Training: Condition Tempo Then Apply Power

by Coach Mat | 1 Oct, 2010

I swam 2492m today, at PC 32m outdoor pool, starting at 12:00. Sunny, warm-hot, gentle breeze. Water was 25.5 C. 512m warmup 6x [192m (4 laps) TT, 4x 32m (1 length) sprint, with tempo by feel)] Speed goal- aim for 100m PR split pace on the 32s, which for me is 1:20...

Training: Vertical Forearm Catch and Lower SPL

by Coach Mat | 29 Sep, 2010

I swam 2560m today at the PC 32m outdoor pool. It was sunny, hot. The water was 26 C, chilly for anything but brisk swimming (for me that is!) At 9:15 I swam 1536m 16x 96m (3 laps), focus on high elbow catch, and let SPL naturally descrease. #1 was at 25 SPL #2-7 were...

Training: 3km Simple Descending Tempo

by Coach Mat | 27 Sep, 2010

I swam 54 minutes today at Konyaaltı Varyant, starting at 7:50. I headed east along the cliffs. It was sunny, warm but not hot. The sea was 28 C, very gentle swells, no wind, no waves. Visability in the water was less than 4m. 11 min warmup then a simple descending...

See Me Swim on Youtube!

by Coach Mat | 24 Sep, 2010

Well, now I’ve done it. I have exposed my stroke to the world. I took my wife to the pool today and gave her a crash course in underwater video taking. The pool was 26 degrees and she was shivering bad by the end. She had to swim laps between takes. But I think...

Training: 2.5km Alternate FG/Hand

by Coach Mat | 22 Sep, 2010

I swam 3072m in the 32m PC outdoor pool, around 15:00. It was sunny, hot. The pool was 26.5 C, just right for brisk swimming with a hot sun. 512m warmup (8 laps), then a ladder alternating Fistglove and Open-hand. 64 FG / 64 open-hand (SPL 23) 128/128 (SPL 23) 192/192...

Training: Adjust Tempo By Feel

by Coach Mat | 21 Sep, 2010

Today I swam 64 minutes at 9:00, at Konyaaltı Varyant. I swam east along the cliffs. It was sunny, hot, no wind. The sea was 29 C, with slight swells, no waves, no wind ripplies. The water was very clear- 8m plus. 10 minute warmup then straight into 250-stroke...

Training: 5km Tempo Trainer Staggered Acceleration

by Coach Mat | 19 Sep, 2010

I swam 108 minutes today, starting at 9:15, at Konyaatlı Varyant and swam east along the cliffs. It was sunny, hot, no wind. The sea was 29 C, long gentle swells, no waves, no wind ripplies either. The water was clear to about 6m. 10 minute warmup, then right into...

Training: lower SPL: Wider Vs Narrow Track

by Coach Mat | 17 Sep, 2010

I swam 3392m today at the 32m outdoor pool. Started around 16:15. It was sunny, warm but not hot- fall is here. The water was 28 C. 512m warm up to find what I wanted to work on today. 3x [64/128/192/256/320m] (1 lap, 2, 3, 4, 5) The objective was to hold lowest SPL,...

Training: Descend Tempo, Hold SPL

by Coach Mat | 15 Sep, 2010

I swam 3136m today, in the PC 32m outdoor pool. Started at 14:30. Sunny, warm. Pool was 27 C. 512m (8 laps) warm up. 12x 192m (3 laps) Descending tempo (with TT) per repeat, hold SPL. # tempo SPL held # tempo SPL held 1. 1.20 22 7. 1.14 22+ 2. 1.20 22 8. 1.13 23 3....

Focus Or Be Tossed On The Waves

by Coach Mat | 14 Sep, 2010

Today I swam 56 minutes in very choppy water. I have not swam in 5 days while I was visiting my good friends in another city for the holiday week. Coming back after skipping a few days I felt that usual loss of momentum for training, but also knew from so many years...