SWIMfast regularly coaches age-group swimmers (under age 18), focusing on improvements in stroke form in order to improve race times. In swimming, technique makes all the difference in going from good to great.

NM (age 13), Madison WI
April 18, 2005

I consider myself a serious swimmer. I love to be in the water and love to compete. I would say I'm pretty good, but it wasn't until I met Mark that I realized, "Why settle when I can be not only better--I could possibly be great!"

My swim year this past season was hard. I had been working hard in school, and illness, stress and after-school swim team practice were only making things worse. I had dropped behind in swimming and was close to burn out. I wasn't happy with the way I was competing and my Dad suggested that I get my strokes analyzed by a professional and maybe come away at the end of the season proud of what I might achieve. Mark Peterson was introduced to us on the top of the list and it wasn't long before I was standing in the pool receiving advice that has definitely changed my techniques in better ways than I could have possibly imagined. I admit that it was hard at first. I felt like I was learning how to swim all over again. But with practice and hard work everything turned out great--I dropped seconds in all the four strokes, and made it to USA and YMCA State Championships! Swimming is easier and I'm enjoying myself so much knowing that now I can actually say that I'm doing strokes "the right way" and it feels so good. I'm looking forward to an even better season next year!

Thank you so much Mark!! I seriously couldn't have done it without you!

KM (NM's mother), Madison, WI

As a parent of a competitive teenage swimmer, I have been very impressed with Mark Peterson's training techniques, and holistic approach. He has a canny ability to diagnose how my daughter's feeling physically and emotionally ("Looks like your sinuses are flaring up, and you might have a headache . . . So how about we notch down our session today, so that it's manageable for you.") The first time this happened my daughter and I were shocked. Usually a person who keeps her personal feelings to herself, she acknowledged that he was right about her sinuses and headache and told him what an emotionally draining day she had had. Mark actually excluded that session from our fee and gave us a make-up session when she was feeling better!

It's reassuring to know that Mark has a holistic approach, and is interested in my child's physical, emotional and spiritual well-being as she trains with him. They discuss nutritional diet, other forms of exercise she should be engaged in and how they translate back to her swimming strength and technique. I believe that Mark's background greatly enhances his students' swim techniques. He has helped my daughter improve her strokes, and previously bothersome strokes which resulted in physical pain (e.g., lower back, shoulders, neck) no longer do so.

Additionally, Mark sends us written reports reviewing what the swimmer has learned and what needs to be worked on. He also includes additional information on the various strokes so that the swimmer may get the big picture about how they are connected.

As my daughter says, "Sometimes I feel so low, exhausted and unwilling to cope with swimming; but then I talk with Mark, have a great session and I feel so inspired about my swimming!"

Our family highly recommends Mark!