Our best writing on America's obstacle racing craze and the personalities behind it

Lance Armstrong allegedly doped and won seven Tour titles. So if I dope, I should at least dominate some local races, right?

In Argentina, rival soccer fans don’t just hate, they kill, and the violent partisans of top clubs fuel crime syndicates that influence the sport at its highest levels. Patrick Symmes braves the bottle rockets, howling mobs, urine bombs, and drunken grannies on a wild ride through the scariest fútbol underworld on earth.

The obstacle course craze is taking over America. This year some 1.5 million people will enter an event. But behind all the dirty fun is a nasty business and legal battle between entrepreneurs looking to cash in. Here, in a preview of Outside’s November cover story, is a glimpse at just how far they’ll go to sell you their brand of pain.

It seems like every time I complete a race that lasts longer than a few hours, I get sick afterward. Why is that, and is there any way to prevent it from happening?

When Los Angeles-based chef Ludo Lefebvre traveled to the Big Island to open up a pop-up restaurant, he got some help gathering ingredients from a few surfers who know the surrounding waters well. Mark Healey,…

I always get sausage fingers and puffy hands whenever I go on day hikes. My friend says it’s because I’m not eating enough salt. But doesn’t salt cause bloating? What’s going on here?

My coach suggested I take fish oil supplements, so I started taking them, but so far it seems the only thing they’re doing is messing with my, um, excretory system. Is it really that important for athletes to take fish oil supplements?

I’m running the Twin Cities Marathon in October. I’ve been getting a massage about once a month while I’ve been training, but I'm not sure when to schedule my final massage before the race for optimal performance. Got any tips?

Sometimes winning just means not losing any blood

I only put sunscreen on the uncovered parts of my body, but should I be using it under my clothes, too? How well do my clothes protect me against the sun?

I was about halfway through a 17-mile run in preparation for a marathon. I was wearing a hydration belt that contained a cell phone, mace, endurance beans and two 10-ounce water bottles. During the run, a man on a bike pulled up to me and told me that I was going to "ruin my back" carrying that much weight. While I haven't done 100 marathons, this isn't my first time. I have been working hard to keep my core strong, and I try to position the weight so I carry it on my hips. Is he right?

I’ve seen conflicting reports on whether it’s better to exercise in the morning before or after breakfast to promote weight loss. Which is it?

A protein-rich, paleo-inspired meal adapted for the modern athlete

Three surefire recipes to supercharge your workout

A rundown of the biggest moments of the 2012 Paralympics in London, from conflicts to triumphs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=6SLxh0ceP70 10. Armless Archer Wins a Silver MedalWhen Matthew Stutzman, 29, first became interested in archery, he Googled, “How to teach a guy without arms how to shoot a bow.” Nothing came up.

File this one under fun: Cal Coast Track Team Daily Jump. Photo: The Daily Jump We recently caught wind of a new DIY fitness trend that’s going viral. You can do it anywhere, anytime, with anyone. By yourself. On a trail. with your kids in…

I watched Jen Kessy smack gum throughout her Olympic beach volleyball matches. Can gum help performance, or does Kessy just have really bad breath?

There can be only one super-specific, outdoor sport

Fitness magnate Bahram Akradi is buying up some of the most beloved endurance events in the country—and he has plans to improve them. So what's everybody afraid of?

Is it safe to participate in my triathlon club’s ocean swims while I’m menstruating, am I more likely to get attacked by a shark?

All of my non-cotton workout clothes reek after I workout. What the heck? Are there any technical workout clothes that won’t hang onto my B.O. for eternity?

Increasingly, race organizers are testing non-elite athletes for performance-enhancing drugs. But is it fair, or even possible, to hold amateurs to the same stringent standards as the pros?

When’s the best time to use a foam roller, before or after a workout?

Common medications that will—and won't—earn you a suspension

Can I convert my fast twitch muscles to slow twitch muscles and vice versa?

My mom always said to stay inside during dust storms because the dirt could make me sick. Can racing a muddy, dusty event make me ill?

David Hill thought he was joining a bookstore-sponsored basketball league in Brooklyn, but it turned out to be a lot more than just thick-framed glasses and set shots

The U.S. men's soccer team made history against Mexico last night. But what makes one win so impressive?

I got heatstroke in a running race two years ago and passed out. Am I more likely to get it again than someone who’s never had it?

My lower back can can get stiff and sore between workouts. Will sitting on an exercise ball while at work help me to strengthen it?

Photo: Gary Bembridge/Wikimedia Commons Like the rest of the world, I’ve been obsessed with the Olympics these past two weeks. I’m a sucker for stories of human will and triumph, and the London Summer Games, like all Games, don’t disappoint. Sure, the time-delay sucks and you…

In triathlon, where training volume can make it impossible to hold down another job, Olympic hopefuls often live with parents or sleep on friends’ couches, struggling to make ends meet

It's no secret that a lot of athletes are superstitious. Hockey player Bruce Gardiner used to dip his stick in the toilet during scoring droughts to punish it so it would perform better. NBA point guard Jason Terry sleeps…

I have a friend who takes a puff of asthma medicine before he competes even though he doesn’t have asthma. He says it increases his oxygen uptake so he can go stronger longer. Is that true?

This is not true at all, but I'm still going to share it Photo: BBC The BBC has put together a quick little tool that tells you which Olympic athlete you most resemble. Well, kind of. They've built an app that determines your Olympic body match based…

(p_a_h/Flickr)Photo: p_a_h/Flickr The five things you should know if you were only going to know five things about yesterday at the Olympics. 1. Gabby Douglas. She extended the American women’s all-around gold medal streak to three. She’s the first American woman to win gold in both…

The story of 17-year-old boxer Claressa Shields has appeared so far in the New Yorker, The New York Times, NPR, and numerous other high-profile media outlets. Shields, also known…

Testing out the kid-friendly SlackRack. Photo: Gibbon Slacklines With their low center of gravity and natural ability to live fearlessly in the present, most kids are quick studies on the slackline. Just look at 14-year-old Alex Mason, who won the inaugural slackline competition…

Duties: regular workouts, mandatory lunch hours, and the occasional rafting trip. Benefits: international adventure travel, personal training sessions, and sweet swag. These jobs really do exist.

Enlightened companies seek ambitious individuals who work hard, think big, and crave life-affirming careers, lunchtime bike rides, and soul-expanding travel

So many great companies, we couldn't fit them all into one article

I’ve heard surfers say you shouldn’t go in the water after a storm. Is that true? And how long do I have to wait?

The Russians won't win every medal, but they should

The badminton of gymnastics

There is a man named "Teddy Bear," and he could kill you

The name pretty much says it all

It's hockey on a field—except, different

The U.S. isn't competing, and the Soviet Union has the most all-time medals, so why watch?

By Elizabeth Eilers Sullivan As I wrote about in my last post, yoga can help kids develop flexibility, strength, agility, balance, and body awareness. When teaching little yogis, it’s important not to worry too much about proper poses or “doing it right.” It’s more about exposing them to…

I saw a Groupon for a trip to a local infrared sauna. How’s that different from the dry sauna at my gym, and will it help my achy knees?

Men, women, spouses, ex-lovers, and a 71-year-old: all competing against each other

China, China, and China

There's more here than meets the, um, bullseye

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

Tough Mudder says their Electroshock Therapy obstacle delivers a 10,000-volt electric shock. Can a human survive that, or is it a sham?

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

You may not be a pro skier or climber, but at least you can train like one. Mountain sports coach Rob Shaul and his students share how they prepare for the peaks.

I have a friend who runs home from the bar and sits in a sauna after a night of drinking. He says this ritual helps him sober up faster and avoid a hangover. Is he right?

The method behind the most intensive drug-testing program in history

These three athletes are guinea pigs for the latest in athletic science

I keep my favorite necklace and wedding ring on when I exercise. Can chlorine and sweat hurt them?

I can see the smoke from wildfires burning all across the state. How do I know if it’s safe to run outside?

When former Outside Online Editor Megan Miller told me this past spring she was working on a new adventure fitness app called Teemo, I was curious. How would it work? Who would use it? How easy would it be? She revealed the app a couple of…

The U.S. Olympic Training Center serves 1,200 meals to 350 athletes each day. The most popular dish? A nutrient-dense Thai chicken soup.

I’m racing the Leadville Trail 100 this August. I live at sea level, so when should I go up there to race my best?

Fact: Exercising in polluted air can increase your risk of asthma, stroke, and heart failure. But is it better than the alternative—avoiding a workout altogether?

I want to keep up my training routine—but I'm injured. Will taking Advil for the pain in my strained quad inhibit healing?

I can’t live without sweets. Is it possible to have my dessert and eat it too—without undoing all the work I did training?

I know that exercise is supposed to improve sex, but is there a point of diminishing returns?

I want to add miles for my ultra training, but I'm concerned about breaking down my body. Will longer runs wreck my hard-won muscle tone?

The United States Olympic Committee has announced its 2011 coaches of the year. Rick Bower, coach of the U.S. snowboarding halfpipe team, took home the top honor. In the past, that award has gone to prominent names, including cycling coach Chris Carmichael…