How a man wrongly convicted for murder spent nearly a decade in prison—and emerged as a fitness guru.

Sitting all day can have a serious effect on the body. In Part 4 of the Natural Born Heroes series, Christopher McDougall finds out how to correct all of that damage in just a few minutes a day.

When longtime triathlete T.J. Murphy took on a Kokoro camp – a beyond-extreme fitness challenge modeled on the Navy’s Hell Week for SEAL candidates – his first question was purely about the pain: Can I survive this? The second was more metaphysical: Should I even want to?      …

Turns out the spin bike is the key to getting—and staying—fast

Strength is useless if you don't hone your agility—the skill of translating power into meaningful movement. And it all starts with mastering the "Kong vault."

More than 76 years ago, a visionary Australian coach had an epiphany that forged a generation of super-athletes: true fitness is all about translating fear into raw power.

Restaurants make us impulsive, which means it can be hard to turn down the cheesecake no matter how big a label it comes with.

One of the most surprising heroes of World War II was a pint-sized shepherd nicknamed The Clown—and his fitness wisdom can change your life.

Ill-chosen goals put you at risk of injury and burnout. Here's how to avoid that fate in seven easy steps.

What can you learn by chucking tempered steel blades into a target? Performing to potential is all about trusting your instincts.

When a longtime triathlete took on a Kokoro camp—a beyond-extreme fitness challenge modeled on the Navy's Hell Week for SEAL candidates—his first question was purely about the pain: Can I survive this? The second was more metaphysical: Should I even want to?

For years, it seemed like drug testers would never get ahead of cheaters. The Russian bribery scandal raises an even scarier possibility: the testers are dirty too.

Environmental concerns thrust the Mediterranean diet back into the spotlight. But will it zap your athletic potential?

The two-time Olympian will lead the women’s national squad to the 2015 World Cup—and share her secrets to unleashing athletic potential.

I'm a runner coming off my competitive season, and I've been super vigilant about watching my weight. Is there anything wrong with gaining a few pounds over the holidays?

More pain quest than workout, misogi is the secret, punishing ritual that has revolutionized Atlanta Hawks supershooter Kyle Korver's game. You have time for this—if it doesn't kill you first.

How to tell the impostors from the real, health-boosting, extra virgin variety.

The Ancient Greeks believed anyone could unlock superhuman potential by mastering the three pillars of heroism: skill, strength and compassion. In this exclusive series based on research uncovered for his upcoming book, Natural Born Heroes, Christopher McDougall tracks down the high priests of the lost fitness arts. …

In Part 2 of the Natural Born Heroes series, Christopher McDougall learns how to throw knives with force and accuracy from knifemaster Patrick Brewster.  …

Parkour is all about functional fitness. In Part 3 of the Natural Born Heroes series, Christopher McDougall learns the basics from a master.

My heart feels like it skips a beat every once in a while, especially during exercise. Is this something I should get checked out?

How to build a better one

Yes, they're great for reducing soreness, but they could also be masking more serious muscular imbalances.

There’s a new competition raging among elite runners: the beer mile, in which you do four laps around a standard track, chugging a 12-ounce brew at the start of each loop. If you can do it in under five minutes—without hurling or passing out—you’re not just fast. You’re a hero.

I'm training for an upcoming marathon, and my company's giving out influenza vaccines the week of my race. Will the shot impact my performance?

5 brain hacks that will make you fitter and faster right now

I'm planning to spend a lot of time at the gym this winter. How do I know that mine gets a clean bill of health?

Use these foods to toughen up your gut

The day of the gel has come and gone. Elite athletes are ditching the sugar-laden junk for natural on-bike nutrition, and pro cyclist Ally Stacher is leading the charge with her new sweet potato bars.

Advanced screening can reduce the likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest, the most common cause of death among athletes. So why is it so controversial?

We always preach the importance of wearing a helmet while cycling. But new research suggests that the brain buckets aren't keeping us much safer—and one Olympian argues we should do away with them altogether. So what can we do to keep cyclists safe?

It's time to dump the rankings and review the facts

Pro ski mountaineer Meredith Edwards dishes on her five favorite feeds

I know that proper form while I'm working out is important, but what about my posture the rest of the day—does that really impact my fitness level?

This ergonomist has a mission: to design an office that's scientifically proven to boost your fitness, mental health, and productivity.

Or is another mysterious condition to blame for deaths during the swim leg? A new report unveils a long-misunderstood killer.

My house is filled with sweets this time of year. Can I use them instead of sport gels and gummies for long runs and bike rides?

After a five-year hiatus, Primal Quest, the most storied event in adventure racing will be open for registration this November. In an excerpt from "Rusch to Glory," Rebecca Rusch gives a detailed account of the sport's darkest day and the allure of adventure racing.

Olympian Nick Symmonds wants to change the way athletes consume pre-race caffeine.

We don't know if the biohacking craze is full of snake-oil salesmen or prophets. Probably a little of both.

Getting faster means slowing down, too.

I've always heard that exercise is good for the brain, but does it actually have a real-world impact?

We're siding with the functional fitness junkies on this one. CrossFit and ultrarunning are far from disturbing, ridiculously extreme—or worth writing off.

Don't shorten your routine just yet.

I hear the whole stunt-man thing is a great workout. Is it worth incorporating into my routine?

Improve your life in five minutes or less.

Renowned physical therapist Kelly Starrett lays out movement standards for runners. Meet them, and you'll stay out of his office. Don't meet them, and you shouldn't be running.

Convince the computer you're clean and you get the Clean Protocol program's seal of approval. Any takers?

Face it, most of us aren't complete athletes. We lack the strength to make us fit, and we follow cultlike exercise programs. But there is a cure: Listen to renegade coach Mark Rippetoe, grab a barbell, and get back to basics.

More evidence shows caffeine-loaded beverages should stay separate from athletic events

Health-and-fitness publications often takes liberties (gasp!) with scientific studies. Here's why you shouldn't believe everything you read—and how to separate the facts from the slough.

Will leaping fiery hay bales amount to nothing more than an adrenaline-fueled fad? Or could it one day become an Olympic sport? That all depends on what comes next.

A handful of years ago Rachel Brathen was a cigarette-smoking, rebellious teen in Sweden. Then she moved to Costa Rica, found yoga, booted up Instagram, and became a yoga celebrity—if there is such a thing.

We've taught ourselves to consider high-calorie snacks a reward for hard work. But there's a secret to making our diets more effective and keeping the weight off—and it has nothing to do with willpower.

Or is the test they give me at the shoe store good enough?

Throw away your ice packs and ibuprofen if you want to recover right.

After a skydiving accident in October 2013 left Squaw Valley Ski Holdings CEO Andy Wirth without a right arm, he didn't quit charging. Now, Wirth lives a life of Ironman racing and adventure. As told to Gordy Megroz.

Long shunned by endurance athletes looking to stay lean, the enemy is having a moment

Public park fitness groups are at risk—even as cities push soda bans.

There's a reason we chow down on pasta and bread before a race—carbs are proven to boost performance. But when it comes to training, we need to rethink our nutrition plan and periodically look to fat, not sugar, as fuel.

Long flights and car trips wreak havoc on my body. How can I reduce the stress of travel and keep up with my current exercise routine?

It's still possible to be what you wanted to be when you were a kid.

Five business icons share how they flipped the switch on their careers—and how you can follow in their footsteps.

100 companies that believe the secret to success is empowering employees to live bigger, better lives.

An eight-step plan for rebooting your career and finding a job that you love.

Suddenly, the headlines say breakfast is unnecessary. But everyone seems to have forgotten the most important nutrition rule: What works for the everyman doesn't always make sense for the athlete.

I want to see if my smartphone can make my workout better, but there are so many choices. What are some tried and true apps that I won't just delete a week in?

Don't just sit there. Get the most from your training by recovering right.

Even eating is serious business in the Hall household.

I like to exercise in the afternoon or evening, but I often feel too tired to motivate myself. Could a quick rest help?

The case of Andrus Veerpalu, an Olympic gold medal winning Estonian cross country skier who was accused in 2011 of doping with human growth hormone, raises serious questions about WADA's credibility.

As patients jettison insurance plans for concierge care, some are looking to optimize their fitness level along with their health.

Numbers. Rankings. Results. The data-driven mindset is preventing us from enjoying the outdoors.

The 33-year-old triathlete is American's best hope to reclaim Ironman Kona.

Want to boost your smoothie? These little powerhouses are packed with nutrients.

The best tool for building strength is the sandbag—so long as you're prepared to suffer.

For one 41-year-old Australian triathlon champion, retiring just meant taking a break.

I hate exercising early in the morning, and I always have obligations at night. How can I squeeze in an effective midday workout?

Rule One: Don't confine your training to the gym. Movement needs to be a lifestyle. Rule Two: Don't just move. You need a goal. And you need to train.

Challenge your friends to a grueling drill-based challenge, then whoop their butts.