

Alex Hutchinson
Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and聽国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sweat Science columnist, covering the latest research on endurance and outdoor sports.
His most recent book is the聽New York Times聽bestseller聽. Before becoming a journalist, he completed a PhD in physics at the University of Cambridge and worked as a researcher in the National Security Agency鈥檚 Quantum Computing group. He also competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country, road, and mountain running. He lives (and runs) in Toronto.
Find Me
Published
Researchers explore the psychology of running injuries
Military researchers have spent years calculating the energy cost of hauling a pack in various conditions. Here's how to use what they鈥檝e found.
The myth that running causes osteoarthritis and ruins your knees has long been debunked. But what if your joints are already ruined?
Keep getting your eight hours, but the science is more complicated than you might expect
It's called accidentology. Yes, that's a real word.
You'd think the fittest men and women on the planet would outlive the most sedentary ones. But you'd be wrong.
The post-exercise recovery trend has produced mountains of new research. But can you trust the results?
Thanks to smartphones and watches, athletes can track more data than ever. But is HRV all that really matters?
A long-standing debate on how to optimize your endurance efficiency gets a new infusion of data
A new study probes why athletes like Callum Hawkins sometimes push themselves to collapse
A mathematical approach to flagging suspicious race times shows its worth
A new study explores why we're stronger and faster when someone is watching
Pain psychologists explore the differences between those who finish ultra-endurance races and those who don't
An analysis of five decades of world records reveals a surprising shift in pacing approach
A seasoned biomechanics expert offers his top insights on running-form danger signs
The effort paradox explains everything from mountain climbing to buying IKEA furniture
New research explores how ultraviolet light can trigger the production of health- and performance-boosting nitric oxide
It's the most reliable performance booster in the world鈥攗nless you have the wrong genes
A comprehensive research review finds that "neuromuscular" gains boost your speed and efficiency
The world鈥檚 first four-minute miler has died, but his approach to the sport should live on
In an era of specialization, a new study argues for diversifying your interests.
With the arrival of a long-rumored drink, endurance athletes want to know
For long-term health in endurance athletes, when you eat is nearly as important as how much you eat
Scientists make the case for a new real-time measure of endurance effort
Athletes have been shattering "expert" forecasts for the ultimate limits of our species for more than a century
Testing the idea that you can improve your ability to eat on the run
In an exclusive excerpt from his book 'Endure,' 国产吃瓜黑料's Sweat Science columnist explores the brain's role in setting our physical limits.
Can a controversial new form of statistical profiling weed out cheaters?
The hype around a new breed of running tech is raising the ire of biomechanists. Here's why.
A new case study digs into the medical records of a lost diver's incredible survival story
Forget training load and biomechanics. A surprising new study suggests that avoiding injury might come down to something far simpler.
A new study wades into the controversy, with unexpected results
Get the formula right and you'll never have to resort to the treadmill again
With a few adjustments, you can minimize the 鈥渋nterference effect鈥 between high mileage and your ability to build muscle
After several years of conflicting results, new evidence shows that endurance is at least partly in your head
You can tweak your workout to minimize the downsides of sucking on a tailpipe
To get a clear picture of where research is headed, you have to look beyond the easy headlines
You can't be super-lean all the time, so pick your moments鈥攁nd watch your health
Two new studies remind us of what we already know but sometimes forget
It鈥檚 official: Nike鈥檚 Vaporfly shoes improve efficiency by 4 percent. What does that actually mean for racing?
A new book delves into the science of mountain-ultra-trail running
The protein and muscle guru Luc van Loon wants you to bulk up鈥攁nd keep what you've got
It sounds hokey, but it works in the lab鈥攁nd for the greatest marathoner in the world
A cycling study finds that the lure of a reward throws off pacing instincts
Comparing 26.2 to shorter distances to see if Eliud Kipchoge was robbed by the weather in Berlin
If you like Sweat Science, you'll love these books
Scientists investigate hip straps鈥攖he benefits aren鈥檛 as obvious as you think
Exploring the riddles of endurance and adventure, but only after peer review
The counterintuitive theory has pervaded books, studies, and Reddit threads and is something of a rally cry for LCHF converts. But while there may be some benefit to monitoring insulin levels, there's no need to cut out all carbs quite yet.
We've finally got the data
The human body is awash with microbes, inside and out. And scientists are now discovering just how important that is for athletes.
A new study on BMX bikers tests this theory
Used to be you had to live at altitude to adapt to it. But new research suggests that by training your respiratory muscles, you can teach yourself to perform better with less oxygen.
Long shunned by endurance athletes looking to stay lean, the enemy is having a moment
To create the next wave of super-athletes, Red Bull has turned to a novel new treatment: trickling a small electric current through the brain's motor cortex. Just don't call it electroshock therapy.
Researchers are showing everyday athletes how to train their brains to perform like the pros
There's scant evidence for the effectiveness of most supplements. But here are a few to consider鈥攁nd a few to shy away from.
The debate is on: just useless, or truly dangerous?
Fitness tech to measure your effort, keep you motivated, and let you know when to go hard and when to back off.
New technology has made it easier than ever to keep real-time tabs on an endless array of fitness metrics. Don't drown in the data stream.
Fact: Exercising in polluted air can increase your risk of asthma, stroke, and heart failure. But is it better than the alternative鈥攁voiding a workout altogether?
From paddling to biking to hiking, here are the top spots from Nova Scotia to the Northwest Territories
A cardio and resistance trainer inspired by surfing motions
In our obsession with minimizing exercise damage, we may have lost sight of the reason we exercise in the first place: to force our bodies to adapt and get stronger
Seven can't-miss Aussie adventures