Training & Performance
Archive
Ten great reads for the beach (between workouts) or the airport (between flight delays)
In an excerpt from his new book, ‘Do Hard Things,’ Steve Magness explains a clever tactic to combat anxiety and free yourself to perform
A team of Canadian Olympic sports psychologists tries to nail down the intangible “it”
A new study compares active and passive interval recoveries, but physiology isn’t the only factor to consider
Between the charming small town and countless wineries, there is great trail running to be found in Walla Walla, Washington
The algorithms used to estimate your training load have some fundamental flaws, scientists say
These shoes may not be traditional, but they’ll fit your lifestyle like a glove
Most people run the same pace regardless of how far they’re running, according to new research
How well you can see your surroundings matters, but subtle gait changes also burn more energy
Pro trail runner Abby Hall shares lessons that can help other runners achieve their goals, whether they’re just starting out or training for an ultra
Like the two-hour marathon chase, next month’s assault on the seven- and eight-hour Ironman barriers will require some rule-bending
Runners smack the ground harder—but get injured less—in more cushioned shoes. New research explains why.
Scientists studying mice found that their competitive efforts depended on their social ranking rather than their strength or speed
An analysis of power data from pro cyclists quantifies the effects of hot and cold air temperatures on performance
You can’t run fast without using your arms—or can you?
Stairs aren’t just for stepping—this creative workout will have your whole body feeling the burn
Despite years of research, the athletic potential of Montmorency cherries isn’t as sweet as it sounds
Can two and a half minutes of instruction turn you into a better athlete? Givego thinks so.
Australian gearmaker 2XU is beloved by everyone from new moms to Olympic athletes. Now they are looking to create a fitter, healthier world.
An analysis of pro cycling data finds that altitude-born South American riders race better at high altitudes than their lowland-born rivals
The oral health risks associated with heavy sports-drink use seem clear, but the evidence remains murky
New findings suggest that results from large training studies can’t be generalized to individuals
As demand for the fitness brand’s famous bikes and treadmills peters out, its dedicated user base might be its saving grace
A new study of identical twins shows that, despite their reputation as inert rubber bands, Achilles tendons adapt to exercise
Most studies on sports performance don’t include women. The team behind Stanford’s FASTR program is creating a new approach—and building a healthier culture for female athletes.
New research explores how physical and mental factors affect how athletes raise their game when it counts
A popular training rule for endurance athletes faces scrutiny from skeptical scientists
A new study gathers insights from 71 trans-ocean rowers who (mostly) made it to the other side
A new study grapples with a familiar question: How much of athletic success is physical, and how much is mental?
We tend to assume that a nice-looking stride is a fast one, but maybe looking good is its own reward
Scientists have figured out how to make simple exoskeletons that improve running efficiency. Should track and field authorities be worried?
Different workout styles can get you equally fit, but they affect your body differently—which suggests that you should mix it up
Looking to sign up for your first triathlon? We share everything you need to know to help you have a successful first race.
Five moves to get your backside back in action
A new way of classifying athletes aims to quantify the thresholds that distinguish recreational athletes from their trained, highly trained, and elite brethren
Our Sweat Science columnist spent two months measuring his blood sugar around the clock. Here’s what he found.
The first-ever Graphene foam hiking boot delivers unprecedented energy return and cushioning.
The latest “exercise in a bottle” study finds that plasma from exercising mice makes sedentary mice smarter. But don’t throw out your workout gear just yet.
Athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin have started adopting the training technique to increase endurance, muscle mass, and more
Over the past decade, research into compression sportswear has exploded. Here’s what the results reveal.
It’s time to break out the merino base layers and the heat-exchange breathing masks
A selection of (mostly) new titles for fans of science, endurance, fitness, and adventure
The genes that make some people vulnerable to a fatal heart stoppage may be the same ones that give them an athletic edge, researchers suggest
Sports medicine physicians are rethinking the relationship between damage to your body and how it feels
Want to keep training this winter but finding it hard to motivate? Find a partner.
The cold season can throw lots of different conditions your way, but with a little prep, you can keep training through any weather.
Mike McCastle has found a very unusual way to benefit others: by enduring agonizing physical challenges
As skimo prepares for its Olympic debut in 2026, sports scientists explore the sport’s demands
Your GPS watch and other gadgets are great at describing training, but prescribing it is a harder challenge
A mathematical model explains how endurance and speed come together to determine who will win a last-lap sprint
A new study quantifies the effects of running on technical terrain
A new study uses machine learning to quantify the effects of temperature, humidity, heat, and sun
Scientists take their equations for the energy demand of hills and rough terrain out into the real world
The link between serious cycling and poor bone health is well established, but researchers are still debating what to do about it
Sound impossible? Runner Jordan Tropf has put in the work—here’s how he pulled it off.
Over the past few years, McCastle has completed 5,804 pull-ups in a single day, pulled a 5,000-pound truck across the Mojave Desert, and climbed a rope the equivalent height of Mount Everest. How on earth has this Navy SEAL dropout accomplished some of the craziest physical feats in recent memory?
The physiological differences between men and women affect how much fluid they store, how they sweat, and how quickly they heat up. Does that matter?
Yes, people sometimes die while running. No, that doesn’t mean running is “dangerous.”
Build strength and alignment to help eliminate overpronation and protect your feet and ankles
A new study investigates how different types of physical performance are affected by the time of day
The case of 24-year-old Daniel Granberg, who died of high-altitude pulmonary edema earlier this month, highlights the danger of altitudes well below the Himalayan “death zone”
A new study suggests that hydrogels enable you to down more carbs with less digestive distress, and race faster as a result.
These tips will help you build up to your running goals and stick to your plan.
Expert strategies and intuitive tech to help you set and achieve your goals
A new study measures the physical and cognitive load of four different treading techniques. The key? Generate lift.
Supersapiens’s new continuous glucose monitor promises to help athletes manage their energy levels. But can it really stave off a bonk?
A long-running gym debate about whether to train each limb separately comes to the cycling world
A new study of Western States ultrarunners illustrates the power of looking beyond simple risk factors to predict injury
Scientists have been debating whether muscles contract more slowly as you age, but new data suggests the real problem is a loss of strength
A physical therapist explains why your wrists hurt, and how to rehabilitate and protect them
After years of debate on the dangers of “too much exercise,” researchers sum up the state of current knowledge
Electric muscle stimulation claims to be a more efficient form of exercise. Here’s how it holds up.
You might not be a wildland firefighter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t train like one
Most core workouts target your abs. But to build a properly strong core, you need to strengthen the other essential muscles supporting your core. Here’s how.
Exercise and digestion often don’t mix well, but scientists are on the case
When you're running in high temperatures, here's what you should know about adjusting your pace—and still getting the same workout intensity. We dig into the science of swelter.
Israel Start-Up Nation’s physiologist Paulo Saldhana explains the data—and the feelings—that determine who attacks when in a cycling race
After years of shredding on a screen, our web producer went outside to try the real thing. Plus: a one-month ollie training plan.
In her new book, ‘The Joy of Sweat,’ Sarah Everts answers all of our writer’s questions about perspiration
Answers to the questions you’ve always had about perspiring but were afraid to ask