Training & Performance
Archive
Work your balance and core strength with these functional exercises
The secret to pushing past your mental limits could be a handful of coins
A new study shows measurable gains in strength from a purely imaginary training program
Elevate your strength routine with this effective, versatile tool
The physiology of events like the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is radically different from “short” events like the marathon
Working stabilizer muscles can lead to big gains in and out of the gym
Instead of focusing on joint angles and limb movements, a new study takes a holistic approach to the biomechanics of elite runners
A body in motion will inevitably need a little maintenance
A spiral of injuries—and the attendant existential crisis—can be an opportunity to revisit the fundamentals
Dealing with discomfort isn’t a magical gift. It’s a skill, and you can improve at it.
Looking to level up? Get started with this inexpensive, four-move routine.
New research sifts through the evidence to figure what types of intervals make you fastest
All types of athletes can benefit from quicker instincts
The former Harvard rower is making the most of a six-month sabbatical from his new job at Zwift
In a new event for Outside+ members, meet and train with the stars of Team USA
Exercise causes pain, but it also dulls it. Researchers are still trying to understand how that works.
Techniques to see success and overcome obstacles in your next race
These tools are suitable for beginners and hard-charging athletes alike
A new study tests how much cycling it takes to maximize cognitive function in endurance athletes
What you should know about safely returning to sports after pregnancy
The latest deaths raised questions about the role of COVID, but analyses of nearly a century’s worth of climbing records suggest some consistent patterns
The humble plank is the single most effective training exercise for your core musculature
A new study looks for adaptations in the placenta, and finds positive effects from exercise during pregnancy
Researchers are searching for telltale clues in your strength, flexibility, or body position that signal an impending injury. It’s harder than you think.
Expert tips for keeping your dog healthy, happy, and keen for any type of outdoor activity
A new analysis digs into who overheats and which conditions are most risky, with surprising results
Setting high goals is great, but how you deal with falling short determines how long you’re willing to keep chasing them
What separates the best endurance athletes from everyone else isn’t their amazing lab test data or power values—it’s how well they maintain those values after a few hours of exhausting exercise
It’s easy—maybe a bit too easy—to believe that poor sleep leaves you more vulnerable to injury. But researchers aren’t so sure after all.
The newly revamped TrainerRoad cycling app uses an advanced algorithm to create training programs custom-tailored to the user. Our writer gave it a go.
Maintaining the ability to hit top gear after your twenties is useful even for endurance athletes, and takes specific training
Running alone against the clock is very different from trying to beat other runners, but untangling how our minds process the challenge is “like knitting with spaghetti”
A new review assesses what it takes to maintain endurance and strength when circumstances interfere with your usual training
Staying in hiking shape during the off-season is a serious challenge, but it’s not impossible
Changing hormone levels affect your tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and evidence is mounting that this can influence your chances of injury
Allen is a specialist when it comes to charging hard on rough trail. The new VECTIV shoe line is helping get her where she needs to go, fast.
Round out your training routine with exercises to help build explosive strength
Mental fatigue has become a hot topic for sports science researchers, but its effects remain controversial
Three full-body movement progressions on the parallettes that you can do at home
At the 2019 World Championships, researchers gave marathoners and racewalkers swallowable thermometer pills and used thermal cameras to assess the effectiveness of hydration and cooling techniques in the heat of competition
Is it possible to stay in shape at home without spending a fortune? Wes Siler details his gym setup.
Detailed power data from sprinter Marcel Kittel and climber Tom Dumoulin highlight the contrasting physiological demands faced by different riders
A new study explores how inner monologue varies between sports, situations, and experience levels
Tallying which articles are most frequently cited in later studies reveals the biggest trends in sports science—and some oversights
Unlike heat training, repeated exposure to cold doesn't necessarily help you handle winter weather better
A new study plots the progression of thousands of people following an ultra-minimalist training plan. The results are impressive—at least initially.
Winning races when you’re young may seem like a good predictor of future success, but it’s not perfect
Demystifying one of the most important yet often misunderstood fitness qualities
If even pacing is so great, why do the best runners in the world always seem to have another gear at the end?
Two new studies find performance benefits from high levels of the sunshine vitamin, but they're not the final word
A new study tries—and fails—to predict athletic greatness with a DNA test. Thank goodness.
Correctly timing all the elements of your taper can give you an extra edge on race day
Pronation is out of favor, comfort is too vague, but maybe measuring your "habitual motion path" will guide you to a shoe that minimizes your injury risk
Top trail runners mix running and walking on steep terrain, but even scientists aren't sure how we choose which is better
A creative, challenging at-home circuit to get you fit, no matter your sport
A leading company redefines what it's actually measuring, and explains why that's what we really wanted all along
Check out these titles for fans of science, endurance, fitness, and adventure
The company's library of studio exercise classes, integrated with on-screen fitness data from your Apple Watch, launches today. Our Sweat Science columnist takes it for a spin.
A new study explores the links between exercise and pain perception, and how easily they can be manipulated
A new generation of futuristic at-home workout solutions—including Mirror, Tonal, and Peloton—were gaining steam even before the pandemic
Much more than fertility changes when menopause hits. Here's how to train through it.
After half a century of confusion, researchers have a new perspective on the transition from "aerobic" to "anaerobic" exercise
When you stop breathing, oxygen flowing to your brain actually increases—at least for a while
Avoid these mistakes and master the complex full-body movement
Embracing recovery will make you a better athlete. Your body is asking you to work in. It’s time to listen and respond.
A basic principle of training says you get better at the things you do most. So why does cross-training work?
Five gentle weighted moves to help you progress over time
A pro marathoner looking for a sponsor takes a scientific approach to finding the right match
The mental and physical benefits make it worth the extra effort
To pick their two-hour marathon team, researchers tested some of the greatest runners on the planet. Now they're revealing what they found.
Bust your gut like the gold-medal-winning cross-country skier
You don’t need an elaborate workout plan to get the most out of your resistance workout; you just need to tune into how you feel
A new review sifts through the evidence for and against hiking with poles
A new study suggests that slow-twitch runners can handle higher mileage than fast-twitch runners before showing signs of overtraining
Proven tips from top athletes on how to nail the perfect morning adventure
Follow these tips to avoid excessive burping, gurgling, and nausea
Biology suggests that decades of running should invariably blow out your knees. Scientists are trying to understand why that doesn’t happen.
Even compared to athletes from other sports, endurance athletes have a unique relationship with discomfort
This expert advice will help you get out of a rut and take your skills to a new level