Overcoming Deep Water Anxiety

by Coach Mat | 21 Jul, 2010

I swam 66 minutes off the sea cliffs of Antalya today. Started at 8:30. Sunny, hot. Water was maybe 28 degrees, clear. I swam 31 minutes to the east into rolling swells (without waves), then back. WORKOUT First 10 minutes were easy, careful warmup. Then [10x 250...

120 Minute Swim And Just Warming Up

by Coach Mat | 18 Jul, 2010

I swam around 7km today for 123 minutes in the sea. A new personal continuous swim distance and time duration milestone for me. Started at 8:30. Sunny, warm. Water was ultra-clear, and smooth but for the 3rd stretch. There was a slight wind-driven current toward the...

Stroke Length Before Stroke Rate

by Coach Mat | 15 Jul, 2010

I swam 2048m at 8:10. Sunny, warm. The PC 32m pool was maybe 30 degrees already. WORKOUT 8x 256m (4 laps), with lap #1-3 at lowest SPL, and #4 BR recovery On lap #1 held 19-18 SPL; #2 held 19-18 SPL; #3 held 18 SPL’ #4 held 18; #5 held 18; #6 held 17; #7 held...

Open-Water vs The Pool. Can I Love Both?

by Coach Mat | 13 Jul, 2010

I swam 2560 meters today at 8:10 am. Sunny, warm. The PC outdoor 32m pool was about 29 degrees C. WORKOUT 2x256m (4 laps) warmup 2x [4x 256m] increasing stroke rate (SR) by feel, up 1 “gear” per repeat On repeat #1 held 21-23 SPL; #2. held 23-24 SPL; #3. held 24-26...

Going A Little Bit Longer

by Coach Mat | 11 Jul, 2010

I swam 95 minutes straight today-somewhere around 5 to 6 km. A new personal time/distance milestone for continuous OW swimming. I started at about 8:00am. The sea was nearly glass smooth- we call it ‘flat as a bedsheet’ in Turkish. The weather was sunny,...

Anxiety OW Swimming In A New Spot

by Coach Mat | 7 Jul, 2010

I swam 59 minutes, at 9:15am, at a new spot on the sea out past Lara- from a point sticking out into the sea back along the shallow bay it protected somewhat from the waves. From the point I swam to the pier, then to the dry-waterfall cliff and back. It was sunny,...

Tempo Training in Open Water

by Coach Mat | 5 Jul, 2010

I swam 49 minutes @ 8:30 at Konyalti, from the stream towards the east. Sunny, hot, the water got choppy with small swells. Water visibility was better but still limited to about 4 or 5 meters. WORKOUT I did a Tempo Trainer set. 8X 250 strokes, starting at 1.30 then...

Open Water Anxiety, Dealing With Currents

by Coach Mat | 2 Jul, 2010

I swam 3800+ meters today @ 8:00. At Konyalti Beach, from cliffs towards the west. The sea was 27 degrees C. Sunny, hot, water surface was smooth, but water visibility was only like 2m- the sea bed was stirred up by a strong western sweeping current and the previously...

Hip Thrust A Must, At Higher Tempo

by Coach Mat | 1 Jul, 2010

I swam 1536m at 8:20. Then 1792m at 15:30 for a total of 3328m today. PC 32m outdoor pool was 27 degrees C. Weather sunny, warm. A slight wind in the afternoon. WORKOUT Tempo Trainer set 6x 256m (4 laps) with 2x at tempo 1.30, 2x at 1.27, 2x at 1.24. Held SPL 22-24....

Learning And Unlearning

by Coach Mat | 29 Jun, 2010

I swam 1792m at 8:10 and 1920m at 16:20 for a total of 3712m today. PC outdoor 32m pool was 26 degrees C. Weather was sunny, warm, calm. WORKOUT Morning Set 1x [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, then 8 lengths]. Drive from hips. Held SPL 24-22 1x [1, 2, 3, then 4 laps]. Afternoon...