Training & Performance
Archive
Don’t overlook this crucial piece of your wardrobe
Good fitness is about more than just powerful legs and core
Yes, curling makes the list. And no, we're not biased at all.
In an exclusive excerpt from his book 'Endure,' Outside's Sweat Science columnist explores the brain's role in setting our physical limits.
All season athlete Dane Tudor knows that the key to performing out in the mountains is to train hard inside. This is his most recent film about that pursuit, No Shortcuts.
Can a controversial new form of statistical profiling weed out cheaters?
Make 2018 the year you actually follow through
New research finds that performance varies drastically based on the time of day
The hype around a new breed of running tech is raising the ire of biomechanists. Here's why.
In gyms around New York City, the Women's Strength Coalition is working to make the lifting community more inclusive
The pro climber on her go-to, high-tech methods for staying healthy and injury-free
Build up your back muscles to gain power and prevent annoying aches
Take your workouts and results to the next level with the help of these expert-recommended (free) apps
Take 66-year-old UCI Track Masters World Championships rider Gary Hoffman, who is almost as fast as he was at age 20—when he competed to race in the Olympics
As ultra-endurance athlete and self-improvement guru Rich Roll says, "Mood follows action." In other words: Don't think. Do.
Expensive stem-cell therapies are on the rise among recreational athletes, but don’t pull out your wallet just yet
Forget training load and biomechanics. A surprising new study suggests that avoiding injury might come down to something far simpler.
The most important rules to grow your body and mind
For years, these key players have set records and pushed boundaries
Get the formula right and you'll never have to resort to the treadmill again
With a few adjustments, you can minimize the “interference effect” between high mileage and your ability to build muscle
Science is a slow-moving process. Don't fixate on bright-shiny objects at the expense of a few fundamental truths.
After several years of conflicting results, new evidence shows that endurance is at least partly in your head
Cool down, then follow this step-by-step guide to reduce your risk of injury and maximize performance
Follow the lead of elite athletes and use the science of motivation to perform at your best
One of the most neglected parts of an endurance athlete's body is also arguably the most important
To get a clear picture of where research is headed, you have to look beyond the easy headlines
You can't be super-lean all the time, so pick your moments—and watch your health
Two new studies remind us of what we already know but sometimes forget
Whether you're trying to qualify for Boston or just see improvement, these principles will get you there
Artificial intelligence is making its way into fitness apps
It’s official: Nike’s Vaporfly shoes improve efficiency by 4 percent. What does that actually mean for racing?
When running four marathons in a row, it helps to enlist a professional for help. I tested a bunch of her advice so you don't have to.
Chance favors the prepared nomad. (Courtesy Outlaw Soaps) Outlaw Soaps PCT Adventure Soap Set ($24) Just like the through-hike it was named for, Outlaw Soaps’ PCT Adventure soap set delivers the intoxicating odors of both the mountains (with a natural pine fragrance) and the high desert (courtesy of sagebrush oil)…
Get your winter workout on. Aret Toura Low Cut Sports Bra ($64) Supporting the pecs, lats, and traps, Aret’s nylon-spandex Toura Low Cut sports bra boosts your strength-training form while wicking sweat. It also doubles as a swim top. Buy Now (Courtesy Yellow WIllow) Yellow…
Get stronger faster with the right post-workout tools. (Courtesy Trigger Point) Trigger Point STK Contour Roller ($30) Nine wheels give the Trigger Point STK Contour roller a range of massaging power. And the main bar is flexible, allowing you to wrap it around spent muscles for better relief and recovery.
The protein and muscle guru Luc van Loon wants you to bulk up—and keep what you've got
Ignore the urge to post a heroic effort and focus instead on the daily grind of steady improvement
It sounds hokey, but it works in the lab—and for the greatest marathoner in the world
Most gyms have more to offer than a big wall
On October 26, Dale “Greybeard” Sanders became the oldest person to thru-hike the nation’s most iconic wilderness trail
It's tough to maintain performance and well-being all the time. When the going gets tough, following these tips can help.
Don't feel bad about your semineurotic prerace protocol. It might be one of the keys to your success.
Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reece on eating right, the benefits of breathing exercises, and the importance of believing in what you do
From grippy socks to callused palms, a quest for an exercise silver bullet
As endurance predators, we should be able to catch anything—even one of the world's fastest animals
Comparing 26.2 to shorter distances to see if Eliud Kipchoge was robbed by the weather in Berlin
Exploring the riddles of endurance and adventure, but only after peer review
You might be able to stop them before they even happen
Gear that can keep up, no matter how hard the efforts.
Nine life lessons from the ultra-endurance athlete and self-improvement guru
Consistently add this move to your training regimen to see major upgrades in power, agility, and toughness for outdoor sports
Five exercises that will guarantee you have the strength to adventure all weekend, well into your eighties
What started as a scratch team playing an alternative sport has become a rallying point for a community in Chinle, Arizona
The power couple shares lessons from their extreme approach to training, nutrition, and recovery
Fancy workout studios and alternative fitness methods are having a moment. We determined which ones will truly bring you closer to your goals as an outdoor athlete.
From overcoming cancer to battling PTSD, the following diverse group of men and women have used their personal stories to inspire the world
I spoke with six of my co-competitors about their morning rituals, their love of coffee, and what motivates them to ride thousands and thousands of self-supported miles
Build your way up to the perfect box jump, then try these three progressions for continued results
Sure, it's fun and relaxing—but it can also be a key part of a fitness routine
Uberman, a SoCal ultra-triathlon with a 21-mile swim, a 400-mile bike ride, and a 135-mile run, might be the most demanding challenge of its kind. But in the eyes of its founder, the physical goal is secondary to the mental one.
To start with, long steady rides are a boring waste of time, power meters are both absolutely vital and extraneous bullshit, and you can get faster without training like a lifeless automaton
The 65-year-old swimmer has set 355 world records. And she's still going.
There's a lot of overlap between athletics and work, and the world's best apply the same principles to, say, training for a marathon as they do to building a business
Eric Lagerstrom competed in his first triathlon when he was just 12 years old. He turned pro at age 23, and he’s now a top competitor on the World Triathlon Series. He has also become a skilled videographer and often captures footage during his own races—using GoPros and drones.
At the University of Vermont, mathematicians in the Computational Story Lab are reading your tweets and learning a lot about our collective well-being
It's not just an upper-body exercise. Nail your form, then try these variations to improve your stability and strength from head to toe.
Cycling, running, and obstacle course racing are dominated by white-collar workers. And while disposable income makes competing more feasible, researchers are also starting to discover a psychological pull that draws these people to masochistic events.
From Lululemon, Ebb then Flow is a film that follows surfer and Elite Ambassador for Lululemon, Evan Valiere. Valiere diverts from the uniform recipe for success; training, visualization, flow state, and 10,000 hours to lead to perfection.
Kathrine Switzer on the lessons she's learned after a lifetime of running. Nonrunners, take note.
Simplify your mobility routine
Nail the basic form, then ramp it up with these five creative variations for better, stronger results
Upscale meditation studios are bringing mindfulness to the masses. Are they also diluting the practice?
Dane Tudor is an Australian born freeskier who now resides in big mountain meccas of British Columbia and Alaska. Whether he's chasing freeride lines or tight singletrack, Tudor is always training for something.
What's old is new again. These eight straightforward principles will help you perform your best, no newfangled hacks required.
It's the most grueling competition in the world, and it takes a massive toll on riders' bodies
The focus-demanding sport could affect the brain more deeply than we know
Where triathletes can find the best online guidance