Training & Performance
Archive
Real-world data shows elite ultrarunners average 180 steps per minute—and that means nothing
After her win at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Kate Courtney noticed a shift in how people talk about women in sports
My father founded the notorious 120-mile Triple Bypass bike ride in Colorado. After a few failed attempts, I set out to finally complete it.
There's a fine line between dialing back exercise during the holidays and losing your fitness altogether
New research finds weightlifters have stronger tongues and runners have better tongue endurance—and that matters
The basic foundation to help build your yoga mastery.
Plotting top-100 marathon times for the past decade shows that Eliud Kipchoge’s world record is a huge outlier. The question is why.
There's a lot to learn about the good life from sommeliers and hot-air-balloon pilots
The year in adventure fitness, gear, and sports was shaped by bold visionaries with world-changing dreams—and the mojo to make them real
At the 2016 world championships in Qatar, cyclists swallowed thermometer pills before competing. Here’s what scientists learned.
You can do a lot more with a foam roller than you might think
Meet the minds shaping and building the big business of the outdoors
From big-wall climbers to surf champions, these are the most dedicated, successful athletes of the year
We give you the gift of learning to fall
This week, we walk you through six daily exercises to boost mobility and balance.
The former white-boy rapper and mega-successful serial entrepreneur has become a bestselling wellness author and Tony Robbins-style life coach. His latest venture, a highly social weekend of walking up mountains until you drop, called 29029, is pitched as a new breed of restorative endurance event. But is this just a brutal group hike with good marketing?
The simple system is all you need for an effective full-body workout
It's never a bad time to re-evaluate your digital addiction
To become an Air Force pararescue specialist, you have to get through a brutal training course and stay underwater for a long, long time
Skiing is a dance. We consulted a pro skier and former ballerina to find out how to train for it.
You don't always have to go out to work out
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
Nonprofit the Phoenix has a radical idea for those recovering from drug and alcohol addictions—get moving
The government just released new fitness guidelines, which we boiled down to a single, simple mantra
Convenience and versatility make for a winning piece of fitness equipment
Simplify your mobility routine with these three flexibility stretches.
How halfpipe skier Cassie Sharpe stays on top after winning Olympic gold
There's only one way to do 10,000 pull-ups in under 24 hours: Reset the limits of the human body
For years, female athletes have relied on training protocols, injury guidelines, and nutrition plans based on research conducted with men. That's starting to change.
(Courtesy Gaiam) Gaiam Restore Marbled Foam Roller ($20) The Gaiam Restore Marbled foam roller has a just-right semifirm density for soothing tight quads. Bonus: it looks good enough to keep in the living room. Buy Now (Courtesy Under Armour + JBL) UA Sport Wireless…
(Courtesy Teva) Teva Ember Moc Slippers ($75) The Teva Ember Moc slippers (women’s pictured) have forgiving polyurethane footbeds, hearty rubber outsoles, and cozy quilted uppers, making them the perfect after-class footwear. Buy Now (Courtesy Athleta) Athleta Hyper Focused Print Bra ($54) Athleta updated its…
(Courtesy Revere Cardio) Revere Cardio Vanilla Chai ($20 for 8) One packet delivers 15 grams of pea and rice protein and 20 grams of carbs from sweet potatoes to aid in recovery. There’s no better stocking stuffer for the endurance athlete on your list. Buy…
One thousand cyclists from across the country compete in the 200-mile gravel bike race known as the Dirty Kanza.
A new study suggests that hitting the gym more than twice a week is counterproductive. That seems unlikely.
Never underestimate the power of this simple fitness tool
The best way to improve your workout is to buddy up
The hemp plant extract is being adopted by athletes of all stripes to help reduce exercise-induced inflammation and support better sleep cycles
A new study suggests that running on autopilot is the most efficient approach.
This stretching routine will help make you faster, stronger, and injury-free.
A new study finds that having “elite” levels of aerobic fitness increases longevity relative to merely “high” levels.
Knee pain plagues athletes of all stripes. Here's how the experts handle it.
Success in sports or at work is almost never about a single monumental shift
Sidelined? Here's a little advice from the pros on staying sane—and coming back stronger than ever.
It depends—but you can hold your breath longer in cold water
Research on a pro cycling team suggests that subjective training metrics can match high-tech ones
Athletes and adventurers use rituals to get ready for big moments—whether it's wearing a new pair of socks on summit day or bouncing the tennis ball exactly seven times before bashing a serve. Does it work? Steven Kotler explores the cutting edge of neuroscience, plus a little bit of black magic, to find out.
Ross Edgley is in the middle of a 2,000-mile swim. Here's how that epic slog is affecting his skin, heart, and mind.
Most accomplished athletes, from Alex Honnold to Mikaela Shiffrin, have rituals they perform before a big day
Following the snow this winter? Here's how to train on the fly.
Michelle Parker loves long walks in the mountains. Here's how she trains for them.
What if striving to be great is what's holding you back?
Evolutionary biologists weigh in on the eternal training dilemma of how to allocate time and energy to three different disciplines
We're kicking off a new fitness column by surfing legend Laird Hamilton. First up: his top tips for performing at your best.
Stay nimble and beat stress while you’re on your next business trip
Jenni Gritters, a Power Vinyasa yoga teacher, walks us through nine common poses
Physiologist Alena Grabowski is studying whether prostheses give athletes a competitive advantage
Get the most out of gym days and training runs
Get the most out of gym days and training runs
Your next event can tell us a lot about the warming planet
A new study explores attitudes toward performance-enhancing drugs in the ultrarunning world
Author Caroline Paul talks to Tim Ferriss about what she learned battling blazes—and how those lessons enabled a life of adventure.
She won Olympic gold in a sport that chose her. Can she do the same in the one she truly loves?
The man who raised the possibility of the feat back in 1991 takes another look into the crystal ball
With climbing making its debut in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Adam Ondra is training for his first gold medal.
Perform your best with these top picks
Screaming quads don’t stand a chance
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.
Here's the secret to a long life: keep moving
The optimal number of sets in the weight room depends on whether you want to get big or strong
You wear them all day every day. They should be comfortable.
Lower back pain can be persistent and difficult to fix. These yoga poses can help.
See and be seen on evening runs, rides, and hikes
Elite athletes are turning up the thermostat in pursuit of an edge
Mentors: Hillary Allen, from the North Face, chronicles her recovery and how she’s found a new pace within the activity that she loves.
Paralympic athlete and corporate executive Patricia Walsh shares her story as part of the Garmin Women of Adventure campaign.
Like any good piece of gear, you shouldn't have to think about your first-aid kit until you need it
Struggles with anxiety and depression can affect anyone—even the greatest performers in sports