Health
ArchiveParkour is all about functional fitness. In Part 3 of the Natural Born Heroes series, Christopher McDougall learns the basics from a master.
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.
My heart feels like it skips a beat every once in a while, especially during exercise. Is this something I should get checked out?
Yes, they're great for reducing soreness, but they could also be masking more serious muscular imbalances.
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?
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.
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?
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
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?
Pro ski mountaineer Meredith Edwards dishes on her five favorite feeds
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
More evidence shows caffeine-loaded beverages should stay separate from athletic events
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.
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.
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.
I like to exercise in the afternoon or evening, but I often feel too tired to motivate myself. Could a quick rest help?
As patients jettison insurance plans for concierge care, some are looking to optimize their fitness level along with their health.
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.
Want to boost your smoothie? These little powerhouses are packed with nutrients.
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.
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.
Running drunk isn't a great idea—for a number of obvious reasons. Surprisingly, performance isn't one of them.
Challenge your friends to a grueling drill-based challenge, then whoop their butts.
Sure, running five minutes a day will help you live longer, but it's not going to get you in shape—or even scrape the surface of your potential.
In 2008 Lloyd Brombach weighed nearly 300 pounds and struggled to walk short distances. Through a newfound passion for rock climbing and an unconventional diet, he lost 100 pounds and completed his first Ironman Triathlon in November of 2012. A film by Mike Wilkinson. …
Should I be concerned about Vibrio vulnificus cases reported in Florida and Maryland?
Sometimes when I'm in the middle of a really hard workout, it tastes like I'm sucking on metal. Here's why.
7 hot tips from the show’s ultimate competitor, Kacy Catanzaro
Proponents of the Banting diet claim that cutting carbs is the key to weight loss and improved health. There's just one problem: it'll make you slow.
There’s a reason more and more amateur athletes are turning to professional trainers to retool their workouts: it’s the best way to improve performance.
No, don't stop using it. But you need to go beyond SPF and add more protection to your arsenal.
Is the newest fitness beverage just another money grab, or is it actually getting to the heart of smart rehydration?
I thought that starchy foods aren't good for you—why do I keep reading about the health benefits of this certain type?
The (unlawful) wins might not be worth what comes after.
Don't listen to the headlines—you need more than seven hours of sleep to play hard.
Ronnie Goodman may well be San Francisco's most unexpected half-marathoner. This is the story of why he runs. He recently ran the second half of the San Francisco Marathon to give back to the organization that helped him when he needed it most. A film by Heist. …
More gear companies are making running sunglasses that are both stylish and functional—to improve your vision and your PR