontaneous fun today… I snuck into the 1500 meter swim portion of the Antalya Olympic-distance triathlon today! Something I don’t think I could ever get away with back in my homeland. I came down to meet up with some new Antalya swimmer friends...

Shinji-Like Kick

by Coach Mat | 2 May, 2012

This last weekend TI Coach Ricardo (Tenerife, Spain) and I were examining a post in the TI Forum from a swimmer who had just completed an advanced workshop with TI President and Master Coach Shinji. Shinji is known for being a master of intricate detail and...

Breathe Easy

by Coach Mat | 17 Apr, 2012

Recently, I have had three different swimmers come to me with specific complaints about being out of breath from swimming just a lap or two. There are likely a few more possible causes, but here are the three that I run into more often: 1. Struggle Obviously, then...

Wetsuit, Waves, and Balance

by Coach Mat | 12 Apr, 2012

A few observations to share from my swim in the sea today, wearing my sleeveless, short-legged wetsuit. I went west along the shore for about 31 minutes, into a wind-driven current, with 50 cm swells and wind chop hitting me from 10 o’clock (to my side and...

Simplified, Intuitive Practice

by Coach Mat | 10 Apr, 2012

Here’s an exerpt from an email I received from a recent workshop student. I felt his question and my response may be helpful to those who feel overwhelmed or confused by what to do with TI in your practice times… I`m a little bit unstructured in my swim...

In Defense Of Fat

by Coach Mat | 9 Apr, 2012

I think these links will be of interest to you  if you aspire to weight loss, or to adapt to open-water swimming. Not all FAT is equal, nor should be villianized in our swimmer bodies. Here’s a few links from The Daily News Of Open Water Swimming: TDNOWS –...

Argument for Swimming Naked

by Coach Mat | 9 Apr, 2012

I bet the title on this essay is going to get me in trouble on some search engines, but there is nothing inappropriate in the content, I assure you. The title just fits… I was swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in Antalya yesterday. April 8! The water was 18 C. I...

Half-Over

by Coach Mat | 3 Apr, 2012

A TI swimmer friend of mine heard me speak last fall and recommended that I read Haruki Murakami’s book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. I did read it recently and loved it. You might also. In this following passage from that book Murakami is...