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Summertime SADness
Seasonal affective disorder is increasingly recognised but for some it's summer, not winter, that brings on low mood and depression
TRIPLE THREAT
Buoyed by his gold and silver double at Tokyo 2020, new GB triathlon star Alex Yee is hunting more glory at the Commonwealth Games this summer. He tells MF how sports science and targeted training can make you a stronger runner, cyclist and swimmer
MILITARY MOTIVATION
Mike Chadwick is the former paratrooper turned tactical fitness coach who revolutionised training in the British Armed Forces to deliver unprecedented pass rates for soldiers. Here he reveals the secrets to that success – and how his approach can benefit your own training
REACH FOR THE STARS
Hit a plateau with your strength training? This advanced, intensive technique can help you break new ground
Rare Conditions Common Problems
Despite the term, around three million people in the UK are afflicted by some form of rare disease. With symptoms often hidden from view, sufferers can be left feeling isolated with a lack of support. Jamie Broadway, who himself suffers from a rare visual defect, shines a light on the daily challenges faced by those living with rare diseases and explains why exercise isn’t always the magic cure
Self-improvement DELUSION
Matt Ayres asks whether striving for happiness through endless self-help books, apps and podcasts can actually have an adverse effect on our sense of wellbeing
PLANT-BASED PROS
Once the misunderstood and often mocked approach of so-called eco warriors, veganism is now mainstream. But while it’s undoubtedly the best choice for the planet, are the increasing number of athletes opting for a plant-based approach doing so at risk to their performance? Will Unwin reports
PARK LIFE
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN A LEAFY CORNER OF WEST LONDON, PARKRUN HAS SPARKED A FITNESS REVOLUTION. EVERY SATURDAY MORNING, UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY – AND INDEED AROUND THE WORLD – WALKERS, JOGGERS AND RUNNERS OF ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AGES AND ABILITIES HEAD TO THEIR LOCAL PARK FOR A FREE, TIMED 5K EVENT. BUT WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY AND INCLUSIVITY, IT HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A SERIES OF RUNNING EVENTS: FOR MANY, IT’S AN OUTLET – A SAFE CONSTANT IN THEIR WEEKLY ROUTINE
LEARNING THE ROPES
DOMINIC BLISS MEETS THE LUCHA LIBRE WRESTLERS BRINGING A TASTE OF MEXICO TO THE EAST END
GUT FEELING
Lydia Smith explores the growing link between gut health and mental wellbeing
FLIP THE BIKE FANTASTIC
Street trials rider Danny MacAskill is celebrating ten years since his first YouTube video went viral, propelling the Scottish daredevil into a life of tricks for flicks. Angelina Manzano caught up with the 33-year-old to find out more about his decade in the spotlight
The Fall Guy
British climber James Pearson battled slippery rocks and thundering spray to conquer the highest waterfall in Japan. He talks to MF about the unique sport of Sawanobori (‘stream climbing’) and reveals how to steel your body and mind for vertical adventures
Red Alert
Are you exercising more, controlling what you eat and still not losing weight? Or maybe you’ve been pursuing a long-term goal – a 10k PB, or a certain aesthetic – that’s left you wiped out and feeling low? REDs may be to blame, as performance dietitian Renee McGregor explains
Xmas Excess
While occasional over-indulgence is to be expected – celebrated even – the festive season need not sabotage your fitness routine, as Rob Kemp writes
Science Vs. Fiction
HOLLYWOOD’S GREATEST TRAINING REGIMES WERE DESIGNED TO LOOK GOOD ON THE SILVER SCREEN, BUT COULD THEY REALLY COMPETE WITH A MODERN, SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO SPORTS COMBAT? FILM WRITER DAN COOPER GOES BEHIND THE SCENES TO FIND OUT
Out In The Cold
HOWEVER SORRY YOU FEEL FOR YOURSELF WHEN THAT LONELY ALARM GOES OFF BEFORE DAWN, KNOW THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO’S GOT IT HARDER. UNLESS, THAT IS, YOU HAPPEN TO BE RUNNING THE IDITAROD INVITATIONAL 1000MILER: THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST AND LONGEST WINTER RACE. WITH TALES OF FROZEN EYELIDS FROM THE ALASKAN ODYSSEY, MF HOLDS YOUR FROST-NIPPED HAND FOR A JOURNEY INTO THE WILD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF WINTER RUNNING.
Changing The Face Of Mental Health
SINCE 2003, MOVEMBER HAS FUNDED MORE THAN 1,250 MEN’S HEALTH PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD. AS THE 2019 CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY, DANIEL JONES EXPLORES THE IMPACT THE FOUNDATION HAS MADE, AND THE HUG CHALLENGES STILL TO OVERCOME
Weigh It Up
The centuries-old Body Mass Index – more commonly known as BMI – is used around the world to tell people if they should worry about their weight, but combining a series of statistics might be a healthier way to go
HIIT Or Miss?
High-intensity interval training has gained a reputation for being a quick-fix solution in the fight against fat, but in the rush to get fit, fast, has a slower approach been wrongly overlooked?
Nike Master Trainer On How You Can Learn From The Pros
Jamie Reynolds has worked with some of the biggest names in sport – here he reveals some of the traits that set athletes apart, conditioning lessons we can all benefit from and why generic training plans should be handled with care
What It Takes... To Be An Obstacle Course Racer
IN A SPORT WHERE SPEED MEETS STRENGTH AND NO SMALL AMOUNT OF SUFFERING, TRAINING IS ABOUT BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SKILLS ACROSS THE BOARD
Parental Guidance
NEW DAD MATT MAYNARD FEARED FOR HIS FITNESS WHEN HIS FIRST CHILD CAME ALONG. SLEEP DEPRIVED, TIME POOR AND JUST A NAPPY CHANGE AWAY FROM A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN CONSPIRE TO MAKE FAR FROM IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR EXERCISE. YET WITH A FEW TWEAKS AND MORE THAN A FEW DOUBLE ESPRESSOS, HE’S FOUND THAT FITNESS AND FATHERHOOD ISN’T SO INCOMPATIBLE AFTER ALL
Mountains To Climb
Dominic Bliss Goes Behind the Scenes at the World Cycling Centre in the Swiss Alps, but Getting There is No Easy Ride
North Star
Ahead of the Rugby World Cup, Welsh Winger George North Reveals How a Smart Diet and Intelligent Training Helped Him Pack on a Stone of Lean Muscle
Feel Like A Fraud?
Performance psychologist Dr. Josephine Perry shines a light on impostor syndrome: the condition that can cause even the highest of achievers to be overcome by self-doubt
Reach For The Stars
You’ve seen their meal plans on Instagram and their naked torsos strewn across the big screen, but just how hard do the big names in Hollywood train to get movie ready? Journalist and comedy writer Ralph Jones braces himself to find out
Blood, Sweat and Beers
DETERMINED NOT TO JOIN THE LONG LIST OF EX PROS STRUGGLING WITH LIFE AFTER RUGBY, FORMER PLAYERS CHRIS WYLES AND ALISTAIR HARGREAVES TURNED A SHARED LOVE OF BEER INTO A BOOMING BUSINESS
Welsh Dragon
Welsh winger George North leaves an Italian defender for dust during this year's Six Nations Championship. MF caught up with North as he prepares to travel to Japan for his third World Cup, to discuss the strength and conditioning principles that have allowed him to succeed in a sport of such intensity.
Simple Tips To Cook Like A Pro
Take steamed broccoli and boiled chicken off the menu and make room for a healthy eating feast, thanks to these tips from top chefs.
The Power Of Positivity
Performance psychologist Dr Josephine Perry reveals how to raise your game with mantras and self-praise