Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and Outside’s Sweat Science columnist, covering the latest research on endurance and outdoor sports.
His most recent book is the New York Times bestseller Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. Before becoming a journalist, he completed a PhD in physics at the University of Cambridge and worked as a researcher in the National Security Agency’s Quantum Computing group. He also competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country, road, and mountain running. He lives (and runs) in Toronto.
Published
A study that assigns different workout plans to each leg shows just how much (or little) the details matter
Scientists debate the physiological benefits of ramping up your training intensity or your training volume
You have to work hard to build strength, but that doesn’t necessarily mean collapsing to the floor after each set
A pair of presentations explore the biomechanics of the controversial shoe, and whether it wards off marathon-induced muscle damage
The theory makes sense, but actually showing that “hyperoxic training” makes you faster remains a challenge
A new study finds that your “critical speed” threshold drops in the last third of a marathon, which may explain why the distance produces so many blow-ups
A simple self-test zeroes in on the most efficient stride rate for your running style
A new study looks at the effect of subtle wording changes on the performance-boosting power of motivational self-talk
Experts from the Wilderness Medical Society have combed through the evidence to assess what works and what doesn’t
Staying healthy is crucial to athletic performance, and a new analysis from the 2018 Olympics suggests some surprising defensive tactics.
A lactate-munching microbe found in the poop of Boston marathoners is interesting, but that doesn’t mean you should (ahem) swallow it just yet
Analyzing your training distribution can reveal the right balance between hard and easy workouts
A newly published scientific case report documents the rise (and fall) of cycling phenom Oskar Svendsen
The mental side of soreness, the downside of ice baths, and the genetics of tendon injuries were hot topics at this year’s ACSM conference
Hydrogels, electrolytes, and drink frequency top the list at this year’s ACSM conference
Insights from this year’s ACSM conference on how to lift, what to eat, and how that affects endurance athletes
A new study of transcontinental racers pegs the digestive tract as the limiting factor in extreme feats of sustained endurance
We won’t tell you what to think; we’re just here to share the latest data.
Connective tissue is notoriously slow to heal. New research suggests gelatin might help.
Data from the last world championships suggests you shouldn’t be concerned about your foot strike, no matter how you land
The thresholds that define low iron can be different for athletes compared to non-athletes
It’s not a miracle, and it’s not a secret, but the link between fitness levels and the risk of lung and colorectal cancers is impressively strong
The real magic of much-hyped ketone supplements, according to Belgian scientists, is how they enhance recovery
New evidence suggests that strengthening your respiratory muscles can translate to improved performance in thinner air
This new calorie calculator uses an equation developed by the U.S. military to estimate energy expenditure while hiking
New research suggests that a month of probiotic supplementation reduces GI symptoms in runners
The popular self-massage devices have a devoted following, but the evidence for their benefits is murky
Before his controversy-plagued doubled ascent in 2017, the Spanish ultra star deployed the latest altitude science to speed his high-altitude adaptation
To counteract caffeine tolerance, new research suggests you need to swear it off temporarily
A study of the cognitive and psychological effects of outdoor cycling finds equal results for normal bikes and e-bikes
In a new study, mountain hiking had similar psychological and stress-reducing benefits whether or not there were signs of human habitation
A simple questionnaire assessing self-regulatory skills—planning, self-monitoring, evaluation, reflection—offers clues about who will push themselves to a sports injury
Yes, the physiology and biomechanics of treadmill running are a little different. But how you feel about it is probably more important.
The hype around the technology has raced ahead of the evidence. Now the evidence may be catching up.
Researchers dig into the nitty-gritty of interval training, with insights of what, why, and how you should train for different goals
A new statistical approach brings sophisticated probability analysis to the future of marathoning
Scientists are untangling why it’s easier to regain fitness than to start from scratch
New research parses the different effects of exercise on anger as an emotion versus anger as a mood
A new model reinterprets those pretty graphs that seemed to show minimalist shoes reducing impact forces
A push-up test outperformed a treadmill test for predicting cardiac health—but it’s not all about your pecs
The evidence in support of carbohydrate drinks is flimsier than you might think—which is why the results of a new study are worth paying attention to
When it comes to the effects of temperature on performance, perception is reality
The benefits of beet juice seem to be weaker in trained athletes. They just need more of it, a new study suggests.
A new multi-study review finds no advantage to following a hydration plan compared to simply drinking when you feel like it
A detailed analysis of historical Boston results wades into the long-running debate on sex differences in endurance
A mixed workout program produces the best heart health outcomes, a new study finds
New research confirms that a week of hot tub sessions helps your body adapt to heat
Researchers explore how your brain chemistry may start dulling pain and boosting mood before you even take a step
We know that cognitive function is impaired at high altitude, but it’s not entirely clear why
Real-world data shows elite ultrarunners average 180 steps per minute—and that means nothing
New research finds weightlifters have stronger tongues and runners have better tongue endurance—and that matters
Plotting top-100 marathon times for the past decade shows that Eliud Kipchoge’s world record is a huge outlier. The question is why.
What the new data says about how long the average hiker takes, what they drink, and how tired they get
At the 2016 world championships in Qatar, cyclists swallowed thermometer pills before competing. Here’s what scientists learned.
You don’t really need more gear. You need knowledge and inspiration.
To fuel for athletic success, consider specificity, periodization, and personalization
A U.S. Army study aims to pin down the optimal staging protocol before high-altitude tests of endurance
Unraveling how a carbon fiber plate and space-age foam combine to make a more efficient shoe turns out to be trickier than expected
Colin O’Brady thinks it’s possible—but just barely—to haul enough calories to traverse the continent. Here’s how.
A new study suggests that hitting the gym more than twice a week is counterproductive. That seems unlikely.
A new study suggests that running on autopilot is the most efficient approach.
A new study finds that having “elite” levels of aerobic fitness increases longevity relative to merely “high” levels.
Research on a pro cycling team suggests that subjective training metrics can match high-tech ones
Evolutionary biologists weigh in on the eternal training dilemma of how to allocate time and energy to three different disciplines
A crowdfunding project promises to bring smoother pack-carrying experiences to the masses
A new study explores attitudes toward performance-enhancing drugs in the ultrarunning world
Falls put 3,000 climbers a year in hospital, costing more than $20 million, according to a new study
The man who raised the possibility of the feat back in 1991 takes another look into the crystal ball
A stunning world record of 2:01:39 resets our understanding of what it means to run 26.2 miles.
New research zeroes in on an unlikely culprit for why running gets less efficient as you fatigue.
A new study bolsters the claim that afternoon or evening workouts can mess with sleep. But don’t panic just yet.
The optimal number of sets in the weight room depends on whether you want to get big or strong
An Italian cyclist takes aim at the sport’s most storied record, with the aid of a controversial fuel.
Elite athletes are turning up the thermostat in pursuit of an edge
A massive new study confirms the mental health benefits of exercise. Don’t let the negative spin get you down.
Exactly how much power can a human produce? Scientists want to know.
Four years of race data from a professional cycling team unveils some differences between the sexes
Using machine learning to recognize who’s a serious competitive runner and who’s not could teach us something useful about avoiding injuries
New research finds that those who can identify and regulate their emotions keep pushing when the going gets tough
An in-depth biomechanical analysis of nearly everyone at the world track championships yields unexpected results