All articles (1201)
Everything we have written so far, from the first day in the gym to advanced programming.
Why a Marathon Is Exactly 42.195 km
Where the 42.195 km figure actually comes from, how race courses are measured today, and what that number changes in your training block and race-day fueling.
5 min read
The Strangest Fitness Trends in History and What They Taught Us
A tour of the oddest fitness fads from ancient Greece to today, with real numbers and a simple test for spotting gear that does absolutely nothing.
5 min read
What the First Weights Actually Looked Like
A short history of weights: Greek halteres, Chinese stone locks, Indian maces and the 1902 plate-loaded barbell, plus what still applies to your training.
5 min read
How the Olympic Weightlifting Events Came to Be
A short history of Olympic weightlifting: how five lifts became two, why the press was scrapped in 1972, and what all of it means for how you train today.
5 min read
Who Was the First Bodybuilder?
Who the first bodybuilder actually was, how the first physique contest ran in London in 1901, and which parts of Sandow's approach still hold up in the gym.
5 min read
Why Your Muscles Tingle
Why muscles tingle during and after training, how to tell harmless nerve pressure from a real problem, and the exact steps to take when it happens to you.
6 min read
What Smart Training Looks Like at 50
A concrete plan for training after 50: how many sets, reps and cardio minutes per week, how to add weight safely, and when pain means seeing a doctor.
5 min read
How Much Does the Human Skeleton Weigh
Real numbers for what an adult skeleton weighs, why the estimates differ twofold, and what training, food and age actually do to your bone mass.
5 min read
Back Pain Prevention: What Actually Works
A practical back pain prevention plan: which exercises to do three times a week, how to lift heavy things, and the warning signs that mean you should see a doctor.
4 min read
Knee Injury Prevention: What Actually Works, and What Wastes Your Time
A practical knee plan: which lifts, how many sets and reps, how fast to add load, and the warning signs that mean you should see a doctor instead.
5 min read
Shoulder Injury Prevention: What Actually Works in the Gym
A practical guide to what wrecks shoulders, an 8-minute warm-up, four exercises with exact sets and reps, and the signs that mean see a doctor.
5 min read
Rotator Cuff Training: What Actually Works and What Wastes Your Time
A concrete rotator cuff plan: which four exercises to do, how much weight and how many reps, how often per week, and when to see a doctor instead.
5 min read
Forearm Training: What Actually Works, With Real Numbers
A concrete forearm and grip plan: which exercises, how many sets and reps, how often per week, and how to keep your elbows out of trouble.
5 min read
Grip Training: How to Stop Your Fingers Being the Limit
A grip test to set your baseline, two short weekly blocks with exact sets and seconds, a progression plan, and the signs that mean you should see a doctor.
5 min read
Neck Training: How, How Much, and With What Load
A concrete neck training plan: an isometric starter block, loaded exercises, exact sets and reps, mistakes to avoid, and the symptoms that mean see a doctor.
5 min read
Mobility Training: How to Build Range You Can Actually Use
A concrete mobility plan: simple tests to measure your range, a 12-minute daily routine joint by joint, and clear signs it is time to see a doctor.
5 min read
Balance Training: How to Measure It, Train It, and Make It Harder
A concrete balance training plan: how to test where you stand today, which drills to run, how many sets and seconds, and when to see a doctor.
5 min read
Speed Training: How to Actually Get Faster
A concrete sprint plan: how many metres per session, how long to rest, which lifts support it, and how to lay out a week that actually makes you faster.
5 min read
Agility Training: Teaching Your Body to Change Direction
A concrete agility plan: a 12-minute warm-up, four core drills with sets and rest times, an eight-week progression, and the mistakes that stall progress.
5 min read
Explosive power training: how many jumps, what loads, how much rest
A concrete plan for building explosive power: how many jumps, what loads, how long to rest, how to test progress, and when pain means stop.
5 min read
Martial Arts and Weight Training: How to Combine Them Without Wrecking Either
How to fit lifting into a week of martial arts training: scheduling, exact sets and reps, protein numbers, and the signs you are overdoing it.
6 min read
Endurance Training for Football: How to Last All 90 Minutes
A concrete plan for football endurance: field tests, interval sessions, repeated sprints, injury-proofing strength work and a sample in-season week.
5 min read
Training for your first marathon: an 18-week plan
A concrete 18-week plan for your first marathon: weekly mileage by phase, long runs, tempo work, strength, race-day fuelling and the taper.
5 min read
Powerlifting Meet Prep: A 12-Week Program From Plan to Third Attempt
A concrete 12-week plan for your first powerlifting meet: percentages, sets, tapering, how to pick attempts, and exactly what to do on meet day.
4 min read