Last night I attended a talk on transformation through travel. There is so much you can learn from traveling.. especially when things don’t go smoothly. You will learn about yourself in a hurry when you’re stuck in a place where you don’t speak the language and need to figure out transportation, food, and currency. In […]
Did you get to the top?
Posted ArticlesDo you swim and do triathlon for the exercise? For the sheer challenge? For the feeling of accomplishment? Or all of the above? Mountain climbers and hikers often need to get to the top of the mountain to feel the sense of accomplishment. Perhaps one hour of hiking would have the health benefit, and diminishing […]
5, 4, 3, 2, GO!
Posted ArticlesWant to know a way to eliminate the need for motivation to get things accomplished- or just to start out on something? Last year I read “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins. The idea is, most of us hesitate right when we’re about to do something courageous…then the excuses and justifications come into our […]
Are you sure?
Posted ArticlesEver make assumptions and then you turn out to be wrong? In the past I have assumed things about people based on their appearance that turned out to be completely wrong. And I still assume things about myself that turn out to be wrong as well. For example, on Friday, I really wanted to do […]
Your secret, magic training boost (workout included)
Posted ArticlesI’ve been listening to a book called “Sleep Smarter” by Shawn Stevenson. It’s amazing how important sleep is, as well as how much society shuns it. Some of the things I’ve learned so far have to do with the consequences of not getting enough sleep, like: – Your brain not working well – Your immune […]
Be the hero of your own movie
Posted ArticlesI was watching some comedians on YouTube last night, including my favorite George Carlin, and noticed that someone had taken clips from several comedians and actors and crated “success tips” out of them. Here are three tips that stood out for me, hopefully you can see some tie-ins to your own life and quest to […]
Why you are still slow?
Posted ArticlesThere’s a concept that Buddhism teaches called “impermanence”. Accepting that nothing is permanent can go a long way in getting past obstacles, and not being attached to outcomes. How many times have you had a less-than-good workout, or a sub-par swim, and it feels discouraging, to the point that it carries over into the next […]
Thrive or get crushed.
Posted ArticlesThere’s a concept of “resistance” that can lie at the root of whatever may be holding you back. Everyone has resistance. It could be resistance to things you know are good for you. Things like eating healthier. Doing the work. Starting a meditation practice. The idea of anger, or sadness. What are you resisting in […]
From NO CLUE how to swim, to Ironman Finisher
Posted ArticlesOne of the greatest things to hear as a coach is that you made a difference in someone’s life. Three years ago, I got a message from someone who had gone through our Tri Swim Success program- and had massive success! I think you may be able to relate to Scott’s story below: “One year […]
The guy in the next lane
Posted ArticlesI’ve been spending some time in Los Angeles recently. The land of traffic! There’s an interesting phenomenon here when driving. Many people are competitive. It’s a race! A race to work. A race to get somewhere on time. A race to get home to relax. Get out of my way, you’re slowing me down. The […]
“Taking a break” vs “Slacking off”
Posted ArticlesThere are a few themes that we discuss here at Tri Swim Coach, and sometimes they may sound contradictory. For example, we talk about the importance of breaks, rest, recovery, and avoiding over-training. We also talk about not taking too much time away from the pool, or from training in general, as it’s so much […]
A simple “trick” to get results
Posted ArticlesMy quads were burning, but I still had 3 reps left. The single-leg squats were brand new to my legs, and mentally I wanted to quit. But I managed to finish all 10 reps. I recently started working with a personal trainer at my gym. My strength training routine was getting stale, and I wasn’t […]
Still feel “slow”? Read this.
Posted ArticlesThere’s a concept that Buddhism teaches called “impermanence”. Accepting that nothing is permanent can go a long way in getting past obstacles, and not being attached to outcomes. How many times have you had a less-than-good workout, or a sub-par swim, and it feels discouraging, to the point that it carries over into the next […]
Total Immersion swimming and Led Zeppelin
Posted ArticlesTerry Laughlin, who was the creator of Total Immersion, a swim training methodology, sadly passed away from prostate cancer. I didn’t know Terry very well personally, but throughout the years gave him a lot of credit for being one of the pioneers in simplifying difficult swimming principles and distilling them down for the non-swimmers out […]
Drop the grind and succeed
Posted ArticlesI was listening to an audio book on the subject of productivity, something I’m working on getting better at. The last chapter I read was about actually not working harder, or doing more, to be more productive. In fact, the author recommends spending hours away from your work in order to come up with ideas […]
Rising above the clouds
Posted ArticlesIt’s a rainy, cloudy, gloomy day here in Southern California. And if you thought this message was going to just be about the weather, you’re wrong! There is a helpful metaphor with dark clouds. When you start getting wrapped up in a particular thought process, it’s easy to get caught in and endless cycle of […]
Getting in “the zone”
Posted ArticlesBack in 1997, I read the book “The Zone” by Barry Sears. It was an eye opener to me. I grew up in the 80s where carbohydrates were thought of as the best source of energy. Protein was good in limited quantities. Fat was the devil. The Zone was a diet that recommended eating 40% […]
Avoid this *trap* to achieve longevity
Posted ArticlesI mentioned the idea of perfectionism in a previous message, and wanted to expand on that a bit. I’m not suggesting that you have this to an extreme degree… I likely don’t know you! However, I know that as a subscriber or customer of Tri Swim Coach, you are someone who values achievement. By itself, […]
Kick hard or kick back?
Posted ArticlesThanks for all the responses to our last 2 messages! Lots of positive support from the community and a couple of corrections I was made aware of; 1) The quote I attributed to Chrissy Wellington was actually uttered by the late, inspiring, Jon Blaise (Blazeman) 2) What I called “Kona Ironman” is actually “Ironman World […]
YOU are NOT an Ironman!
Posted ArticlesYesterday, Coach Chris sent out a message about the famed Kona Ironman that’s coming up this October in Kona, Hawaii USA. This race is what kicked off the popularity of triathlons worldwide. (In case you were wondering, the race was “invented” in 1978 in Hawaii). And the NBC presentation of the Ironman was where I […]
Befriending the chop
Posted ArticlesWater comes in so many forms. It can be calm, warm, and inviting. And it can be rough, cold, and mean! Christopher from Wisconsin joined Tri Swim Success over 6 months ago and has had many successes this year. He recently emailed me a summary of his season, which turned out amazing, on many accounts, […]
Perfection — friend or foe?
Posted ArticlesWe hear the word “perfect” all the time, every day. “It’s a perfect day!” “You did that job perfectly!” “They’re perfect for each other!” The word is thrown around a lot. And sometimes, it’s not meant to be taken literally. You could have the “perfect race”, but still have some areas where you could have […]
Train hard or ???
Posted ArticlesI woke up today and for the first time in a long time, there was a slight chill in the air! 56 degrees F to start the day here in Southern California. Although we are expecting warm weather again over the next week, seasons are changing, days are getting shorter, and things are shifting. What […]
Why *discipline* is the wrong approach
Posted ArticlesRules will be broken. Whether it comes to swimming, training, diet, or something else in your life, typically, traditional hard-nosed discipline can only get you so far. Your brain is wired to do things in a certain way. If you try forcing yourself to do or not do something, this can be an effective approach […]
Goals, what are they good for?
Posted ArticlesDo you have a list of goals that you keep track of? Some people like to keep track of every minute of their day and have so many goals and sub goals and mini-goals that it makes my head spin. Since I’m not one of those people who have endless lists of goals, I wanted […]
What is the mental edge in swimming?
Posted ArticlesHave you heard of the expression “Act as if”? Some will say “Fake it til you make it”… I don’t think this applies here, but it is possible to build your confidence by “faking it”… just a little. When I was a college swimmer, I spent my last year as a sprinter- both in backstroke […]
Do this and you can never fail
Posted ArticlesI’ve had plenty of setbacks and perceived “failures” in my life. I’ve had times when I want to just stay in bed all day, curl up in a ball and sulk. My self confidence and self esteem plummeted and it may take weeks to get back up to where I was. I’m sure you can […]
Breaking FREE from traps
Posted ArticlesThis morning I was listening to some motivational stuff I found on one of the podcasts I subscribe to. The show was on “the identity trap”, and it’s about how many of us fall into the trap of believing we have to be who people early in our lives (usually parents) expected us to be. […]
Some pool & open water swim essentials (+ workout)
Posted ArticlesWe all know how open water swimming (OWS) and pool swimming are very different, and it is hard to translate gains in the pool to gain in the open water. There is typically a small gap between your pool splits and your OWS splits, but the more you swim in the open water, the smaller […]
4 essentials for EVERY swim workout
Posted ArticlesI recently moved, and got a little out of my routine. It meant I started doing things in a different order, missing workouts, and overall feeling disorganized. But to avoid spiraling too far out of control, I kept a few things in mind each day: – Do 10 minutes of meditation in the morning no […]
Swimming From Asia To Europe with Kevin Koskella – TSC Podcast #136
Posted Podcasts Download this episode In this episode of the TriSwimCoach podcast, Kevin was interviewed by Dominic Latella on his Swim Out Of The Box Podcast. They talked about Kevin’s latest event in Europe and the preparations he did prior to the race. Topics discussed in this episode: What marathon swimming is Why he decided to […]
Hit the reset button?
Posted ArticlesIt’s a crystal-clear Monday morning here in Southern California. And today, let’s talk your upcoming week. This week, is YOUR week. This week… you will have absolute clarity on what you are doing with your training in the pool, and in the open water. This week… you will continue to practice drills. This week… you […]
Resist the resistance
Posted ArticlesToday, I finished up a meditation series with the Headspace app on the idea of Acceptance. Acceptance is such a great thing to keep in mind no matter what part of life you are trying to get better at. Accept the present moment for what it is, and the world is “yours”. I went to […]
The 1% Rule
Posted ArticlesYou’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule, or the “Pareto Principle”. 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. This can be applied to all parts of life. Using this principle, only 20% of people will accomplish their goals. But I’ve observed that it’s even more lopsided than this. Because: -Most people don’t follow through […]
Using all the systems [FIRE!]
Posted ArticlesSystems Part 1 We have a lot to think about in training for a triathlon. I break it down into four systems. Each system must be functioning (or “firing”), or everything falls apart. Here they are: 1. Mental state. Your mindset/psychology needs to be tended to on a regular basis. If you are going full […]
When is cheating okay?
Posted ArticlesWhat’s your choice of poison when it comes to swim practice? It’s a joke- I don’t think there is actually a “poison” when you’re practicing swimming (unless you’re downing too much of that chlorinated pool water!) At Tri Swim Coach, we’re known for being minimalists when it comes to equipment in swim training. It’s not […]
Why finishing dead LAST is OK
Posted ArticlesI recently got a message from a Tri Swim Coach subscriber who said: “My last Tri which was this past Sunday… the swim was only 600 meters. Swimming is my down fall! I was the last out of the water of 140 participants. But one thing…I never stopped! I swam all the way using whatever […]
Competitive at 50+
Posted ArticlesThe Tri Swim Coach community has been on fire recently…with inspiring performances and….email reports! Yesterday I received an email from a Tri Swim Success member that I wanted to share part of: “I wanted to drop an email to thank you for this entire year of videos and emails. My big race is Aug 27th […]
A marathon not a sprint?
Posted ArticlesWhy is it that it seems most people sprint at the beginning of a race? Think about any race you’ve ever done, triathlon, 10k, marathon, whatever. The beginning is a mad rush to get out fast. It feels so competitive right at the start. In open water triathlon, this can involve physicality- kicking, punching, bumping […]
Why balance is important (to your tri swim success)
Posted ArticlesWe hear a lot about “having balance in life”. What is balance? It seems like a vague word that can mean a lot of things. When we talk about balance in swimming, we mean swimming on the surface of the water, not sinking, and not favoring one side much over the other. But there’s a […]
Becoming a “natural swimmer”
Posted ArticlesThe most important skill a swimmer can develop is body awareness in the water. Swimming is not natural for humans. When we dive into a pool we lose all sense of coordination and balance. Then we are asked “not to breathe,” which goes against everything we have done since we came out of the womb. […]
Fast… & furious?
Posted ArticlesAre you the competitive type? Do you want to beat your friends in races? Beat your fellow swimmers in the water, even in practice? Or are you mostly just competitive with yourself? One thing I’ve struggled with most of my life is being overly-competitive and overly-critical of myself. I believe competition IS healthy. But the […]
Breaking the ice (swim barrier)
Posted ArticlesDo you ever get the feeling you know how something is going to turn out, so you decide not to do it? For example, you hear about a new way of eating. And you instantly think “Oh just another diet fad, would never work for me!” Or anything where it may be hard at first, […]
The art of getting faster
Posted ArticlesThese are the most common questions we get, in order, here at Tri Swim Coach: 1. How can I get faster? 2. How can I stop my legs from sinking? 3. How can I breathe more easily when swimming? I want to focus on #1 today. The answer is “it depends”, of course. First it […]
How to build confidence in the water
Posted ArticlesIt’s a lovely Tuesday morning here in Southern California, and I just got done planning out some goals for the day, and for the next month. I was thinking more about this idea of confidence that I discussed yesterday. One thing I want to emphasize is that confidence never comes before action. You can only […]
Are you weak and fearful?
Posted ArticlesI recently received a testimonial from another happy Tri Swim Success customer: “Super helpful. I am just a VERY concrete person 🙂 I am loving your drills and workouts. I feel so much stronger and more confident in the water. I had a tri coach for over a year and learned a lot, but I’ve […]
Win it in 5 seconds
Posted ArticlesWant to know a way to eliminate the need for motivation to get things accomplished? I just finished this book called The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins. The idea is, most of us hesitate right when we’re about to do something courageous…then the excuses and justifications come into our brains as to why we […]
The power of Momentum
Posted ArticlesNo matter what goals you’re working towards, momentum is the key to accomplishment. Continuing your momentum means progress is a natural thing. Losing momentum means you have an uphill battle ahead. The analogy with swimming is, taking a few days off. Sometimes, it’s important to take time off. But if you are mid-season, even a […]
A lick from the troll tongue
Posted ArticlesI’m writing from a coffee shop in Copenhagen today, on a 24-hour layover on my way to Munich. While traveling and seeing new places in the world is fun and inspiring, I usually like to have a purpose involved. This time, one of the purposes was to hike to the top of Trolltunga in Norway. […]
Should you strive for perfection in your swimming?
Posted ArticlesThere was a coach I used to follow a while back who emphasized “perfect practice” when it comes to swimming. I totally got where he is going. Do the drills exactly right as opposed to 99% right, and your freestyle will thrive. But I disagree. Whether it’s swimming or other parts of life, when you […]
The upside of stress?
Posted ArticlesDo you have anxiety when it comes to racing? Or does even the thought of an open water triathlon start send your heart racing? Well… this could be a GOOD thing for your performances. Let me explain. I’m in the middle of this book by Kelly McGonigal called “The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is […]
The secret of breathing in freestyle
Posted ArticlesOver half of our customers and followers say that breathing is the thing they struggle with the most in freestyle. And in our Tri Swim Success course, we teach how to successfully breathe in freestyle, starting with the basics. But the “secret” to breathing is… The purpose to taking a breath is to get oxygen. […]
Don’t do any more drills until you read this!
Posted ArticlesI’m back in California after a little trip to Tennessee and Kentucky for a wedding. I managed to get one open water swim in, in a lake right outside of Nashville. Beautiful conditions, and felt great! There’s a lot of emphasis on drills when it comes to getting better at swimming. And rightly so- drill […]
Become a Natural Swimmer (workout enclosed)
Posted Articles“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” –Abraham Maslow The most important skill a swimmer can develop is body awareness in the water. Swimming is not natural for humans. When we dive into a pool we lose all sense of coordination and balance. Then we are asked “not […]
Overcoming Doubt (Tri Swim Style)
Posted ArticlesOur motto at Tri Swim Coach is “Befriend the Water”. When you go about swimming improvement, doubt will creep in at some point. There’s no doubt about it! Perhaps you’re experiencing some doubt these days. It could be, doubt that you could ever get faster, that you can succeed in an open water swim, or […]
How you do anything is how you….
Posted Articles…do everything! I learned this many years ago at a T. Harv Eker “Millionaire Mind” event. Then a few years ago, I took it seriously and started making my bed everyday, for the first time since I was forced to as a kid. Haha. So what does “how you do anything is how you do […]
How to get over deep water anxiety
Posted ArticlesLast week, we sent out a survey to everyone here, and got hundreds of responses. First, thanks to all of you who took the time to respond! One thing that came up again and again was the issue of open water anxiety. Some of this comes from fear of the unknown- mostly being in deep […]
How minimalism can help your swim
Posted ArticlesYou may have recently heard of the idea of “minimalism”- where the idea is to pair down your possessions to just what you need, so you can focus on the more important things in life- like the people around you, and the experiences you can have. This idea applies so well to swimming and training! […]
Training alone vs. group training
Posted ArticlesMany of our subscribers and customers train either solo or in small groups. Some swim in masters groups (18 and over coached workouts). And we get questions and observations around the different forms of training for triathlons regularly. Which is better? Training solo, training with a group, or taking on a masters swim class? Let’s […]
Take 45 seconds off your 100m times
Posted ArticlesJust a quick message today, it’s a beautiful Sunday in Southern California and I need to experience the Great Outdoors at some point very soon! I received a message from a happy Tri Swim Coach customer on Friday, and it reminded me of the importance of concrete goals, both in training and racing. Here’s the […]
How often should you sprint?
Posted ArticlesOn Wednesday this week, I did 4 all-out, 20 second sprints on the beach. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but even 4 sprints can do a lot to help with anaerobic (without oxygen) conditioning, fat burning, and overall health and fitness levels. Back in the paleolithic days, it is likely that all out sprinting […]
How to be “limitless” (with or without coffee)
Posted ArticlesThere was a movie out a few years ago called “Limitless”, about a guy who was down and out who discovered a pill that turned his life around, allowed him to have unlimited energy, focus, clarity, memory, empathy, etc. The first 30 minutes or so of the movie are quite moving! And they recently made […]
I barely survived high school
Posted ArticlesAnd another week begins! When I was a teenager, I had a really rough time in high school. Most of my teachers weren’t actually doing much teaching, and didn’t care about the students. In some classes, I would just put my head down on my desk and sleep, since that seemed like a better use […]
The top 5 ESSENTIALS for swim success
Posted ArticlesSometimes, a sport like swimming can be overwhelming. I’m not much of a golfer, but the times I’ve played, it seems like if I do one thing slightly wrong, everything gets thrown off and I miss the ball, or it doesn’t go where I want it to go. Swimming is very similar, with a little […]
slow=fast ?
Posted ArticlesEven though we are really about having fun around here, we do have our set of “rules”. I put that in quotes because if you don’t follow all of them, there is no Tri Swim Police Force that will come and get you! I wanted to focus on Rule #7 today. That is “We Take […]
The magic of 10%
Posted ArticlesAfter a 6-day flu, I woke up this morning feeling 10% better than I did yesterday. Just 10%, but this is all it took to feel happier and more excited about everything! It reminded me of a great book I read last year called “10% Happier” by Dan Harris. It’s about just going for 10% […]
Curing your struggles with awareness
Posted Articles“Awareness is Curative” I read about this idea in a psychology book I read a few years ago. It means, we have the most trouble with the things we are not aware of. For example, perhaps your finances are not where you would like them to be. You stress about it every day. You feel […]
[FF] Faster faster faster!
Posted ArticlesIt’s Fast Friday! What does that mean? Well it’s different for everyone. But we usually provide a workout that focuses on speed. Which I will (don’t dare skip to the end!) But first… some inner game reminders. The majority of people who come to Tri Swim Coach tell us their goal is to “get faster” […]
How to thrive on “Whine Wednesday”
Posted ArticlesIt’s time for some inspiration. Not just for you. For all of us! I’m just getting over a wicked flu. I’ve been horizontal for the majority of the last 48 hours! Now I’m feeling better and energy is starting to come back a little. But I want to whine. I want to complain and talk […]
Become a “spiritual swimmer” to succeed?
Posted ArticlesThanks to everyone who responded to yesterday’s message about self talk! So many positive comments that were all very nice to read. I wanted to highlight one of them. Sometimes triathletes and struggling swimmers feel like they are all alone in their quest to get a better freestyle. Not so much! *** “Great post and […]
How to “gamify” your swim workouts
Posted ArticlesDo you dislike, or even hate swim workouts? This needs to change if you want success in swimming! Even if swim workouts are a mild discomfort, or you consider them “boring”, this message is for you. The key to enjoyment in your workout is to do things that you actually enjoy. Duh, right? “But I […]
Arm wrestling, weightlifting, & swimming
Posted ArticlesIn the past, we have asked new subscribers to tell us why they subscribed to Tri Swim Coach. Because of a glitch in our email system, and because of the overwhelming number of responses, we have not been able to get back to all of them. However, I wanted to bring up a few important […]
Fight to get faster in freestyle?
Posted ArticlesI noticed an email in my inbox from a popular fitness blogger who I follow, with a subject line that read: “5 Natural Ways To Fight Chronic Stress” Now, on the surface, that seems reasonable. If I have chronic stress, I want to FIGHT it with all I’ve got, so I can be calm again. […]
Why what you eat matters
Posted ArticlesWhen I was young, and training like crazy in swimming, I thought, who cares what I’m eating? I’m training so much that I “burn it all off” anyway. Double workouts plus dryland training, and long Saturday morning wokouts, pizza & donuts were often my fuel. In one instance, I had a coach that made us […]
Smile when you Swim!
Posted ArticlesSo yesterday, I realized for the past 5-6 months, I have not been receiving email replies to this address. There was a miscommunication and… well it doesn’t matter, but I apologize to you if you have sent me a message and not heard back for a long time! I’m working through replying to all of […]
Doing something that you’re afraid of with marathon swimmer Kim Chambers – TSC Podcast #135
Posted Podcasts Download this episode In this episode of the TriSwimCoach, Kevin interviews Kim Chambers of kimswims.com. Kim completed many water swims and one recently featured on a Netflix documentary is an ocean swim from the Farallon Islands to San Francisco in Northern California In this inspirational interview, they talked about her life growing up, how […]
How to deal with a slump
Posted ArticlesHave you ever felt really good, and come of a series of productive workouts, and then you wake up one day and everything is just… off? Like your body is creaky and tight and you feel crappy all the way down to your bones? I had one of these yesterday. Ended up doing a short […]
How to successfully train and work full time
Posted ArticlesDo you wake up on Monday Morning with a feeling of dread, or one of excitement? Training for a triathlon and working a job or business can compliment one another- or it can be a dysfunctional, destructive combination! The way I start most days, especially Mondays, is this: Wake up at 6am Shower Do Wim […]
The greatest thing about triathlon is
Posted ArticlesHere at Tri Swim Coach, we talk a lot about your WHY. Why are you training? Why do you want to compete in triathlon? Why do you want to get to that finish line? Usually the answer to these questions goes deeper than you may think at first. What I think the greatest thing about […]
Get Fast Friday [Workout Enclosed]
Posted ArticlesMost people join Tri Swim Coach to get FASTER at freestyle for their next triathlon. And then we give them all these stroke tips, followed by drills to improve their stroke. And the ones who practice this for a while are like, okay, now what? I wanted to go fast, you helped me improve my […]
Why MORE is often LESS (accomplishment vs. burnout)
Posted ArticlesI recorded a podcast last night with Coach Chris on the idea of adding play into your weekly workout routines, why it’s important and when and how often to do it. It got me thinking even more about this topic. There are important things about adding play (fun) into all your workouts, like keeping motivation […]
The most important relationship you can have
Posted ArticlesOkay, NO I’m not about to start doling out relationship advice here. Except where it relates to your success at swimming and triathlon. And no, the most important relationship you can have here is not with your bike. Or your Garmin. Or even with your significant other! As you may have guessed, this is your […]
Rethinking the Propulsive Phase In Freestyle With Dominic Latella (Also: Tri Swim Clinic in Boston June 22-23!) – TSC Podcast #134
Posted Podcasts Download this episode In this episode of the TriSwimCoach Podcast, Coach Dominic Latella returns to the show once again. The two coaches discuss an upcoming clinic that Dominic is going to be running and also some really cutting edge information that you cannot miss. Enjoy today’s episode! Topics discussed in this episode: Announcement on […]
Can routines give you wings?
Posted ArticlesI traveled to New York City on March 15th and just got back to the west coast on Monday night. One thing that stood out was the importance of routines. Even in the midst of hard core tourism, I made sure to keep a mini-routine each day. I found a coffee shop near where I […]
Sweat the small stuff
Posted ArticlesI’ve been traveling a bit on the East Coast USA, and yesterday caught up with a cousin in Connecticut who I haven’t seen in quite some time. Catching up was nice, but I could tell he had fallen into one of those life traps that so many people do. He asked me what I did […]
How you can “befriend the water”
Posted ArticlesThis year, we at Tri Swim Coach have been using the slogan “Befriend the Water”. Since you may be wondering if it’s just a catchy marketing slogan or if there is deeper meaning, I wanted to explain it. Do you ever feel like you are in “flow” with life, or a particular workout? Like, things […]
Taking things to a higher level
Posted ArticlesYesterday, I went to the new World Trade Center in New York to see the high level view of the city. It was impressive to say the least! Anyone up for swimming in that river? 🙂 Taking a high level view of your training means it goes beyond the numbers. We’ve talked a lot about […]
How to quantify improvement in swimming
Posted ArticlesAt Tri Swim Coach, we get questions all the time like: “How many strokes should I be taking per length?” “What’s a good Swim Golf (SWOLF) score?” “How do I know if I’m going a proper high elbow catch?” “How many days per week should I swim?” “Why am I not getting faster/better?” With triathlon, […]
Can you spare any change?
Posted ArticlesHello from New York City! I’m in the city for the next 10 days, I just felt the need for a change in pace and scenery from sunny Southern California. First day here, the high was 26F degrees. Brrrr! Definitely got that change I wanted! Along the lines of change, I was thinking of ways […]
Attack swimming with child-like wonder
Posted ArticlesCan you think of a time in your life when you were filled with awe, wonder, and infinite possibilities? Perhaps it was when you were a child, and “life” hadn’t gotten in the way of your dreams and imagination. Everything seemed magical- the sky, the trees, even the air. Or it could be when you […]
110%!
Posted ArticlesHave you heard people described this way? “Tom always gives it 110%!” It sounds great! What a compliment. This guy doesn’t just go all out, he goes ABOVE all out! More than the maximum effort. Maybe he’s sub-human! While people mean well, this “110%” depitcion of someone’s performance I believe is not only FALSE (literally […]
2 steps forward, 1.9 steps back
Posted ArticlesIf you think about people that have become great, or even good, at something in life, the amount of adversity and struggle they had to overcome at one point was tremendous. Nobody’s success was a straight line up to mastery! Let’s take learning guitar. Many people get inspired to learn how to play guitar after […]
“But I don’t have time!”
Posted ArticlesTriathlon is a great metaphor for life in many ways. I’m sure you’ve heard this before. You make a suggestion to someone that you think will help them, and they respond “I don’t have time for that!” Well if you take just the actual time in the day these people have, they DO have time […]
What are you about?
Posted ArticlesI was having coffee with a friend yesterday, and the subject of “purpose” came up. As in, what is your purpose? To me, “purpose” can be kind of a loaded word. But there are other ways of saying this. What are you most interested in? Why do you do what you do? Who are you? […]
3 essential stretches for triathletes
Posted ArticlesTriathletes are notorious for being inflexible and on the precipice of injury. Maybe it is the fact that we are doing three sports all of which have repetitive movements and where poor form can have season ending consequences after doing the same move for the billionth time. I myself visit my chiropractor once a week […]
This one word changes everything
Posted ArticlesI went for a walk last night and was mulling over some of the things I want to change my life, and thought of some ways I’ve worked through this kind of thing in the past. I thought about running some of this by my dad, but then thought “Nah, he wouldn’t really be able […]
Will eating waffles help your swim?
Posted ArticlesI’ve talked a lot about a swimming problem a lot of people have, especially triathletes- sinking while they swim. This is a major problem because it creates lots of drag, and just flat makes it annoying to swim! So do some people just float and others sink? No…. although extra body fat does make you […]
“Perfection is the enemy of the good” YES
Posted ArticlesThere was a coach I used to follow a while back who emphasized “perfect practice” when it comes to swimming. I totally got where he is going. Do the drills exactly right as opposed to 99% right, and your freestyle will thrive. But I disagree. Whether it’s swimming or other parts of life, when you […]
Fixed vs Growth mindset and your progress
Posted ArticlesYesterday, I wrote about the ways we lie to ourselves. Today, I want to talk about being guided by better information as opposed to being married to ideas. Perhaps you have always believed something to be true. Maybe even for decades. When conflicting information comes along that puts what you believed into question, are you […]
Are you lying to yourself?
Posted ArticlesSwimming is 90% mental. That’s why we (at Tri Swim Coach) focus a lot on the psychological aspects of getting better at it. Did you ever stop to consider how much you lie to yourself, and how this might be getting in the way of your progress? In our The Fit Triathlete Transformation program, we […]