Training: Cool Water 3km, Not Fast But Not Cold

by Coach Mat | 27 Oct, 2010

I swam 3072m today.  Starting at 14:30, at the PC 32m outdoor pool. It was overcast, windy, but not cold. The pool was 20.5 C. 2x 1036m, stopped between to put on quickjohn wetsuit. SPL (in a 32m pool) SPLIT 512m bare 27-29 8:42 512m bare 29-30 9:01 512m bare 29-30...

Training: 5km Of Pleasure

by Coach Mat | 25 Oct, 2010

I swam 93 minutes today, something over 5km. I started at 10:50. It was sunny, warm (not hot), and the air was still, which made the sea like glass- there was hardly any swell either. That invites very quiet swimming. The water was 25 C and clear- maybe 6m plus. But...

Training: No Umph Today

by Coach Mat | 22 Oct, 2010

I swam 3072m starting at 12:10 at the PC 32m outdoor pool. It was sunny, warm, no breeze. The pool was 22 C. I had the wetsuit standing by but did not use it today. 6x 512 with a Tempo Trainer. Continuous. I started with the TT set at 1.15, but I just was not 100%...

Training: Don’t Surrender Too Much SL to SR

by Coach Mat | 20 Oct, 2010

I swam 3968m starting at 14:45 today in the PC 32m outdoor pool. It was overcast, stormy, but at the moment of my swim, calm. The water was 20 C, and I put on my quickjohn wetsuit, wax ear plugs, and 2 silicon hats. I wasn’t going to bother with cold endurance...

Training: Can I Handle 19 C Water?

by Coach Mat | 13 Oct, 2010

I swam 3072m today, starting at 14:25, at the 32m PC outdoor pool. It was cloudy, warm air, no breeze. The pool was 19.5 C- cold! I repeated the pattern of the last 2 pool swims here because it keeps me accelerating in the cold water- my only chance to endure. I layed...

Training: 5km Alternate Sprint/Cruise Tempo Set

by Coach Mat | 11 Oct, 2010

I swam 83 minutes today in the sea, starting at 8:20, at Konyaaltı by the stream. It was sunny, cool-warm, with a slight onshore breeze which kept the sea flat and calm. No swells, no waves. The sea was 25 C where I started, where the fresh, cold stream water mixes...

Training: 3km in 21 C and Getting Colder.

by Coach Mat | 8 Oct, 2010

I swam 3072m today, starting at 12:20, at the 32m PC outdoor pool. It was partly cloudy, cool, and a bit windy. The pool was 21 C. Same as last time- Tempo Trainer accelerating set. Take splits at 512m (8 laps), starting at 1.20, accelerate tempo by 0.02 each 128m (2...

Training: ‘Cold’ Water 3km Tempo Pool Swim

by Coach Mat | 6 Oct, 2010

I know ‘cold’ is an extremely relative term. I swam 3136 meters continuous, at 14:25 at the PC 32m outdoor pool. Sunny, warm, breezy. The water was 22.5 C. This is the coldest water in which I can recall ever swimming a workout (without wearing a wetsuit)....

Salt Water Drinking Practice

by Coach Mat | 5 Oct, 2010

I got pummeled by the waves today. They were big for my beach at least. If I delay a swim until later in the day I often lose momentum to get it in there. Today I did procrastinate which put my swim well into the afternoon when the wind picks up and waves are sure to...

Training: 5km Staggered Tempo Acceleration

by Coach Mat | 3 Oct, 2010

I swam 95 minutes today, at Konyaaltı Varyant, starting at 9:50. Sunny, warm, fall-ish, onshore breeze that made the air dry and kept the sea flat. No swells, no waves. Water visibility was only about 4m. The sea was 28.5 C below the surface, but where the fresh water...