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

Case In Point

Why you need to take this protein powder if you’re serious about building lean muscle

Stop Wasting Your Cash

If you want to be better off you need to win the money mind games, says psychology expert Claudia Hammond

Man Versus Mountain

James Dunmore is stepping out of his TVstar girlfriend’s shadow, and his own comfort zone, to take on a charity challenge very close to his heart.MF caught up with the former Made In Chelseacast member to discover how he is preparing to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro

Going To Extremes

Lifelong adventurer Steve Back shall on giving up meat, rolling back the  years with yoga,and how he’s preparing for his biggest challenge yet