Training & Performance
ArchiveIt'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…
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…
(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…
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
The name pretty much says it all
There is a man named "Teddy Bear," and he could kill you
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
Tough Mudder says their Electroshock Therapy obstacle delivers a 10,000-volt electric shock. Can a human survive that, or is it a sham?
The method behind the most intensive drug-testing program in history
I keep my favorite necklace and wedding ring on when I exercise. Can chlorine and sweat hurt them?
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…
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 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…
I’ve seen it on a whole range of athletes, from Olympic volleyball players to swimmers and soccer players. How is Kinesio tape supposed to work, and is it effective?
A strong trunk is the key to efficient paddling. These four poses will help get you there.
There's been a lot of talk lately about long runs being hard on the body, particularly the heart. I've also read the CrossFit argument against distance running, even when preparing for a marathon. Should I change how I run?
Everything you need to complete one of the hardest races on earth, including a 16-week training program developed by Spartan's own Dr. Jeff Godin; the ultimate Spartan nutrition plan; and advice from Hobie Call, the winningest Spartan racer of all time
Is it true that if I abstain from caffeine before I race, it’ll be more effective during the race? How will it help me, and how much should I take?
Lewis dishes on the nuances of slackline tricking competition, the newest event at the Teva Mountain Games in Vail
Staying loose and strong are essential for efficient swimming. These four poses strike the perfect balance.
I’m bored of my routine and have trouble getting motivated to exercise. I'd like to train with someone, but I'm not sure where to look. Got any suggestions?
Sitting down with an Outside in Aspen athlete
A Q&A with an Outside in Aspen participant
Juggling a busy schedule, I try to make my exercise time as well-rounded and efficient as possible. To maximize my workout, is it better to run or lift first?
I'm looking to maximize my triathlon training days. Could you recommend a few places?
I've read about CrossFit adherents who have run marathons using just the exercise program's strength and conditioning regimen. Can I really train for a race using CrossFit alone?
What are the things I should make sure not to do in the final weeks before a triathlon?
A new study says that Ibuprofen can help prevent mountain climbers from getting altitude sickness
Why a Bay Area gym has become a destination for the world’s top athletes
My local gym touts metabolic testing for everybody, from people who want to lose 60 pounds to those who want to shave a few seconds off their PR. It's pretty spendy. Should I do it?
I'm looking for ways to gauge improvement. If I can soak through my wicking base layers, I call that a good day. Do better athletes sweat more?
I'm getting faster as I get older. Maybe I should think about upping my game and shooting for some really big goals...
The Quidditch World Cup sounds dorky, and make no mistake: it is. But these sorcery-loving Harry Potter fans play pretty rough, as Eric Hansen found out when he captained a bad-news team of ex-athletes, ultimate Frisbee studs, slobs, drunks, and some people he knows from Iceland. Brooms up, and may the best Muggles win.
Is there a way to schedule my training sessions to get the most out of my workout?
Two years after undergoing surgery to correct a debilitating heart condition, the Australian triathlete is poised to qualify for the Olympics
I have been following professional triathlon for a while and am amazed by the performances of elite athletes. Is there anything that we recreational athletes can learn from them? Just about very one of my amateur athletes asks me this at some point. The short answer is a resounding, “YES!”…
Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness explains how to eat when you’re training and recovering. For more triathlon training videos, go to The Outside Challenge.
What’s the secret of success in endurance sports? I get asked this a lot. The answer can be boiled down to one phrase: consistency of effective training. Performance does not arrive overnight. It comes out of a consistently applied training plan that is appropriate and specific to your…
Major League Baseball’s long tradition of warming up for the season with oddball adventures
Get ready to maximize the endurance, strength, flexibility, speed, and power you never knew you had.
Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness shares one of the best exercises for building strength in your glutes. For more triathlon fitness videos and interactive training plans, check out The Outside Challenge.
Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness demonstrates one of the best exercises for building strength in your hamstrings and glutes. For more triathlon fitness videos and interactive training plans, check out The Outside Challenge.
Get a solid endurance base through heart-rate training.
Fine-tune your fitness with balance and agility exercises. Here's how.
To keep a workout program fresh, you need to make it your own, and some days you need to break the rules—within reason.
Heart-rate training is the key to gauging your aerobic intensity and building endurance. Here's how to get started.
The ultimate guide to weightlifting for endurance athletes
Have trail and gym work turned you into a stiff? You need some flex time with Ashtanga yoga.
Your foundation is built. It's time to tweak the beast.
We asked four top fitness coaches for their tape-it-to-the-fridge-door advice. Here's what they told us. (Bonus: We kick your excuses to the curb.)
I’ve never done a triathlon. I don’t swim. I don’t run. And I bike mainly when our copy chief goads me into it. Yes, this is pathetic, especially since I edit Outside’s fitness coverage. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still active: I ski all winter, hike a 12,000-foot peak at…
In our obsession with minimizing exercise damage, we may have lost sight of the reason we exercise in the first place: to force our bodies to adapt and get stronger
Matt Dixon of Purplepatch Fitness demonstrates how to build swimming strength on days you don’t have time to visit the pool. For triathlon fitness videos and interactive training plans, check out The Outside Challenge.
Matt Dixon of Purple Patch Fitness demonstrates the proper technique for a lunge. For more triathlon fitness videos and interactive training plans check out The Outside Challenge.
